"Don't you think my dear, d--d old friend, I understand the length, and breadth, and depth, of your friendship; I know how strong it _is_, and I'll make it _stronger_. It _is_ for _me_--yes, in my own case you must repeat the service, as you call it, which you once did me, in another country." The Rev. Isaac Dixie's rosy cheeks mottled all over blue and yellow; he withdrew his hand from his dressing-gown, with an unaffected gesture of fear; and he fixed a terrified gaze upon Cleve Verney's eyes, which did not flinch, but encountered his, darkly and fixedly, with a desperate resolution. "Why, you look as much frightened as if I asked you to commit a crime; you marvellous old fool, you hardly think me mad enough for _that_?" "I hardly know, Mr. Verney, what I think," said Dixie, looking with a horrible helplessness into his face. "Good God! sir; it can't be anything _wrong_?" "Come, come, sir; you're more than half asleep. Do you _dare_ to think I'd commit myself to any man, by such an idiotic proposal? No one but a lunatic could think of _blasting_ himself, as you--but you _can't_ suppose it. Do listen, and understand if you can; my wife, to whom you married me, is _dead_, six months ago she _died_; I tell you she's _dead_." "Dear me! I'm very much pained, and I will say _shocked_; the deceased lady, I should not, my dear pupil, have alluded to, of course; but need I say, I never heard of that affliction?" "How on earth could you? You don't suppose, knowing all you do, I'd put it in the papers among the _deaths_?" "No, dear me, of course," said the Rev. Isaac Dixie, hastily bringing his dressing-gown again together. "No, certainly." "I don't think that sort of publication would answer you or me. You forget it is two years ago and more, a _good deal_ more. _I_ don't though, and whatever _you_ may, _I_ don't want my uncle to know anything about it." "But, you know, I only meant, you hadn't told me; my dear Mr. Verney, my honoured pupil, you will see--don't you perceive how much is involved; but _this_--_could_n't you put this upon some one else? Do--_do_ think." "No, in _no_ one's power, but _yours_, Dixie;" and Cleve took his hand, looking in his face, and wrung it so hard that the rev. gentleman almost winced under the pressure, of administering which I dare say Cleve was quite unconscious. "No one but _you_." "The poor--the respected lady--being deceased, of course you'll give me a note to that effect under your hand; you'll have no objection, in this case, to my taking out a special licence?" "Special devil! are you mad? Why, anyone could do it with that. No, it's just because it is a little _irregular_, nothing more, and exacts implicit mutual confidence, that I have chosen you for it." Dixie looked as if the compliment was not an unmixed pleasure.