He had already felt something of these same feelings. He had seen Harry with his own eyes paying devoted attentions to Katie, though he knew that Katie was engaged to him. It was this which had made him turn away from her, for he had seen that she was false to him. Yet his resentment against her did not lessen his jealousy, nay, it intensified it. He regarded Harry as guilty of an offence which was at once the worst and the most unpardonable. He had been false to his friend, and that, too, immediately after he had received that friend's fullest confidence, and had promised that friend his most energetic assistance. Could anything be worse than this? And now Ashby saw through it all. Harry had traversed that passage-way. He had been in that room. He had seen Katie. Of this he had not a doubt. And what now? No doubt he was prowling about to try to find some way out, so that he might escape with Katie. Ashby watched with all these bitter thoughts in his mind, until at length he could endure them no longer. He determined to confront his former friend, his present enemy, and meet him face to face; to charge him with his perfidy, and seek for vengeance. With a leap, he bounded up the steps. Harry retreated, yet not so fast but that Ashby caught up with him, and grasped him as he was flying. Then Harry turned, pistol in hand, and the two stood face to face. "Ashby!" cried Harry. And Ashby cried out: "Scoundrel! villain! traitor!" His face was white, and his voice hoarse with passion. Harry was confounded. "Hang it, Ashby; don't you know me? Are you mad?" "Know you!" cried Ashby, bitterly. "Thank Heaven, I do know you! I've found you out, you infernal sneak, you! Know you? Good heavens! yes, I know you for a scoundrel, and a contemptible, double-dealing interloper and villain!" Harry stood aghast. "What in the name of Heaven is the meaning of all this?" "You've been in that room!" cried Ashby, pointing up the passage-way. "Well, what if I have?" "What if you have? You know what you went there for." Thus far Harry had been too much amazed to understand anything. But now he began to see what it all meant. "Oh, ho!" said he; "so that's it?" "That's it! of course that's it!" cried Ashby. "Isn't that enough? sneaking after that girl, when you know that she is mine. What the devil have you got to say for yourself?" At this Harry began to rouse himself. He didn't feel like defending his conduct; and now, as was natural, took refuge in a fight. "Confound you!" he cried; "what do you mean by such insults as these? Who are you? What business is it of yours?" "She's engaged to me. I took you into my confidence, and you've turned out a traitor and a sneak." Harry drew a long breath, and instantly recovered his usual coolness.