But the Cliffords, being
gentlemen, are brave, and being ladies, are chaste."
"Oh, indeed!" hissed Bartley. "Then how comes it that your niece
there--whose name is _Miss_ Clifford, I believe--spent what this good man
calls a honey-moon, with a young gentleman, at this good man's inn?"
Here the good man in question made a faint endeavor to interpose, but the
gentlefolks by their impetuosity completely suppressed him.
"It's a falsehood!" cried Julia, haughtily.
"You scurrilous cad!" roared the Colonel, and shook his staff at him, and
seemed on the point of charging him.
But Bartley was not to be put down this time. He snatched the bracelet
from the man, and held it up in triumph.
"And left this bracelet there to prove it was no falsehood."
Then Julia got frightened at the evidence and the terrible nature of the
accusation. "Oh!" cried she, in great distress, "can any one here believe
that I am a creature so lost? I have not seen the bracelet these two
months. I lent it--to--ah, here she is! Mary, save me from shame; you
know I am innocent.
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