"Such is my intention."
"You do wisely. I would not have you stay with me. You must be clear from all participation in this business, let it end as it may. I know my father. His anger and his vengeance, however undeserved, would fall on you."
"Would these were my greatest fears!" I answered, with a sigh.
"Fear not for me, Wilson. The happiness of your friend is bound up with that of Elinor Travis. I tell you, in all sincerity, I cannot live without her. Fate decrees our movements. No woman but she has made me conscious of that great fountain of love which lies within the bosom of us all—none has had power to direct the stream, and to enchain me, heart and soul, to her will."
"And should that will," I quickly urged, "be found as evil as resistless"——
"Prove it so, and its power ceases on the instant. No; it is resistless, because virtuous and pure. I submit to an enchantment, but it is practised by a fairy as good as she is beautiful."
It was useless to argue so abstruse a point with so interested and impassioned a reasoner. I remained silent.
"One promise I must exact from you," continued Sinclair. "In passing through London, you will not see my father."
"I shall not wait upon his lordship," I replied.
"Nor mention, if you please, one syllable of this affair, should chance bring you together. For the present, I have sufficient reasons for wishing you to keep my secret sacred. In good time all will be known."