“Come, come; you are riding the high horse with me instead of my enemies.” “They are your enemies, not mine.” “I have paid you to help me crush them,” said the doctor, bitterly. “And I will help you crush them, because I have been paid for doing so; but I am none the less a villain, though I am a respectable man compared with you.” “Have a care, sir.” “You need not threaten me. I doubt if I can help kicking you after I have done what you require of me.” “Be reasonable, my dear fellow. We cannot afford to quarrel.” “I can; you cannot.” “Neither of us can.” “I have had all the money you were to pay me.” “I will give you a thousand dollars more if you follow my directions implicitly.” “What are they?” asked the stranger, apparently tempted by the offer. “You must be firm and resolute, and insist upon bearing your own away with you. My revenge would not be complete without that.” “I spurn the offer!” replied the stranger, proudly. “After I have inflicted the wound, I shall do the best I can to heal it. I shall be seen no more in this part of the country.” “Your sensibilities are very delicate,” sneered the doctor. “You will win your fortune: be satisfied with that. I am not so vile as you are.” The doctor handed the stranger a cigar, and then tried to persuade him to do his work after the heroic style; and while he is thus engaged, we will leave him, and return to Pine Hill. The eminent trustees and the distinguished lawyer from Baltimore have arrived. Mr. John Lester has John Hungerford on his knee. He has no doubt that the little gentleman is “the legal son of the said legal father;” and being a man of ample fortune himself, he is rather glad to get rid of the labor and trouble of managing the three millions any longer. The distinguished lawyer, who has already examined the records, is satisfied that Eugene Hungerford was duly and legally married to Mary K. Buckstone, widow of Eliot Buckstone--deceased beyond the possibility of a doubt, for his body was found at the bottom of the channel, fully identified, and buried in the town. The Rev. John Porter is present, and ready to swear, if need be, that he united the parties. Dr. Gardner, from the Mills, is ready to satisfy him that Master Johnnie is the child of his parents. There is no room even for a cavil, and no one proposes to raise the slightest objection. In the evening the three dozen or so of intimate friends arrive. Ross Kingman and lady are there, among the first to come. When Dick went to Europe, Ross was installed into the office of agent, and since that time has acted in that capacity. Hubbard became skipper of the yacht, at Dick’s suggestion, though the old fisherman wanted to know what he should do with a thousand dollars a year, which was more than he had been in the habit of earning in five years. Ross receives the same salary that Dick had, and is regarded as a person of considerable consequence in Poppleton.