'Everything is ready. On Sunday morning my mother is always at home before Church. I will see her then, and acquaint her with the news that the wedding will take place as originally proposed, at her house. This will astonish her very much, and she will become angry and polite and sarcastic. Then I shall tell her to prepare not only for a wedding feast, but also for a great, a very great surprise. And I shall also inform her that I shall be given away by my brother. And then--then--if I know my mother aright, she will become silent. I shall do that to-morrow morning.--In the evening, George, you will get your best-man, and I will get your sisters, my bridesmaids, and we will come here, or go to Richmond or somewhere--and have dinner and a cheerful evening.--Am I arranging things properly?' 'Quite properly. Pray go on.' 'Sunday afternoon I have promised to spend with my master--Edmund Gray. He is going to read me a new Paper he has just finished, in which he shows that Property can be destroyed by a painless process--Athelstan, put all your money into your pocket and keep it there--in less than a twelvemonth, and with it all crime--all sweating, all injustice.--No, Athelstan, he is not mad. When he argues on this theme he is persuasive and eloquent. He convinces everybody. I shall hear him out, and then I shall try to make him write down all that has happened. If we can only get such a confession, it would be better than anything else. But it may be difficult. He does not like being questioned about himself. If I do succeed--I don't know quite what I ought to do next. He must be told. Some time or other he must have the truth. I thought of asking all the people mentioned to meet at his office on Monday morning at noon when Mr. Dering is always himself. On Sunday I would not. He has to address his people on Sunday evening. Let him do so undisturbed. I will leave him in happiness that one night longer. But you two--you will be anxious. Come on Sunday evening--between eight and nine--to the Hall of Science. Then you will hear him and see me. And I will let you know how I have prospered.' 'Sunday evening,' said George. 'Monday comes next, then Tuesday, and before Wednesday, my Elsie, the character of these two convicts has to be completely whitewashed, even to the satisfaction of Hilda herself. Are we not running it pretty close?' 'Unbeliever! Doubter! I tell you that you shall be married with all your friends round you, and that Athelstan shall give me away. And you shall go away on your holiday with a quiet heart and nothing to trouble you. What a foolish boy not to be able to trust his bride even for such a simple thing as getting a confession out of a madman!' 'Do you sport a crest, old man?' asked Athelstan. 'I believe there is some kind of a sort of a thing somewhere around. But crests are foolishness.'