"Are you the man you were two months ago? If you are, I need ask no more questions."
"I am. And now let me tell you, if you have work for me, the pay must be liberal. I have reformed in one respect, and that is from low prices to high ones. I have done too many of your little chores for nothing. Good pay is my motto now."
"Be it so," replied Maxwell, whose suspicions, as Vernon had intended, were diverted by this by-talk. "I will pay you well. If my plan succeeds, three thousand."
"Good! that sounds liberal. But suppose it fail?"
"It cannot fail."
"What is the plan? You mean to help old Jaspar out of the scrape, and save the girl too. How can you do it?"
"There is only one way—marry the girl!"
"Just so," replied Vernon, with an indifference it was hard to assume.
"Here are the whole details of the plan. I have Jaspar's consent to my marriage with the girl, but I dare not attempt to consummate the scheme in the city. She is so cursed obstinate, that it is a hard matter to manage her. I saw Jaspar last night, and we concluded to have the ceremony performed at Bellevue, as soon as possible, or that fiery son of Mars and your worthy patriarch will be down upon us, and spoil the whole."
"Never fear them," said Vernon. "You will not proceed for a week or two?"