Blodget was completely staggered by the determined air which Inez assumed, and he was transfixed to the spot whereon he stood, not knowing what course to pursue. Our heroine still flourished the knife menacingly, and kept the villain at bay. ‘You see I am resolute,’ she cried; ‘and, by Heaven, sooner than I will be dishonored, I will put my threat into execution! Death is preferable to the dreadful, the disgusting fate which you have threatened me. Nay, nothing can move me from my purpose! Quit the room, miscreant; unless you would have my death to answer for, in addition to your other numerous crimes!’ ‘Inez,’ ejaculated Blodget, offering to approach her; ‘hear me!’ ‘Not a word,’ firmly replied Inez; ‘nothing whatever can shake my resolution; begone!’ At that moment a loud noise was heard at the chamber door, and immediately afterwards the voices of several persons. Blodget turned pale and trembled. ‘Ah!’ he ejaculated. ‘Open the door, or it will be worse for you,’ now demanded the voice of Gordon. ‘Never!’ cried Blodget, desperately, and placing his back against it as he spoke. ‘Then we must use force,’ returned Gordon; ‘now, lads, your aid.’ In an instant the door was burst open, and Gordon, followed by three rough-looking men, entered the room. ‘Seize him, my lads; and bear him hence!’ cried Gordon, and in a moment the men rushed upon Blodget, who made a desperate resistance, but was quickly overpowered, and was conveyed, struggling, swearing, and foaming at the mouth, from the room, and being dragged to one of the dark vaults underground, was, by the orders of Gordon, locked in, and left to his own reflections, the nature of which may be readily conjectured, but cannot be properly described. Alice, immediately on being thrust out of the room by Blodget, had hastened below, where, ascertaining that Gordon was from home, although it was very reluctantly that the old woman furnished her with the information, she made the best of her way to the cabaret, where she fortunately found him, in company with the men before mentioned, and having informed him of the perilous situation of our heroine, he left the place, and, as has been shown, arrived just at the critical juncture, to save her from destruction. Blodget had no sooner been forced away from the room, than our heroine, overpowered by her feelings, and the unusual excitement she had undergone, fainted, and Alice Hewlett was once more left alone with her, and immediately set about the means of restoring her sensibility.