"The rich never have anything to do with the poor without harm comes of it. Why did they send me to the duke's house? Why did be try to patronize me? Why did he parade his gold and silver plate before my eyes?" The passion of his words seemed to inflame him. "Why," he continued angrily, should he eat from silver while others were without bread? Why should his wife wear diamonds while mine cried with hunger and cold? I saw how unjust it was. Who placed his foot on my neck? Who made him my master and tyrant, patronizing me with his 'my good fellow' this and the other? What right had he to such abundance while I had nothing?" "That which was his," said Lord Arleigh, bluntly, "at least was not yours to take." "But I say it was! I helped myself before, and, if I were out of this place, having the chance, I would help myself again." "That would be equally criminal," said Lord Arleigh, fearlessly and again Henry Dornham laughed his cynical laugh. "It is too late in the day for me to talk over these matters," said the convict. "When I roamed in the woods as a free man, I had my own ideas; prison has not improved them. I shall never make a reformed convict--not even a decent ticket-of-leave man. So if you have any thought of reclaiming me, rid your mind of it at once." "It will be best to do so, I perceive," observed Lord Arleigh. "I had some little hope when I came in--I have none now." "You do not mean to say, though, that I am not to be any the better off for your visit?" cried the man. "I do not know your name, but I can see what you are. Surely you will try to do something for me?" "What can I do?" asked Lord Arleigh. "If you had been innocent--even if there had been what they call extenuating circumstances--I would have spent a fortune in the endeavor to set you free; but your confession renders me powerless." "The only extenuating circumstance in the whole affair," declared the man, after a pause, "was that I wanted money, and took what I thought would bring it. So you would give a small fortune to clear me, eh?" he interrogated. "Yes," was the brief reply. The man looked keenly at him. "Then you must indeed have a strong motive. It is not for my own sake, I suppose?" A new idea occurred to him. A sudden smile curled his lip. "I have it!" he said. "You are in love with my--with pretty little Madaline, and you want to marry her! If you could make me out innocent, you would marry her; if you cannot--what then? Am I right?" All the pride of his nature rose in rebellion against this coarse speech. He, an Arleigh of Beechgrove, to hear this reprobate sneering at his love! His first impulse was an angry one, but he controlled himself. After all, it was Madaline's father--for Madaline's sake he would be patient. "Am I right?" the prisoner repeated, with the same mocking smile. "No," replied Lord Arleigh, "you are not right. There is no need for me to offer any explanation, and, as I have failed in my object, I will go."