"O! father, spare Charles. Have mercy on your poor Emma; though he were the most wicked man alive, he is still my husband."
"I shall refrain from prosecuting him; but it will be necessary to put a stop to such a system of fraud."
"O! my father, what will now become of me and my babe!"
"You have left your home once, my child, without my consent, but I hope you will not leave it again."
"Never, father! if you will permit me to remain, though I fear my presence will be a source of perpetual anxiety."
Mr. Holmes, after deliberating on the matter, sent the following letter to Captain Orme, unsealed, in an envelope, addressed to the Colonel:—
"Sir,—I have seen the forged checks which you got cashed at my banker's; and on inquiry find that you induced my daughter to present them, by telling her that I had given them to you, as a token of my reconciliation. I presume you are aware of the consequences to which you have subjected yourself; though you may suppose that a regard for my daughter's feelings, and the reputation of her child, will induce me to forego a prosecution. I have, however, to warn you against the repetition of such a base and hazardous course, for there are bounds which the tenderest humanity will not suffer to be passed with impunity. I should hope, for the honour of your father's character, that he was ignorant of the crime which you have committed; but I fear you are not the only person that is involved in the guilt of its commission."
To this letter he received the following reply the next day:—
"Sir,—You say you have detected my fraud, and express your fear that I am not the only person that is involved in the guilt of it. Very true, Sir. Your own daughter suggested to me this mode of getting at some portion of her fortune—procured the blank checks—and went herself and got them cashed; and now you are at liberty to let the law take its course, if you please. She is unfortunately my wife; and as she is once more under your roof, I hope she will remain there till I send for her, which will not be till you are induced to give her a fortune equal to my rank, as I was fully entitled to expect on marrying her. My father, who feels too indignant at your base insinuation to reply to it, begs me to say, that he does not choose to admit your daughter into his house again. You will, therefore, permit me to return your own compliment, by saying, that all intimacy between our families has ceased, and you may be assured, that I regret that any intimacy was ever formed.—Your obedient servant,
"Charles Orme."