“‘Here, at this very spot; meet me here at 9:30, and you shall be convinced. By the by, let us compare our time, so as to make no mistake.’ “After the two watches were compared and set with each other, Heartsell took his leave, while Harry sat immovable and silent, with a mind full of gloomy thoughts: Could it be true that Edward Demar was the treacherous hypocrite Heartsell represented him to be? His heart fluttered with emotions of anger when he thought of the effect such a blow would have on Lottie. Harry loved Lottie with all his heart, and woe to the man who dared to betray her. Harry was at the rendezvous promptly, and had only been there a few moments when he saw Heartsell approaching. “‘How long have you been here, Wallingford?’ inquired Heartsell as he approached. “‘Only a moment,’ was the whispered reply. “‘Speak low, Heartsell, my sister is in the garden, and I don’t want her to know anything about this business.’ “‘Alas, Wallingford, she will hear it soon enough, Heaven knows!’ “‘Yes, and it will be a fearful blow to her, indeed; for she loves Demar devotedly; but I cannot believe he is the treacherous scoundrel you think he is.’ “‘I did not believe it either until I was forced to; but come, it is time we were going.’ “‘I feel ashamed of myself, Heartsell.’ “‘Why?’ “‘Because this is the first time I ever did anything on the sly; I think we are engaged in a very small business.’ “‘If you love your sister, how can you consider it a small business to take steps to rescue her from the clutches of an unworthy villain?’ “‘Of course not, but these steps ought to be taken openly and not in the dark.’ “‘True enough; but don’t they always employ detectives to catch the thief?’ “‘Yes; the best detectives are the shrewdest thieves.’ “While this conversation was progressing, Harry and his companion were walking quietly toward the gloomy old house--their arms locked in each other. The moon was struggling through the clouds that were moving briskly from the south toward the north, every now and then coming out between them and spreading a temporary light over the earth. “‘This is a most favorable night for our business, Wallingford,’ observed Heartsell, as the moon darted out between the two dark clouds, lighting up the road nearly as bright as day. “‘Why so?’ “‘Because we will be able to see all we wish.’ “‘What do you mean? You talk is if it would afford you pleasure to witness the downfall of Demar.’ “‘Pshaw! Wallingford, you don’t know me; I merely meant to say that it was a favorable night to detect this rascal in his treachery. I assure you I should be gratified to find it all a mistake.’ “‘It seems to me impossible for it to be anything else but a mistake; and I feel my cheeks burning with shame--I feel degraded at the underhanded, sneaking course we are pursuing.’