“So you were in it, were you?” fiercely exclaimed Alexander confronting Richard. “All right! here is one, at least whom I can and will call to a severe account.”
“I am quite ready,” coolly replied Dick, “to admit and answer for my share in this matter!”
“Dick! hold your tongue! How dare you, sir? This is my thunder! And if you open your mouth again without leave, I’ll—discard you forever! Stand back, sir!” exclaimed Anna, with her blue eyes blazing upon the offender.
He retreated as from before a fire, and stood laughing.
“My dear grandfather,” said Anna, turning towards the veteran soldier, “this is solely my affair. May I speak without interruption?”
“Yes, Miss Lyon,” answered the old gentleman, with grave dignity, “I wait to hear.”
“Then, sir, in a very few words, I will resolve the whole mystery. You must know that at the time Mr. Alexander Lyon sought the hand of your grand-daughter, he had already a living wife, or one who believed herself to be so!”
“It is false!” burst forth from Alexander’s livid lips—“as false as——! My cousin has been deceived!”
“It is as true as truth! I will prove it to be so!” put in Richard Hammond.
“Dick! what did I tell you? If you speak again, I will have you turned out!” exclaimed Anna, who was most anxious to prevent a collision between the two young men.