Frank was utterly confounded. Well she remembered the revelation which Nameless made while in the clairvoyant state; that his mother had given birth to two children, one of whom had been secreted by the father, the other stolen by the uncle, but that the lost boy, whom she had been taught to regard as her brother Gulian, was one of these twins, was the brother of Nameless,--this was indeed a revelation, an overwhelming surprise. For a moment she was silent; her brain throbbed painfully. "But how am I to believe this story?" "You can disbelieve it, if you like," responded her father drily, "and risk the consequences--" "But will not the marriage be as certain to-morrow, the day after, nay a week hence,--" she faltered. "Girl! you will drive me mad,--" he clutched her by the wrist:--"nothing is certain that is not accomplished--" She felt the blood mount to her cheek, and her heart swell in her breast: "Have you no shame?" she said and flung his hand from her wrist--"Do you forget what you have made me? How can I, knowing what I am, what you have made me, urge him to hasten this marriage? Have you no shame? 'Come, I am lost and fallen,' shall I speak thus to him, 'I was sold into shame by my parents, when only fourteen years old. But you must marry me; to-night; at once; my father says so; he knows best; he sold me; and wants your fortune!' do you wish me to speak thus to him, father dear?" It was now his turn to tremble. The proud spirit of her mother, (before he had degraded that mother,) spoke again in the tone, in the look of her daughter. He bit his lip, and ground his teeth. "Frank, Frank, pity me,--I am desperate, but it is for your sake!" he cried, changing his method of attack--"Spare me the commission of a new crime,--spare me! I do not threaten, I entreat." Wringing her hands within his own, he dragged her deeper into the shadows of the recess. "Behold me at your feet;" he fell upon his knees; "the father on his knees at his daughter's feet; the father already steeped in crime, beseeches that daughter to save him from the commission of a new crime; to save him by simply pursuing her own happiness." Frank was fearfully agitated; she drew her father to his right. "When do you wish the marriage to take place?" she said in a faltering tone. "At once,--for your sake,--" "But the clergyman,--" "Dr. Bulgin is here. If you consent I will summon him to your chamber. The ceremony will take place there. "Wait," she whispered; "I will see him. If I drop my 'kerchief, or take the cross from his neck all is right." She glided from her father's side, and passing along the hall, among the maskers, soon stood by the side of Nameless once more.