"Your preserves. Confound your insolence!"
"Upon my word, David," said Jen, seeing that Maurice could hardly speak for rage, "you go too far. The girl loves Maurice and not you; and it would be much more honorable for you not to press your suit."
"I don't care two pins for honor, major! I love Isabella, and I intend to marry her. But become the wife of Maurice she never shall; I'd rather see her married to Etwald."
"The third Richmond who is in the field," scoffed Maurice. "Well, he has as good a chance as you. Dido supports his pretensions; Mrs. Dallas is your champion. As for me, I have the love of Isabella, so I'm afraid of nothing."
"Are you not?" said Sarby, with a peculiar smile. "Remember what Etwald said about your life-in-death!"
"I don't believe in that rubbish, David, and I should be very sorry to think you did."
"As to that, I don't care about discussing the point," was the reply. "Our own beliefs are our own business. But I must say that Etwald is a dangerous man, both to you and to me."
"I daresay," replied Maurice, coolly. "The more so, as I believe he has stolen the devil-stick."
"What!" David made a step forward and stared at the wall. His face was quite pale, and his hands trembled in spite of his efforts to control himself.
"The devil-stick gone!" he said, turning on his heel. "Both you and I must be careful, Maurice."