Love and Honor bade me live to marry Alicia; and a sense of family duty made me shrink from occasioning a loss of three thousand pounds to my affectionate sister.

Perish the far-fetched scruples which would break the heart of one lovely woman, and scatter to the winds the pin-money of another! "If you utter one word in contradiction of anything I say when my workmen come into the room," said the doctor, uncocking his pistol as soon as I had rung the bell, "I shall change my mind about leaving your life and taking your character.

Remember that; and keep a guard on your tongue." The door opened, and four men entered.

One was an old man whom I had not seen before; in the other three I recognized the workman-like footman, and the two sinister artisans whom I had met at the house-gate.

They all started, guiltily enough, at seeing me.
"Let me introduce you," said the doctor, taking me by the arm.