If either refuses to marry according to this scheme, he or she does nob receive a penny ; bub if both ac cept the terms and if one of them should unfortunately die before the marriage has taken place the other inherits the entire fortune. It is for this reason that I say I would nob stand in Paul Remington's shoes.' 4 You evidently have no high opinion of the fair bride.'

'On the contrary, I have a very high opinion of her beauty and of her power. She has interested me from the start, and I have been amusing myself by inquiring into her past life. I have not had time enough yet to complete bhe inquiry, bub I have learned enough to convince me that the defunct was lucky to escape marriage, even at the price he paid.' ' This is terrible ! Surely you do nob mean to hint that the fair one has made hersolf amenable to law !'

• My words do nob imply so much. Now adays ambitious beauty has studiod the code and knows how far she may go with impunity ; it is nob she bub hsr dupes who are punished ; she holds the cat, bub the cab alone gebs burnb in removing bhe chestnuts from the fire. Poor Felix was nob the first individual that was blinded by her beauty, and Paul Remington will nob be the last. I havo heard that over in Madrid, a passionate admirer hoping to call her wife, firab lavished his money on her, and bhen blew.out hie brains when he discovered thab her interest in him ceased with his vanished "money. I believe there are Feveral other similar cases.' 'Bub, my dear fellow, there is a wide difference between allowing a fool to com mit suicide on her account and committing murder !'

* Ta, ta, my dear doctor, you go too fast. I do nob excuse bho angel of being a mur deress, ib is an insult to her intelligence and bo her love of comfort. I need nob tell you that conscienceless beauty can bring about everything, even revolutions. 