For she has a mania for letter-writing....

Do you believe me now, or will you repeat that I have lied ?" "Never," returned Maud, with sorrowful indignation upon her lovely, loyal face, "no, never will I descend to such baseness." "Well, I will descend for you," said Lydia.

"What you do not dare to do, I will dare, and you will ask me to aid you in being avenged.

Come," and, seizing the hand of her stupefied companion, she drew her into Lincoln's studio, at that moment unoccupied.

She approached one of those Spanish desks, called baygenos, and she touched two small panels, which disclosed, on opening, a secret drawer, in which were a package of letters, which she seized.