"
"Indeed, Captain Duncombe," answered the other, coolly; "the
'Albatross' only entered the port of London this afternoon. This is the
first place I have come to, and of all men on earth I least expected to
meet you here."
"And from your tone, youngster, it seems as if the surprise were by no
means a pleasant one," cried Joseph Duncombe. "May I ask how Rosamond
Duncombe's husband comes to address his wife's father in the tone you
have just used to me?"
"You are Rosamond's father," answered George; "that is sufficient
reason that Valentine Jernam's brother should keep aloof from you."
"The man's mad," muttered Captain Duncombe; "undoubtedly mad."
"No," answered George Jernam, "I am not mad--I am only too acutely
conscious of the misery of my position. I love your daughter, Joseph
Duncombe; love her as fondly and truly as ever a man loved the wife of
his choice. And yet here am I skulking in London, alone and miserable,
at the hour when I should be hurrying back to the home of my darling.
Dear though she is to me--truly as I love her--I dare not go back to
her; for between her and me there rises the phantom of my murdered
brother Valentine!"
"What on earth has my daughter Rosamond to do with the wretched fate of
your brother?" asked the captain.
"In her own person, nothing; but it is her misfortune to be allied to
one who was in league with the assassin, or assassins, of my unhappy
brother.
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