is likely soon to meet with so advantageous a match as Mr. Rascal?  Do you know the extent of Mr. Rascal’s influence and wealth?  Why, he has purchased with ready money, in this country, six millions of landed property, free from all encumbrances.  I have had all the documents in my hands.  It was he who outbid me everywhere when I was about to make a desirable purchase; and, besides, he has bills on Mr. Thomas John’s house to the amount of three millions and a half.”  “He must have been a prodigious thief!” “How foolishly you talk! he wisely saved where others squandered their property.”  “A mere livery-servant!” “Nonsense! he has at all events an unexceptionable shadow.”  “True, but . . . "

While this conversation was passing, the grey-coated man looked at me with a satirical smile.

The door opened, and Minna entered, leaning on the arm of her female attendant, silent tears flowing down her fair but pallid face.  She seated herself in the chair which had been placed for her under the lime-trees, and her father took a stool by her side.  He gently raised her hand; and as her tears flowed afresh, he addressed her in the most affectionate manner

“My own dear, good child—­my Minna—­will act reasonably, and not afflict her poor old father, who only wishes to make her happy.  My dearest child, this blow has shaken you—­dreadfully, I know it; but you have been saved, as by a miracle, from a miserable fate, my Minna.  You loved the unworthy villain most tenderly before his treachery was discovered:  I feel all this, Minna; and far be it from me to reproach you for it—­in fact, I myself loved him so long as I considered him to be a person of rank:  you now see yourself how differently it has turned out.  Every dog has a shadow; and the idea of my child having been on the eve of uniting herself to a man who . . . but I am sure you will think no more of him.  A suitor has just appeared for you in the person of a man who does not fear the sun—­an honourable man—­no prince indeed, but a man worth ten millions of golden ducats sterling—­a sum nearly ten times larger than your fortune consists of—­a man, too, who will make my dear child happy—­nay, do not oppose me—­be my own good, dutiful child—­ allow your loving father to provide for you, and to dry up these tears.  Promise to bestow your hand on Mr. Rascal.  Speak my child:  will you not?”

Minna could scarcely summon strength to reply that she had now no longer any hopes or desires on earth, and that she was entirely at her father’s disposal.  Rascal was therefore immediately sent for, and entered the room with his usual forwardness; but Minima in the meantime had swooned away.

My detested companion looked at me indignantly, and whispered, “Can you endure this?  Have you no blood in your veins?” He instantly pricked my finger, which bled.  “Yes, positively,” he exclaimed, “you have some blood left!—­come, sign.”  The parchment and pen were in my hand!