A CONFIDENTIAL AGENT:

lIV JAMES PAYN, AUTHOIt OK "By Proxy," "Under Oni_ Roof," " Walteu's Word," "llioh Spirits," Etc.

CHAPTER XXIV. MISTRESS AND MAID.

ON the morning upon which Matthew Helston disappeared from the world of living men, leaving so small a gap—yet one which, for two fond hearts at least, was not to be filled up-Lady Pargiter roso earlier than was her wont after a ball night. Her face, never at its best in the morning hours, wore a look of care, and she bad slept ill. To a close observer—ami there was one iv the person of her waiting maid, Putty Selwood—sho had an anxious air, as though (like poor Sabey) she too watched and wailed in expectation of some tidings, not of a pleasant sort. Her tongue was silent, but ever and anon she seemed on the point of speech; while more than once, with an impatient movement of the bead, she would look sharply up at Patty (when that damsel's attention was other wise engaged) with a glance half of dis trust, half of inquiry. Once Patty caught her at it in the wardrobe-glass, ami noticed that ber ladyship turnedscnrlet and hither lip, with an expression that showed she was in imagination biting Patty. How strange is it that, though Civilisa tion progresses with such giant strides, Human Nature remains much where it was a thousand years ago, or perhaps a million ! If servants bad been serfs or vassals, as in the good old times, it is probable that Tatty .Selwood would have had as bard a time' of it with her ladyship as ever had female slave with Human mistress. It is my belief that she would havo put her in tho pond that morning to catch lampreys without a twinge of pity, Not, as in the historical ca-e, because -she had broken a vase, nor from simple cruelty ; but because, for one thing, the gill possessed a secret of hers of tbe last importance ; aud for tlio other, that she kept an obstinate silence upon it to the only person to whom it was safe to speak of it -namely, herself. Ami slie did so long to know if anything had occurred in connection with it.

Under such circumstances, it. was a treat to watch Miss Selwood's face, who—per fectly conscious of what was expected of her, and resolute not to be the first to speak—exhibited not only the most com plete sang froid, but a certain innocent gaiety in the performance of her duties, which almost drove tbe other distracted. She would smooth and smooth anew with the ivory brush the scanty lock* of her mistress, as if in ecstasy at their silken softness ; and she would set to work again and again upon the .slantwise nirting (for it was one of Ino troubles of her ladyship that Nature find given her a tuft on the forehead which necessitated a detour), as though it were the one pleasure of her life to guide flic plough of tortoiscslicll upon that miniature mountain side. At last, as though en durance was no longer possible—" How stupid you are, Selwood I Lady Pargiter snapped out; "you havo been more than half-au-lioui' .loin" my hair!" " Indeed,my lady, I'm very sorry. I sup pose it's the damp. What a day it is !— the streets are one iiiosli of snow ! And what a night it was I 1 don't think I ever beard the wind blow so as when you sent after that poor Mr Hel .ton." " Hold your tongue, you fool!" said Lady Pargiicr vehemently. "Did I not toll you never to allude to that matter?" " Yes, my lady. I ask your pardon for mentioning it again even between oursclver. For my part, I am the last one to blab, especially when so much- will you wear your steel or your tilvcr chatelaine, my lady ? —when so very much, as you said last night, might depend upon it." Again those prominent upper teeth of Lady Pargiter's came out above her under lip, and tore at them with impotent fury. She looked moiclikc ahorse than ever, aud one that had taken to cnb-bitiug. Ah she did not speak, however, Miss Selwood con tinued in her smoothest tone —" As far as I am concerned, my lady, you may depend on it no word shall pass my lips. But as to sending after the person m question, Har vey went hisself, aud must therefore know it happened—so far." •• Is it Harvey's turn in the hall this morning?'' " No, my lady," " Not that i. matters, of course. Noth'iig is less likely than that any question should be asked of him. But—what time is it?" " Half-past ten, my lady." "So late I" Lady Pargiter drew a deep breath of relief. "11l news Hies apace, so it is clear that nothing is known of anything wrong in Paulet-streot, Wo should have heard of it soon enough had it been other wise."

"Oh, but we have heard, my lady?" "What?" Lidy Pargiter rose from her chair, and turned upon her waiting-maid like a tigress ; so fiercely flashed her eyes that Patty with great proi><r>tuos shifted the chair on which the otl.or had been sit ting, so as to still to keep it between them. "Something has happened, then, and you have daied to keep it from mc?" "Nay, I dared not tell it to you, my lady," pleaded Patty, with a show of terror that was not wholly genuine. She had had many a sharp insulting word from her mis tress, but she was by no mcaua afraid of her. As love in its completeness is incom patible with fear, so is extreme hate; and Patty hated L.dy Pargiter very cordially. It was her role, however, on this occasion to simulate alarm nnd submision. "Did not your ladyship lay express commands on me not to mention tbe subject, and repeat them to mc this very morning?" But oven whilo she said the words she could not restrain " the laughing devil ii her eye"—the imp of delight that rejoices in another's pain, while it afreets to sympa thise with it.

"You lie!" cried Lady Pargiter sternly, '' and you know that I know it. You take pleasure in the anxiety which I suffer." She paused a little, and then went on in low but distinct tones. "You think you have au easy place here, uo doubt, with opportunities for thieving; and you have taken advantage of them. It is convenient, too, to be under the same roof with Harvey. Ah, you "—here the torrent of her wrath was for an instant delayed for an epithet; at last she found one — "you swine! You thought, because I chose to shut my eyes, that I was blind. I could turn you out to-day without a character, or one that would be worse than none, and into the street. Do you understand?''

"Oh, I understand, my lady."

There was something in the girl's voice— a concentration of such exceeding bitter ness and malignity—that it arrested Lady Pargiter's fury in mid volley. " How can you be so foolish, then," sho continued in milder tones, "to tempt mo to such ex tremities? I have had an almost sleepless night with thinking of that Helston — ' poor Mr Helston,' as you just now called him to annoy me—as you might have guessed by my very looks, You must have

known, too, my anxiety to learn what has happened, Selwood, and yot yon would not open your mouth. Had I not reason to be angry, then, and to say things, which, in cold blood, I should not have said?— The black silk dress of which you spoke to me yesterday need not go to the milliner's; you may have it for yourself." "Thank you, my lady." Lady Pargiter was once more seated before the dressing-table, but Patty was busying herself at the chest of drawers; she could not trust her face to be read in the mirror for a moment or two; and it had been no easy task to reply to her ladyship's generous offer in quiet, though it must be confessed far from grateful tones. " I hate quarrelling with an old servant, continued Lady Pargiter; "and am always sorry when I have said anything harsh t_i ber.'1' „ "I am sure you are sorry, my lady, answered Patty, in a voice that she did her best not to render .significant. "I think you said you would wear your steel chatelaine this morning?" To this, though manifestly intended for her aggravation, as procastinating the important subject in hand, Lady Pargiter made no reply; she was content to con sider it as her waiting-maid's parting-shot, after which there was to be peace between them. , . " Well, Patty, what has happened in Paulct Street" " I don't know in in that, my lady; hut there have been two messengers here this morning—one from Mr .Signets place, ana one (as I understand) from Mr Helston's house—to ask what lias become of him." " What has becomo of him?" gasped Lady Pargiter like a fifth • rate, or ex hausted, echo. " Vcs, my lady, he has disappeared— that's what they say—with your ladyship's jewels; and they came here understanding that .Sir Charles"had given him shelter for the iiiuht —Take a good draught of the sal volatile, ma'am : a good sniff of the salts. Now you find yourself better, don't you?" It was not often that Lady Pargiter " gave way " except to iits of passion, but for the moment she had been on the verge of a fainting fit. Her face was quite white, save for tne tip of her nose, which retained its incandescence. "I hear from Blake, ma'am, as saw the lady "

"What lady?" "Well, I suppose Mr Hclston's wife; she came in a cab after the other one, and in a most dreadful twitter. She had a baby, if seems, quite recent —" "Rubbishl" exclaimed Lady Pargiter; " .tho cares about the woman or her baby either? All this is only what was to be expected; 1 felt it would come, last night. There is a regular plot on foot against inc."

"A plot, my lady?" "Of course there is; they will try to make out that I have got the diamonds— that the man left them with me -don't you understand?"

" 1 think I do, my lady. And what your ladyship wants," she added with simplicity—" supposing the diamonds are not found—is lo make Mr Signet pay you i.'i.,000 in place of them?" " Of course I shall make him pay it." "Only, if he knew what we know," observed Miss Selwood, with an air of careless inquiry, "there would be some difficulty about that?"

"It "would c»usc delay, no doubt," returned Lady Pargiter, speaking very quietly, but between her closed teeth, and tapping the floor with her foot; "that is why I enjoin silence upon you—the most absolute silence -and also on Harvey. See to that at once."

"But supposing I was asked whether

"Huah—be silent; you will not be .asked. They will not dare to a-k me, even. But'if they did, 1 should deny it. It is necessary to lie when one lias to deal with liars."

Here there was a knock at the door,which Patty opened n little way. " There is a man below stairs, my lady, who wishes to speak to you." " A man ? What man ? Not Mr Sig net ?" she added in a fierce whisper. " No, my lady; a stranger, lie says if it is not convenient he will call again, but that his business is pressing." " Lot him wait; 1 will see him—-" Then, in impatient reference to certain finishing touciies which Patty was giving to her costume, " There, that will do ; do I look pale oi flurried ?" " You look quite yourself, my lady," answered Patty, in a toac that seemed to imply that that was the perfection of femi nine appearance. "You're a good girl, Patty. I was think ing of giving you a little present at Christ mas, but you may as well have it to-day. Hero is a five-pound note." " Thank you, my lady." " You understand that not a word is to pass your lips ot what took place last night ?" "I quite understand, my lady." Lady Pargiter swept out of the room in her grandest style ; a third-rate sort of haughtiness which reminded one of the minuet just as the tune of a barrel-organ might bo suggestive of an oratorio. Miss Selwood looked on admiringly till the last skirt of her mistress's train had cleared the doorway ; then a frown came over her prcUy face, and she clenched her little fist. "You swine, iyou called mc, did you ? And a swine is a pig, 1 be lieve. Very well, my lady."

CHAPTER XXV, AN ADMISSION.

Lady Pargiter was not a dull woman : she had a great deal of that sort of know ingncss which among men is called cun ning, and a piercing eye for the main chance ; but slic was ignorant in quite an extraordinary degree. Her father, the money-lender, had not given her even the education that women of her cla-s are usually possessed of; perhaps he felt that she would have money enough to atone for all deficienccs, or, having done without education of any kind himself—and so very well, as he judged—he attached no im portance to it. She wrote a good hand— " quite a business hand," he used proudly to say—and it certainly was not a lady's hand ; but her spelling was infamous. Iv that branch of polite learning, however, many a public-school boy is deficient. Eng lish literature and modem history and fcography are ignored in those seminaries; met a boy the other day, who was con sidered a classical prodigy and had taken a "double remove," who had never heard of Cherbourg. But theu he had the ancient towns of tbe Peloponnesus at his fingers' ends. Now, Lady Pargiter knew no more of the Peloponnesus than she did of Cher bourg, When the public-school boy grows up, ho cannot help, any more than other men, acquiring a certain amount of general information from newspapers or conversa tion : while her ladyship had acquired nothing. She never read anything m the newspapers except the " Fashionable Intel ligence," and her talk was on the same topic. The philosopher who observed that everybody could acquire information who was fool enough to waste his time in so doing, though it was ten to one that he would afterwards turn out a bore, has my warmest admiration. When you once take to " improving yout mind,"' there is no

knowing where to stop; you go through so much to attain so littlo, that the temptation is enormous to make other people aware of your labours; but to be absolutely ignorant of affairs that are going on about you is to become a nuisance in another way. Yon arc like a person who has a sense defi cient, and are a drag upon the social wheel. Before persons of intelligence, who .had the honour of Lady Pargiter's acquaintance, ad dressed her, they had to take precautions to be understood; it was almost as bad as practising the deaf-and-dumb alphabet. The wife of a country squire, whom lie had cruelly snatched from a very agreeable metropolitan circle, once informed me that after many year's experience of Arcadia, she had arrived at the conclusion that not only did her neighbours discuss the same topics, but that they actually said the same things, according to tbe season of the year; that their remarks recurred as it were in cycle?. Being so far apart, and also being destitute of any particular significance, the fact escapes the recognition of the ordinary observer, but tbat it may be the case is cer tain from what lias been done at whist. In order to fairly try the skill _of one pair of partners .against another, it' has been found necessary to note the hands that arc dealt to each, and lo give them the same hands—but vice versa—six months after wards : all recollection of them has by that time been effaced, and they become practi cally new. But Pady Pargiter did not even vary her conversation with the seasons, for she Knew only one—namely, the London season. The last ball, and the next one, were her only topics. To listen to any other was a strain upon her attention, and the attention of a lady with £30,000 a year and diamonds worth a year's income should not be strained. On any occasion, however, on which the commonest knowledge was of real importance, Lady Pargiter was at a great disadvantage; and such an occasion had now -risen.

When the card of Mr Brail, Detective Department, Scotland Yard, was handed to her by that gentleman in person (for he it was who had called on her that morning so long before visiting hours), she at once jumped to the conclusion that he had been sent to her by the police. She had heard of Scotland Yard, and she had heard of detec tives, and she at once combined her infor mation : if she had known only a little more, if she had even read some of those excellent works of fiction in which the duties of detectives are portrayed, she would have been aware that they are often employed by private individuals. As it was, instead of beholding in the man a possible emissary of Mr Signet's, she only saw a member of the force which is supported by the rate payers, and who should naturally be well disposed to whoever paid the most rates. "1 have called in accordance with in structions," said Mr.Brail, after a respect ful salutation, "concerning your ladyship's diamonds, which it seems are gone a-miss ing." "My diamonds ! and missing ! This is the first 1 have heard of it." She spoke with great coolness, nnd apparent delibera tion ; but the fact was, that she had answered on the impulse of the moment. It was her rule of life (as having an aristo cratic and indifferent air) not lo appear moved by any event, so far as outsiders were concerned, and also she thought it good policy to let the policeman tell Ids own story. It would not only have disgus ted her but very seriously alarmed her (for she had good cause for alarm) if she liad known that what the policeman was saying to himself was, "That's one lie, my lady, to bedu with." "Woll, ma'am, the fact is, Mr Helstou —be as is Mr Signet's assistant—is missing, and the jewels were in his charge." "Of course they were,' assented Lady Pargiter with emphasis. "Well, ma'am, you see I'm getting up the ease, which is a very important one, and I am naturally desirous of obtaining every information." "The interests of justice demand it," said Lady Pargiter approvingly. "Just so; it is better for everybody's sake - except those as have not acted on the square—that I should be supplied with in formation."

"There can't be a doubt of it," said Lady Pargiter; "nor can there be a doubt," she added, "that some person or persons " (this she thought quite a legal touch) "are not acting, as you call it, on the square." "Well, ma am, yes; there must have been robbery at least" "As you say, at least, Mr Brail—and perhaps something else." " I am afraid so, ma'am, indeed. It's even betting as it's murder."

"I am not of your opinion, Mr Brail." The detective raised his eyes to her rather quicker than was his wont, for all his movements were quiet and methodical. " It's only my idea,'' continued she, with a sense of having said too much. " Let us hear your story first." " Well, ma'am, I've got no story; it isn't my business to have one in these cases, but only to liiten to other people's. I've been to Mr Sigoet's, of course."

"Well!" said she impatiently; for he spoke so slowly as almost to appear to have an impediment in his speech. " He has nothing to say except that Mr Helston didn't come to his establishment this morning, and consequently did not bring back the jewels. Then, Lady Par giter, I went to the cabman's; he has brought Mr Helston to your house. I am bound to say he seems an honest man enough, and to tell a plain tale—though it's a strange one—in a plain way." "Very likely: why should' he not ? Well, what does he say ?" " Why, he says—and he sticks to it— that he brought Mr Helston to your house as usual, but never took him away again : that he left him here."

" Left Mr Helston in Moor Street ? in my house?"

("If she's aetiug," thought Mr Brail to himself, "she's a keen one.") No expres sion of face or voica could bo more instinct with astonishment and even indignation. '' That's what he says, my lady : that Mr Hel-ton was asked to stop here."

" Then tbe man must be mad or drunk. How could such a thing be possible ? Do you suppose that my husband—Sir Charles Pargiter—is on visiting terms with a person like this Helston, that he should iuvite him to remain here?" The scorn in her voice was scathing, but it did not scath Mr Brail.

" I suppose nothing, my Lady," he an swered rcspctfully ; " my business is only to hear other people's suppositious. Ruth erford's— that s tho cabman's—supposition is that Mr Helston was ill with n cold or summat, that the night was a very incle ment one, and therefore he was asked by your ladyship "

"By mc," ejaculated Lady Pargiter. " This is too audacious."

•'Was asked by you—through your footman—to remain for a few hours. Here are my notes : ye?, 'at a quarter past three,' said he, 'it being very snowy aud blusterous, I had just driven off from the door with my fare (that was Mr Helston of course), ' When one of your six-footers '— I beg your pardon, my lady, he means footman—' runs after the cab and calls me. I stops and he speaks to Mr Helston. Mr Helston teUs me to drive back again to the house, and then he goes indoors. In a

minute or two the footman comes out and says that his missus has offered Mr Helston shelter for the nigt, and that, being so stormy, he has accepted it. And then I drives away, glad enough to go stiaight home '—which it seems he did, concluded Mr Brail shutting up his memorandum book.

"It is a falsehood from beginning to end," exclaimed Lady Pargiter, pale with passion. "I should as soon have thowcht of offering such hospitality to the cabman himself."

" I am to understand from yon, then, my lady, that the whole story is a fabrication, am I ?" observed Mr Brail with a sort of gentle importunity. "_.or instance, that yon never sent your footman after Mr Hel stonatall." For a moment she hesitated. Then she answered plump enough, " No I never did."

" Very good, ma'am.—Then I have no further observation to offer at present." He was about to take up his hat in de parture, when she stopped him with a movement of her hund, and a curt, "But 1 have, Mr Brail." " Very good, ma'am, my time is yours j" and he sat down again. '' since you are here in the interests of justice," she continued, speaking in a hard, slow tone, "it is only right that you should know the truth, or what I believe to be the truth, Mr Brail. You said you were desirous of hearing the opinions of other people." " Quite true, ma'am ; any suggestion may be valuable, and especially coming from your ladyship." " It is not a suggestion, but a conviction, a conviction forced upon mc by the con duct of a certain person of whom this Hel ston is the mere creature. When I said there was something in this matter worse than robbery, I aliuded to what I believe the law terms a conspiracy." 'Iho detective inclined Ms head. " There is such a thing, ma'am, in law, no doubt, and it is a very serious matter." " It ought to be a hanging matter," ob served Lady Pargiter witn decision. " Well, if you will take my advice, it is in that di rection that you will turn your attention." " You thiuk this little affair was under taken as it were by a company, ma'am 1" " I do. The man Helstou had not the wits for it himself; but a certain opportun ity of fraud having presented itselt to him, he informed his employer, and the two men concocted the robbery." " And would you have any objection ma'am, to state," said Mr Brail, with that grave movement of his head which, with out being precisely assent or approval, seemed nevertheless to invite confidence, " what the opportunity was." " It is a matter that does not affect this enquiry, Mr Brail; but I have reason to believe there was such an opportunity, and that Mr Signet took advantage of it." " I should suggest that there was no ne cessity for mentioning names, my lady— leastways, at thia stage of the business." " Very good ; of course I speak to you in confidence."

" Just so, my lad}'; and there beiog no witnesses but you and me, it would be difficult to prove a libel; your contention is, I reckon, that, the diamonds having beon lost when not in your possession, Mr Sig net is answerable for them."

"Most certainly it is. Hence arises his miserable device that his assistant found shelter here last night. That he has sub orned the cabman I have no sortof doubt."

"Thenwhere is it—if I may make so bold—that iv your ladyship's opinion Mr Helston is?"

"I believe he is in hiding eomewhere, yet not so closely hid but that Mr Sig net can find hit.!. A man lit_e thvt can take my diamonds and set them afresh so that none of them can be recog nised. It is a cheaper way even than giving me half their value for them, as he once had the nardihood to offer!" and Lady Pargiier's face, which had been pale enough during some portions ol the interview, flushed with the remembrance of that out rage. "VSell, my lady, I will take to heart what you say," said Mr Brail, "and by putting two and two together make no doubt tbat I shall come to the bottom of this matter. Good morning, and many thanks to your ladyship." The instant he had parted from her, Lady Pargiter rang for her maid. , " You did what I told you with respect to Harvey ?' said she quickly 5 " I mean, as to telling him to hold his tongue I" " Certainly I did, my lady. "And you said it as from yourself, and not from me!"

"Well, of course, mylady," replied Patty, ■with a smile that seemed to say, " Am 1 an idiot?" "I laid every injunction upon Harvey directly I left your layskip's pre sence, and, to do him justice, he was willing enough to oblige me, only " "Only what?" inquire 1 her mistress im patiently. "Well, I am afraid it was a little late, my lady, for the first man as this Mr Brail came across—indeed he opened the door to him -wa. Harvey : aud the first question he put to him was, "Did your mistress happen to send you after Mr Helston's cab last night?" When, meaning no harm, he told the truth, and said, ' Yes, she did.'" Lady Pargiter made no reply; only lisped out the word "dolt," and sank into a chair ; but if those who averred that her ladyship's face was "incapable of expres sion" could have seen it at that moment, they would have confessed their error..

CaAPTER XXVI.

PUBLICITY

It was characteristic of the quiet little household in Cavendish Grove that it took in no daily newspaper : Uncle Stephen was wont to aver that sooner or later he was sure to hear any news that was worth hear ing, while aU that w». worthless died away and never reached hiiu ; while Matthew was too wrapped up iv his own thoughts, and in the causes of Madge's failure, to in terest himself in the affairs of the day. But of late " the flying buttress," as Mr Frank Barlow had been named by Sabey, because of his propinquity, and also from his intimate relations with his family, kept the ladies au oourant with all that was going oiu He was "of the day, daily," as Uncle Stephen said, both by nature and calling, and the morning newspaper, and indeed the evening, was as the breath of life to him. On the morning after Matthew's disappearance, however, he found his favourity journal a little too interesting; like a man who, though accustomed to quinine, takes six grains instead of two, and discovers that a tonic has its draw backs The shock, nevertheless, although severe, was far from unexpected; he had been well aware that tbat little paragraph in'the "Night Cap" would grow like a mushroom (or rather, like rankest toadstool) and be served in the morning, in its new shape, at every breakfast table in the king dom. The '' Mysterious disappearance of a jeweller's assistant," was now transformed into " Great Jewel Robbery," and the cir cumstance of Matthew being missing was - made subordinate to the loss of "those diamonds which on the person of their owner, Lady Pargiter, have been so long a familiar object with all frequenters of the haunts of Fashion." It was wonderful, considering the short time that had elapsed

since the occurrence, how accurate, on the whole, were thejdetails; but atthcßame, time as it seemed to Mr Barlow, the paragraph 1 had the appearance of being more or less •'inspired;" it took for granted the loss of the jewels would fall upon " the respect able and long-established firm of Star and Signet," whom it condoled with accord ingly ; but it it especially condoled with £ Lady Pargiter, whom "no sum of money i could recompense for a parure which was 9 practically priceless, ns well as endeared to her by hereditary association." The sting of the narrative, however—which was a pietty long one—lay in its tail: for it con cluded with these words, " We understand; that the missing personage, Matthew Hel ston, had been entrusted with the custody 1 of the jewels only on one or two previous occasions, and had been in the service of Messrs Star and Signet but a few months." "These people are worth powder and shot, that's one comfort," was Mr Barlow's first exclamation on reading this unpleasant $ remark; " let them only speak out a trifle more plainly, and, by Jove, they shall pay for it, But in the meantime what a blow it will be for Amy and her sister! They're sure to see it, however, or something worse;. , at all events some " damned good-natnred \ friend" is sooner or later certain to tell g them all about it. I'd better take it and get it over." Accordingly he took it in and showed it to Uncle Stephen and Amy; the former agreed with him that it was only what was ' )\ to have been expected, but the latter was. vehemently; indignant. She only wished, the man who wrote such words of Matthew could but have seen his wife, as she had. seen her, sleepless, desolate, desparing. "My dear Amy," said Uncle Stephen, V "he would only have made another para graph about her— and cleared, perhaps, seven-and-sixpence by it. Do you really mean that Sabey has had no sleep f'

" I believe, none; I have stolen into her room at all hours, and found her watching ; sitting, lying, or standing, it is all the same with her ; her eyes are never closed, and begin to have a haunted look in them which terrifies me. The very child at times seems frightened at her, and cries distressingly. Should she see this paper I should tremble for her reason."

" Yet it had no ill effect onyotr, who are her other self," observed Uncle Stephen ; " I noticed that, on the contrary, it made you pluck up spirit." "To let Mrs Helston see it would be a dangerous experiment," remarked Mr Barlow, " in her present weak condition." " There is nothing so bad'as suspense, in. my opinion," argued the old man. " Any change from that would be a change for the better. If you could persuade her that her husband's honour is impugned, and needs defending, that would put heart into her." t "She needs it,"murmured Amy,, with a. deep sigh. At this moment there was a violent ring at the front door.

"Did I not hear a bell?" said Uncle Stephen, a. though a 34-pounder had been fired at one's car, and one had asked, "Did not something go off just now!"' Amy rushed into the hall, to find Mr Signet stamping flakes of snow there off his boots, which he had incurred: in the pas sage from tho cab, and inquiring of the ser vant for herself.

"My dear Miss Thurlow, you are the very person I came to see," said he effu sively. " Is there any news, Mr Signet ?" . - ,;,". " WeU, scarcely news : but P promised to come, yon know, if anything occurred." "It is very kind of you, I'm sure. Oh, Mr Signet, do you bring us hope-?" " Well, at all events this will help us," be said, holding up the same newspaper which Mr Barlow had just brought. " Pub licity is always useful in these cases; but of all the disgraceful, abominable state ments "

"Is that you, Mr Signet exclaimed a broken voice at the top of the stairs. "Yes, ma'am, it's me," returned the jeweller, not very graciously. " I hope I find you as well as can be expected. I wiU. come to you, if you wish it, in one minute, but I want to say two words in private to * MissThurlow."

"Oh, Frank, here is Mr Signet," said Amy, as Mr Barlow mode his appearance in the hall with a frown on his usually pleas autface. "He has something to say" (here she dropped her voice) " that he does dot wish dear Sabey to hear." * " You will keep nothing from me, Amy," pleaded Sabey from the. floor above, as though the had heard her words. '' Oh, let me hear;what Mr Signet has to say." Her voice was so pitiful, mingled as it was with tho querulous cry of the child, that it went to Amy's heart

'' I must go to my sister," sho said hur riedly j " pray Mr Signet, say all you wish, to Mr Barlow, ana to Uncle Stephen. They will know what it is best for her to hear."

Since it seemed that all chance of a tete-a-tete was over for the present, th*. jeweller followed Mr Barlow into the parlor. "This is a sad business," said Mr Dur ham, as he held out his hand to the visitor. "Ah, you have seen the paper; sad is n* word for it. It is disgusting that the press should lend itself to such manceHvres.

" Manoeuvres !'' echoed Uncle Stephen. " It seems to me that is a mild term tor the implication conveyed." " You are right, Mr Durham ; it is an ex parte statement of the vilest kind." "Why does he talk about an ex parte statement ?" mused Uncle Stephen, looking.; at Mr Signet with much cariosity; "why is it. I wonder, that all these good people use f ureian tongues so much ?. They are ■ like bad cooks, that serve up everything, even though it is very good itself, with walnut ketchup." "It is obvious to rue," continued Mr Signet, "that the man who wrote this notice has been got at by Lady Pargiter. It must have cost her tea pounds at least —and I hope twenty. The idea of "no sum of money " recompensing that woman for bar diamonds, when to my knowledge she has done her best to get rid of them for the last three months ! And then his al luding to my responsibility as being 'an acknowledged fact, when it is by no means certain she has not got them all the time in Moor Street! I call it disgusting and dis graceful." " I had au idea that you might be allud ing to the rather unpleasant charge this pa^er makes by implication against my nophew," observed Mr Durham drily. "Well, and that's bad too, sir—very bad," admitted Mr Signet, " But stiU, the loss of one's character is nothing as compared with the loss of one's money/ added Uncle Stephen, with a philosophic air. " Well, it must be a deuced good chara cter if it's worth £25,000," rejoined Mr Siguet. "I don't know one that would fetch that money myself." "Are we to understand that you have nothing further to communicate to u%" in quired Mr Barlow stiffly, " beyond what we had already learnt for ourselves from the newspaper ?"

"I did not come to communicate even that to you, sir," replied Mr Signet tartly. " I have a request to make to Miss Thnr low. She was under the expectation that when the time was ripe I should do so. Indeed, we made an arrangement together that effect."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, APRIL 8, 1882.

2