The most dreadful silence followed this action; you might have heard a pin fall. It was worth while to note the different aspect of the two. The Captain's eye, unrelenting and stern, betrayed a high resolve, worthy a better cause; a scornful smile curled his handsome mouth, as though he despised his weaker victim. L'Estrange's varying passions were chasing one another across his face as the shadows of clouds fleet o'er a sunlit field; his countenance was the mirror of his heart,--pity, anguish, despair, unresolve, were all there. One was like the victim, the other the destroyer, and never serpent, tiger, or demon, glared fiercer on its luckless prey than did Captain de Vere on his captive. Slowly the minutes glided away; till four were past neither spoke. When one minute only remained, the Captain said, "One more only now,--is your mind resolved?" Speechless agony was in the unhappy man's eye. "Time is up! What is your answer?" said the Captain, as the clock tolled midnight. "I consent." "That is right! Then you are ready for all. You have been an accursed time in coming to this! You will, then, begin your part to-morrow." "To-morrow? So soon? Besides, you have not considered Ellen is no fool; she will require proofs,--you have none." "Have I not? I had been a fool like thee then," said his tormentor in a voice that banished his last hope, "look here! What do you think of that?" taking from his cigar case a warrant with the proper signature. It was the same he had appropriated at Brighton, but was no longer blank. L'Estrange saw and shuddered. "But to-morrow?" "What! hesitating again? It is too late now,--to-morrow!"