At this moment Dr. Vaudelier entered the room. His aspect was stern and forbidding, and the son buried his face in his hands after the first glance at him.
"Jerome," said he, "you will bring my gray hairs with sorrow down to the grave."
"Easy with him, doctor, easy! He is a little touched, and, if you manage him right, you can fotch him over. He is under conviction now. Don't let on yet!"
"Jerome, this is a sorry visit you have made me," continued the doctor. "Are you entirely lost to all shame, that you could thus enter my house with a band of ruffians behind you?"
"Father," said the convicted Vernon, "I did not know it was your house, or I could never have done it."
"Alas, that a son of mine should have become a midnight assassin!" and Dr. Vaudelier covered his face with his hands, and sobbed like a child.
"Forgive me, father!" exclaimed the repentant son. "Forgive me!"
"God and your country alone can forgive crimes like yours!"
"Easy with him, doctor!" interposed Jerry, fearful lest the son's repentance should be dissipated before the father's sternness.
"I will atone for all, to the best of my ability."