"What!" and the miscreant evinced the utmost surprise and astonishment. "You do not mean to say she is dead?"
"No, no! Would to God she was! I would a thousand times rather have followed her to the grave! But read, read, and know for yourself what has happened." Saying which, he placed the letters in the hypocrite's hands, and then, while he was reading them, buried his face in his own hands, and sat in mute but agonized grief.
Duffel read the letters with secret delight, repeating to himself at every particular place where it suited him best, "Glorious!" and at the close of all, "I must reward Bill for this. He's a perfect gem of a devil for such work."
But to Mandeville, in well-feigned amazement, he exclaimed:
"Charles Hadley!"
"Yes," said the afflicted parent, lifting his bowed head, "of all the world, him! a criminal and vagabond, who had fled from justice to hide himself from the face of man! Oh, my God! to think that she would forsake home, friends, a good name, and trample upon a parent's love for such a villain!"
"Perhaps it is not yet too late to save her?" suggested Duffel.
"How? what?" ejaculated the other, catching at the words as a drowning man would at a straw.
"I say it may be possible that the marriage-rites have not yet been performed. This may be written for a blind to prevent pursuit."
"No, no; I cannot doubt its truth, and would not have a hope raised in my heart to be crushed out again by despair. Beside, whither should I go in pursuit of them?"