Toppleton's Client; Or, A Spirit in Exile

d yet he was not entirely to blame. He requested candour from you, and you declined to be candid. You should have told him of your engagement

have done very differently if you had been in my position. I was jealous of the fiend, I suppose, and I

as a heartless trifler," returned Hopkins. "But

le escape for him was to leave the body, which he did just as the attacking party landed a resounding thwack upon the back of my neck. Of course, the minute the fiend evacuated the premises, I appeared to Mr. Hicksworthy-Johnstone to have been killed, because there was in reality no slightest bit of animation left in my body. It was the horror of this discovery that covered the retreat of the fiend, who, more horribly green than ever-the green that comes from rage-mounted the steps he had so summarily descended a moment before, and hurried into my room, dragging me by sheer force of will, which I was unable to resist, after him. You see, Hopkins, we were now nothin

iend. 'I should like to know what excuse you can have f

not mine, but yours. You have endeavoured to exercise rights which wer

und crystal inkstand loaded with ink at the very core of my waistcoat? Is it a matter of love for a grey-haired villain like that to drag me or yo

d. 'That man was only doing his

r that aggravated me as it had aggravated the ol

fiancée, you poor blind omnis

ermined and very angry being. He rose from his chair, and fixing his eye upon the point where he thought I was-and he had a fac

ost feared. I have been haunted by the fear that you would want to marry some woman simply for the empty, mortal reason that you loved her, utterly ignoring the fact that by a judicious matrimonial step you could attain to heights that otherwise could never be yours. Having your interests entirely in view, I had arranged a match which would strengthen into permanence your, at present,

right to select m

Do you suppose you could take her to a ball at the Earl of Mawlberry's? Do you suppose that any woman, in fact, who would consent to marry you as you

't want to see you again. You've ruined me by putting me in false positions from t

istle was perceptible I remained quiet-quiet as my agitation would permit; and then, when the last flute-like note died away in

, or whether the fiend had finally crowned his infamous work by stealing it. I sought for it in vain. Forgetful of my invisibility, I asked the janitor if he had seen it, and he fled shrieking with fear from the building, and declined ever thereafter to enter it again

cried, as I e

cognizing my voice, they feared my ghost had come to haunt them, and with this realization came to my cons

, and if I had had my teeth I should have gnashe

t in his determination to lea

night, and reached New York in time to hear in that far-off clime of the m

ut that it was not dead or buried I had good reason to believe; for one morning, while I was away from my rooms floating along Rotten Row, hoping to catch sight of myself if perchance I still lived, f

k robbery," s

oath that my hand had penned the order for the removal of the goods, and as for the clothes and othe

est he should seem to his visitor less acute than a full-fledged lawyer s

exile. "And where do you sup

aid Hopkins. "At

a's parlour again, and was filled with consternation to see standing there before the mirror, adjusting his tie, the fiend in full possession of my treasured self. I was about to utter a cry of delight when I heard

ead!' cried Ara

fiend coolly.' Have I the honour of addre

y name was Edward'-'oh, Edward, what does this mean?' she cried. 'My father has fled to Am

ough he did inflict injuries upon me from which I shall be a long time in r

he replied,

n was your father, but I am not what you might call mad. I cherish no vindictive feelings. But as my t

and I could not clarify the cloud upon her understanding without imperilling her reason. Oh, Hopkins, Hopkins, were the fires of H

between your experience and Hades, I think I should wa

of hesitation, and said, 'I have no desire

icksworthy-Johnstone, I would say to you that I should like to kn

our this afternoon. You know how we became engaged. You know you asked me to be your w

ees to a woman in my life. I never asked but one wom

mean to say to me, Edward, that y

t to be married before the month is up. I mean to say that I never saw you before in my life, and I should like to know what your intentions are concerning this absurd claim that I am engaged to you may be, for I do not intend to have my future marred by any breach of promise sui

spute the Lady Ariadne's possession of so accomplished a lord and master as yourself,-though I should do so were I more philanthropically disposed. If it be the duty of one woman to protect the happiness of another, I should do all that lies in my power to prevent this marriage; but inasmuch as my

r kind words have taken a heavy load from my h

discover if possible his address; but I could not bring myself to leave Arabella at that moment, she

ll a mistake. Open your eyes and see. I am her

moan and a flutter

hear me, sweetheart? Open your eye

still closed. 'What does it all

ons I have no control. He is a fiend who has me in his power. He is-oh, Arabella, d

,' she murmured.

One little kiss was all she asked, and I-I hadn't

Edward,' sh

I cried out

zing wildly around her, and then seeing that she was abs

g his hands. "Dear me! The poor g

d as far as I know has remained so until this day, for with the restoration of consciousness, and the shock of opening her eyes to see nothing tha

end?" queri

by the police, but I, of course, being invisible, floated over their heads, past the guards, through the awning into the church. There was a wedding in progress, and the groom's back seemed familiar, though I could not place it at first, and naturally, Toppleton, for it was my own, as I discovered, a moment later. When the last irrevocable words binding me to a woman I had never before seen had been spoken, and the organ began to peal

and high position, utterly unknown to me, and not only were my own mother

aristocratic multitude, I impotently endeavoured to strike him, of which he was serenely unconscious; but as he left th

e presence of which you have robbed me, or may every curse

e-a green smile-seeing which his bride, the Lady A

me famous, for every passing year has brought some new honour to my name. I have been elevated to the peerage; I have been ambassador to the most bri

rant of law as a justice of the peace, but for your sake I will study and see what can be done.

Pompton

oppleton, "the

e so," sai

end's prese

astle of Bu

ognizing the name as that of one who fai

," returned

ll open their eyes when I tell them that I have been retained to institute habeas corpus proceedings in