Feeling how useless it would be to multiply words, Claire turned away and left the store. He did not go home immediately, as he had thought of doing, in order to relieve the suspense of his wife, who was, he knew, very anxious to learn for what purpose Jasper had sent for him; but went to his place of business and laid the whole substance of his interview before his fast friend, Mr. Melleville, whose first response was one of indignation at the offer made by Jasper to buy him over to his wishes with money. He then said-- "There is something wrong here, depend upon it. Was there much property left by the child's parents?" "Two houses in the city." "Was that all?" "All, I believe, of any value. There was a tract of land somewhere in the State, taken for debt; but it was considered of little account." "Regard for the child has nothing to do with this movement," remarked Mr. Melleville. "The character of Jasper precludes the supposition." "Entirely. What can it mean? The thing comes on me so suddenly that I am bewildered." Claire was distressed. "You are still firm in your purpose to keep Fanny until she is twelve years old?" "As firm as ever, Mr. Melleville. I love the child too well to give her up. If a higher good to her were to be secured, then I might yield--then it would be my duty to yield. But, now, every just and humane consideration calls on me to abide by my purpose--and there I will abide." "In my mind you are fully justified," was the reply of Mr. Melleville. "Keep me fully advised of every thing that occurs, and I will aid you as far as lies in my power. To-day I will call upon Edgar & Co., and do what I can toward securing for you the place said by Jasper to be vacant. I presume that I have quite as much influence in this quarter as he has." CHAPTER XIII. Scarcely had Edward Claire left the store of Jasper, ere the latter went out hurriedly, and took his way to the office of Grind, the lawyer, to whom he said, as he entered-- "It's just as I feared. The miserable wretch proved as intractable as iron." Jasper was not only strongly excited, but showed, in his voice and manner, that he had suffered no ordinary disappointment. "Couldn't you buy him over?" There was a mixture of surprise and incredulity in the lawyer's tones. "No," was the emphatic response. "That's strange! He's poor?" "He gets five hundred a year, and has a wife and three children to support." "Why didn't you tempt him with the offer to get him a place worth a thousand?" "I did." "With what effect?" "He wouldn't give up the child." "Humph!" "Isn't it too bad, that a mean-souled fellow like him should stand in our way at such a point of time? I could spurn him with my foot! Hah!" And Jasper clenched his teeth and scowled malignantly.