"I mean that the death of your niece does not seem to be received with
that degree of sorrow which an uncle would naturally feel."
"_Fool_! she was not my niece!"
"Why are you so anxious to establish her decease?"
"Was I anxious?" said Jaspar, not knowing how far he might have betrayed
himself.
"Quite enough so to convince even the most indifferent observer that you
were extremely rejoiced at the event," replied Dalhousie, willing to
make out a strong case.
Jaspar did not reply, and it was plain Dalhousie's remarks had had their
effect.
"But, Mr. Dumont, I flatter myself I am a man of discretion. As you were
saying, you need an overseer," said Dalhousie, with a glance at Jaspar,
which conveyed more meaning than his words.
The glance was irresistible, and Jaspar engaged him at a liberal salary,
as well as his wife, who was to be the housekeeper at Bellevue.
Dalhousie was a needy man. His fortunes were on the descending scale.
Born in France, he had emigrated to this country, with the chimerical
hope of speedily making a fortune.
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