"
This was too broad an attempt to buy over the young man, and it
failed. Starting to his feet, with a feeling of indignation in his
heart so strong that he could not repress it, he answered, with knit
brows and eyes fixed sternly and steadily on the merchant--"Leonard
Jasper! I thought you knew me better! I am not to be bought with your
money."
As sudden was the change that passed over the merchant. He, too,
sprang to his feet, and conscious that his offer of bribery, which he
had humiliated himself to make, had failed, with clenched hand and set
teeth, he fairly hissed out--
"You'll rue this day and hour, Edward Claire--rue it even to the
moment of death! I will never forget nor forgive the wrong and insult.
Don't think to escape me--don't think to foil me. The child is mine by
right, and I will have her, come what will."
Feeling how useless it would be to multiply words, Claire turned away
and left the store. He did not go home immediately, as he had thought
of doing, in order to relieve the suspense of his wife, who was, he
knew, very anxious to learn for what purpose Jasper had sent for him;
but went to his place of business and laid the whole substance of his
interview before his fast friend, Mr. Melleville, whose first response
was one of indignation at the offer made by Jasper to buy him over to
his wishes with money.
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