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 "I should have been extremely surprised if you could. If you don't insult that man, Miss Courtown, in ten minutes I shall be no more. I've already a nervous fever."

"May I have the honour of taking a glass of Champagne with you, Mr. Grey?" said Boreall.

"Mr. Grey, indeed!' muttered Vivian: "Sir, I never drink anything but brandy."

"Allow me to give you some Champagne, Miss," resumed Boreall, as he attacked the modest Miss Macdonald; "Champagne, you know," continued he, with a smile of agonising courtesy, "is quite the lady's wine."

"Cynthia Courtown," whispered Vivian with a sepulchral voice, "'tis all over with me—I've been thinking what could come next. This is too much—I'm already dead—have Boreall arrested; the chain of circumstantial evidence is very strong."