“As you please. I am not disposed to annoy you in any manner. Between you and me this matter can be speedily adjusted, but you must send Mr. Birch away.” “Mr. Birch is my friend; I will hear no abuse of him from you.” “This is a plain case, as you perceive. Here is Mr. Buckstone himself; he is the best kind of evidence.” “And here is Mrs. Buckstone herself!” shouted Dick Birch, leading Miss Thompson into the room. The baby had been troublesome, and she had volunteered to sit by the crib when the party left the supper table. “Who?” demanded Dr. Lynch, with a broad laugh. “Mrs. Eliot Buckstone,” replied Dick. “I think not,” sneered the wretch. “Ellen!” exclaimed Buckstone, starting back as Miss Thompson came forward. “O, Eliot!” cried she, bursting into tears, and sobbing as though her heart would break. “What farce is this?” asked the doctor, beginning to look a little pale. “This is a part of the old farce,” added Dick. “Who is this woman?” gasped Dr. Lynch. “She is my wife,” replied Buckstone, hanging his head with shame. “Have you deceived me? Have you made a fool of me?” “You were that in the beginning. Knaves and fools are twin brothers,” said Dick. “If I did deceive you, I was deceived myself,” replied Buckstone. “Is this woman your wife?” hissed the doctor, now so agitated by stirring emotions that he could hardly speak. “She is.” “When were you married to her?” “Seven years ago.” “Was it a legal marriage?” “It was.” “I have the certificate,” added the weeping lady, who now began to comprehend the situation. “Then you have deceived, duped, cheated me!” cried the doctor. “Unintentionally I have; but, from the deepest depths of my heart, I thank God that your villanous conspiracy has come to grief!” added Buckstone, fervently. “Good! There is some hope of you, Buckstone,” exclaimed Dick. Eugene threw his arms around the neck of Mary, and pressed her to his bosom. She smiled in her tears; she did not think that she had been no wife when she married him who stood by her side, and folded her to his heart. The world was not there; it could not frown. Dr. Lynch flew up and down the room, smarting under the sting of this final defeat, the object of contempt and reprobation to all who beheld him. The last half million had eluded his grasp; his dream of wealth was exploded; his vision of vengeance was dissipated in the most crushing blow he had ever received. “Keep cool, doctor,” said Dick, in taunting tones. The discomfited wretch paused before him, boiling over with passion. Dick laughed in his face, and he dared not resent it. “We begin to understand the past as well as the present,” said Eugene. “The doctor’s confession was the biggest lie of all,” added Dick. “I think we had better look up the facts at once, while the doctor is present.” But the convicted villain at these words rushed from the house.