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diff --git a/42807-0.txt b/42807-0.txt index 20523bd..5765efd 100644 --- a/42807-0.txt +++ b/42807-0.txt @@ -1,34 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mystery of the Clasped Hands, by Guy -Boothby - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Mystery of the Clasped Hands - A Novel - -Author: Guy Boothby - -Release Date: May 25, 2013 [eBook #42807] -Last Updated: July 30, 2023 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Annie McGuire from page images generously made -available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED -HANDS *** - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42807 *** THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS @@ -7438,354 +7408,4 @@ Defiance of the King,” etc. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. D. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Mystery of the Clasped Hands - A Novel - - -Author: Guy Boothby - - - -Release Date: May 25, 2013 [eBook #42807] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS*** - - -E-text prepared by Annie McGuire from page images generously made -available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - http://www.google.com/books?id=_qIlAAAAMAAJ - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - - * * * * * - -GUY BOOTHBY'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - The Mystery of the Clasped Hands. - My Indian Queen. - A Maker of Nations. - Dr. Nikola's Experiment. - Pharos, the Egyptian. - The Lust of Hate. - The Beautiful White Devil. - Dr. Nikola. - A Bid for Fortune. - The Marriage of Esther. - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - * * * * * - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - -A Novel - -by - -GUY BOOTHBY - -Author of Dr. Nikola's Experiment -Pharos, The Egyptian -My Indian Queen, etc. - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - -New York -D. Appleton and Company -1901 - -Copyright, 1901, -By D. Appleton and Company. - - - - -CHAPTER I - - -"I never knew such a fellow as you are for ferreting out these low, -foreign eating-houses," said Godfrey Henderson to his friend, Victor -Fensden, as they turned from Oxford Street into one of the narrow -thoroughfares in the neighbourhood of Soho. "Why you should take such -trouble, and at the same time do your digestion such irreparable injury, -I can not imagine. There are any number of places where you can get a -chop or steak, free of garlic, in a decent quarter of the Town, to say -nothing of being waited upon by a man who _does_ look as if he had been -brave enough to face the dangers of washing once or twice within five -years." - -His companion only laughed. - -"Go on, my friend, go on," he said, blowing a cloud of cigarette smoke. -"You pretend to be a cosmopolitan of cosmopolitans, but you will remain -insular to the day of your death. To you, a man who does not happen to -be an Englishman must of necessity be dirty, and be possessed of a -willingness to sever your jugular within the first few minutes of your -acquaintance. With regard to the accusation you bring against me, I am -willing to declare, in self-defence, that I like burrowing about among -the small restaurants in this quarter, for the simple reason that I meet -men who are useful to me in my work, besides affording me food for -reflection." - -The taller man grunted scornfully. - -"Conspirators to a man," he answered. "Nihilists, Anarchists, members of -the Mafia, the Camorristi, and the Carbonari. Some day you will enter -into an argument with one of them and a knife thrust between your ribs -will be the result." - -"It may be so," returned Victor Fensden, with a shrug of his narrow -shoulders. "Better that, however, than a life of stolid British -priggishness. How you manage to paint as you do when you have so little -of the romantic in your temperament, is a thing I can not for the life -of me understand. That a man who rows, plays football and cricket, and -who will walk ten miles to see a wrestling match or a prize fight, -should be gifted with such a sense of colour and touch, is as great a -mystery to me as the habits of the ichthyosaurus." - -And indeed, what Fensden said was certainly true. Godfrey Henderson, one -of the most promising of our younger painters, was as unlike the popular -notion of an artist as could well be found. He had rowed stroke in his -'Varsity boat, had won for himself a fair amount of fame as a good -all-round athlete, and at the same time had painted at least three of -the most beautiful pictures--pictures with a subtle touch of poetry in -them--that the public had seen for many years. His height was fully six -feet one and a half, his shoulders were broad and muscular; he boasted a -pleasant and open countenance, such a one in fact as makes one feel -instinctively that its owner is to be trusted. Taken altogether, a -casual observer would have declared him to be a young country Squire, -and few would have guessed that the greater portion of his life was -spent standing before an easel, palette and brush in hand. - -Victor Fensden, his companion, was of an altogether different stamp. He -was at least three inches shorter, was slimly built, and at first -glance would appear to possess a highly nervous and delicate -constitution. In his dress he also differed from his friend. His taste -betrayed a partiality for velvet coats; his ties were usually startling, -so far as colour went; he wore his hair longer than is customary, and -further adorned his face with a neat little Vandyke beard and mustache. -Like Henderson he was also a votary of the brush. His pictures, however, -were of the impressionist order--pretty enough in their way, but lacking -in form, and a trifle vague as to colouring. On occasions he wrote -poetry. There were some who said he was not sincere, that his pictures -were milk-and-water affairs, suggestive of the works of greater men, and -only intended to advertise himself. If that were so, the success they -achieved was comparative. Sad to relate, there were people in London who -had not heard the name of Victor Fensden; while the walls of the -Academy, which he affected so much to despise, had not so far been -honoured by his patronage. "The whole thing," he would say, adopting the -language of our American cousins, "is controlled by a Business Ring; the -Hanging Committee and the dealers stand in with each other. If you -prefer to do bad work deliberately, or at any rate are content to be -commonplace, then you're safe for admission. But if you prefer to do -something which may, or may not, please the multitude, but which will -last longer than Burlington House, or the National Gallery itself, then -you must be content to remain outside." After this tirade, regardless of -the implied sneer at his work, Godfrey would laugh and turn the matter -off by proposing dinner, luncheon, or some other distraction. He knew -the value of his own work, and was content to estimate it accordingly. - -Having reached the end of the street down which they had been walking, -when the conversation already described occurred, they found themselves -before the entrance to a small eating-house. One glance was sufficient -to show that it was of the foreign order, so derided by Henderson a few -moments ago before. They entered and looked about them. The room was -long and narrow, and contained some ten or a dozen small tables, three -or four of which were already occupied. Pictures of the German school, -apparently painted by the yard, and interspersed with gaudy portraits of -King Humbert with his mustache, Victor Emmanuel with his wealth of -orders, the latter cheek by jowl with Mr. Garibaldi in his felt hat, -decorated the walls. The proprietor, a small, tubby individual, with the -blackest of black hair and eyes, and an olive skin that glistened like -the marble tops of the tables, came forward to welcome them. At his -request they seated themselves and gave their orders. - -"What enjoyment you can find in this sort of thing I can not imagine," -repeated Henderson, almost irritably, as he looked about him. "If you -take a pleasure in macaroni and tomato, and find poetry in garlic and -_sauer-kraut_, the divine instinct must be even more highly developed in -you than your warmest admirers believe. We might have gone to the club -and have had a decent meal there." - -"And have had to listen to a lot of supercilious young idiots chattering -about what they are pleased to call 'their work,'" the other replied. -"No, no, we are better off here. Set your imagination to work, my dear -fellow, and try to believe yourself in Florence, with the moonlight -streaming down on the Ponte Vecchio; or in Naples, and that you can hear -the waves breaking up on the rock under the Castello del Ovo. You might -even be listening to _Funiculi-Finicula_ for the first time." - -"Confound you! I never know whether you are serious or not," replied -Godfrey. "Is it a joke you're bringing me here to-night, or have you -some definite object in view?" - -He looked across the table at his companion as if he were anxious to -assure himself upon this point before he said anything further. - -"What if I _had_ an object?" the other answered. "What if I wanted to do -you a good turn, and by asking you to come here to-night were able to -help you in your work?" - -"In that case," Henderson replied, "I should say that it was very kind -of you, but that you have chosen a curious way of showing it. How a low -Italian restaurant in Soho can help me in the work I have on hand I can -not for the life of me understand. Is it possible for you to be more -explicit?" - -"If the critics are to be believed you ask too much of me," Fensden -returned, with one of his quiet laughs. "Are they not always declaring -that my principal fault lies in my being too vague? Seriously, however, -I will confess that I had an object in bringing you here. Have I not -heard you grumbling morning, noon, and night, that the model for your -new picture is about as difficult to find as, well, shall we say, an -honest dealer? Now, I believe that the humble mouse was once able to -assist the lion--forgive the implied compliment--in other words, I think -I have achieved the impossible. It will take too long to tell you how I -managed it, but the fact remains that I have discovered the girl you -want, and what is more, she will be here to-night. If, when you have -seen her, you come to the conclusion that she will not answer your -purpose, then I shall be quite willing to confess that my knowledge of a -beautiful woman is only equal to your appreciation of an Italian dinner -in a cheap Soho restaurant. I have spoken!" - -"And so you have really brought me here to eat this villainous -concoction," Henderson answered, contemptuously regarding the mess -before him, "in order to show me a face that you think may be useful to -me in my work? My dear fellow, you know as well as I do that we think -differently upon such matters. What you have repeatedly declared to be -the loveliest face you have ever seen, I would not sketch upon a canvas; -while another, that haunts me by day and night, does not raise a shadow -of enthusiasm in you. I am afraid you have had your trouble in vain. But -what abominable stuff this is to be sure! Order some wine, for pity's -sake." - -A flask of chianti was brought them, and later some goat's milk cheese. -Upon the latter, bad as it was, Henderson elected to dine. He had barely -finished what was placed before him when an exclamation from his -companion caused him to turn his head in the direction of the door. Two -women were entering the restaurant at the moment, and were approaching -the table at which the young men sat. The elder was a stout and matronly -party, dark of eye, swarthy of skin, and gorgeous in her colouring, so -much so, indeed, that not the slightest doubt could have existed as to -her nationality. She was a daughter of Italy from the top of her head to -the soles of her ample feet. Her companion, however, was modelled on -altogether different lines. She was tall, graceful, and so beautiful, in -a statuesque way, that Henderson felt his heart thrill with pleasure at -the sight of her. Here was the very woman he had been so anxious to -discover. If he had hunted the Continent of Europe through, he could not -have found any one better suited to the requirements of the work he had -in hand. Since it was plain that it was she for whom Fensden was -waiting, it looked as if their tastes, for once, were likely to be the -same. - -"What a perfect face!" exclaimed Godfrey, more to himself than to his -companion. "At any hazard, I must induce her to sit to me." - -Fensden looked at his friend's face, made a note of the admiration he -saw there, and smiled to himself. - -"What did I tell you?" he inquired with a note of triumph in his voice. -"You pooh-poohed the notion that I should ever be able to find you a -model. What do you say now?" - -"She is perfect," Henderson replied. "Just look at the eyes, the -beautiful contour of the face, the shapely neck and the hands! Great -Scott! what is a woman of her class doing with such hands? Where did you -meet her?" - -"In another of my contemptible restaurants," Fensden answered. "Directly -I saw her, I said to myself: 'This is the model for Godfrey!' I made -inquiries about her, and, finding that she was willing to sit, made an -appointment to meet her here this evening." - -By this time Godfrey's antagonism had entirely left him. His only desire -now was to secure this woman, and, with her assistance, to complete his -masterpiece. As soon as the doors of Burlington House were thrown open, -that face should look down upon the picture-lovers of England, or he'd -never touch a brush again. - -The two women, by this time, had seated themselves at another table; and -it was almost with a sense of disappointment that Godfrey observed his -ideal commence her meal. To watch her filling her pretty mouth to -overflowing with steaming macaroni was not a pleasing sight. It was too -human and too suggestive of a healthy appetite to harmonize with the -poetic framework in which his imagination had already placed her. - -When the ladies had finished their meal, the two young men left their -own table and crossed the room to that at which they were seated. -Fensden said something in Italian, which elicited a beaming smile from -the elder lady, and a gesture of approval from her companion. It was not -the first time in his life that Godfrey Henderson had had occasion to -wish he had taken advantage of the opportunities he had had of acquiring -a knowledge of that melodious language. - -"The signora declares that there is no occasion for us to speak Italian, -since she is an accomplished English scholar," said Fensden, with a -sarcastic touch that was not lost upon Henderson. - -"The signorina also speaks our villainous tongue as well as if she had -been born and bred within the sound of Bow Bells." - -At this supposed compliment, the elder lady smiled effusively, while her -daughter looked gravely from one man to the other as if she were not -quite sure of the value to be placed upon what Fensden had said. Having -received permission, the two men seated themselves at the table, and -Henderson ordered another flask of wine. Under its influence their -acquaintance ripened rapidly. It was not, however, until they had been -talking some little time, that the all-important subject was broached. - -"And it is Teresina's portrait that your friend would paint, signor?" -said the elder lady, turning to Fensden. "And why not? 'Tis a beautiful -face, though I, her mother, say it. If the signor will make the--what -you call it--'rangements, it shall be as he wishes." - -Less than a minute was sufficient to place the matter on a satisfactory -basis, and it was thereupon settled that the Signorina Cardi should -attend at the studio at a certain hour every week-day until the picture -was finished. Matters having been arranged in this eminently friendly -fashion, the meeting broke up, and with many bows and compliments on -Fensden's and the signora's parts, they bade each other adieu. A few -minutes later, the two young men found themselves once more in the -street. - -"My dear fellow, I don't know how to thank you," said Henderson. "I've -been worrying myself more than I can say at not being able to find the -face I wanted. I owe you ten thousand apologies." - -But Fensden would not hear of such a thing as an apology. His only -desire was that the picture should be successful, he said. - -"I had no idea that he was so fond of me," Henderson remarked to himself -that night when he was alone in his bedroom. "Fancy his hunting through -London for a model for me. He is the last man I should have thought -would have taken the trouble." - -Next morning Teresina entered upon her duties, and Godfrey set to work -with more than his usual enthusiasm. The picture was to be his _magnum -opus_, the greatest effort he had yet given to the world. The beautiful -Italian proved to be a good sitter, and her delight as the picture grew -upon the canvas was not to be concealed. Meanwhile Fensden smoked -innumerable cigarettes, composed _fin-de-sicle_ poems in her honour, -and made a number of impressionist studies of her head that his friends -declared would eventually astonish artistic London. At last the picture -was finished and sent in. Then followed that interval of anxious -waiting, so well known to those who have striven for such honours as the -Academy has to bestow. When it was announced that it had passed the -first and second rejections great was the rejoicing in the studio. - -"It is your face that has done it, Teresina," cried Godfrey. "I knew -they wouldn't be able to resist that." - -"Nay, nay," said the signora, who was present, "such compliments will -turn the child's head. Her face would not be there but for the signor's -cleverness. Well do I remember that when Luigi Maffoni painted the -portrait of Monsignore----" - -No one heeded her, so she continued the narrative in an undertone to the -cat on her lap. The day, however, was not destined to end as happily as -it had begun. That evening, when they were alone together in the studio, -Fensden took Godfrey to task. - -"Dear boy," he said, as he helped himself to a cigarette from a box on -the table beside him, "I have come to the conclusion that you must go -warily. There are rocks ahead, and, from what I see, you are running -straight for them." - -"What on earth is the matter now?" Godfrey asked, stretching himself out -in an easy chair as he spoke. "I know the poise of that head is not -quite what it might be, but haven't I promised you that I'll alter it -to-morrow? Teresina is the very best model in the world, and as patient -as she's beautiful." - -"That's exactly what I am complaining of," Victor answered, quietly. "If -she were not, I should not bother my head about her. I feel, in a -measure, responsible, don't you see? If it hadn't been for me, she would -not be here." - -The happiness vanished from Godfrey's face as a breath first blurs and -then leaves the surface of a razor. - -"I am afraid I don't quite grasp the situation," he said. "You surely -don't suppose that I am falling in love with Teresina--with my model?" - -"I am quite aware that you're not," the other answered. "There is my -trouble. If you _were_ in love with her, there might be some hope for -her. But as it is there is none." - -Henderson stared at him in complete surprise. - -"Have you gone mad?" he asked. - -"No one was ever saner," Fensden replied. "Look here, Godfrey, can't you -see the position for yourself? Here is this beautiful Italian girl, whom -you engaged through my agency. You take her from beggary, and put her in -a position of comparative luxury. She has sat to you day after day, -smiled at your compliments, and--well, to put it bluntly, has had every -opportunity and encouragement given her to fall head over ears in love -with you. Is it quite fair, do you think, to let it go on?" - -Godfrey was completely taken aback. - -"Great Scott! You don't mean to say you think I'm such a beast as to -encourage her?" he cried. "You know as well as I do that I have behaved -toward her only as I have done to all the other models before her. -Surely you would wish me to be civil to the girl, and try to make her -work as pleasant as possible for her? If you think I've been a -blackguard, say so outright!" - -"My dear Godfrey, nothing could be further from my thoughts," answered -Fensden in his usual quiet voice, that one of his friends once compared -to the purring of a cat. "I should be a poor friend, however, if I were -to allow you to go on as you are going without an expostulation. Can not -you look at it in the same light as I do? Are you so blind that you can -not see that this girl is falling every day more deeply in love with -you? The love-light gleams in her eyes whenever she looks at you; she -sees an implied caress even in the gentle pats you give her drapery, -when you arrange it on the stage there; a tender solicitude for her -welfare when you tell her to hurry home before it rains. What is the end -of it all to be? I suppose you do not intend making her your wife?" - -"My wife?" said Godfrey, blankly, as if the idea were too preposterous -to have ever occurred to him. "Surely you must be jesting to talk like -this?" - -"I am not jesting with you, if you are not jesting with her," the other -replied. "You must see for yourself that the girl worships the very -ground you walk upon. However, there is still time for matters to be put -right. She has so far only looked at the affair from her own standpoint; -what is more, I do not want her to lose her employment with you, since -it means so much to her. What I do want is, that you should take hold of -yourself in time and prevent her from being made unhappy while you have -the opportunity." - -"You may be quite sure that I will do so," Henderson replied, more -stiffly than he had yet spoken. "I am more sorry than I can say that -this should have occurred. Teresina is a good girl, and I would no more -think of causing her pain than I would of striking my own sister. And -now I'm off to bed. Good-night." - -True to his promise, his behaviour next day, so far as Teresina was -concerned, was so different that she regarded him with surprise, quite -unable to understand the reason of the change. She thought she must have -offended him in some way, and endeavoured by all the means in her power -to win herself back into his good graces. But the more she tried to -conciliate him, the further he withdrew into his shell. Victor Fensden, -smoking his inevitable cigarette, waited to see what the result would -be. There was a certain amount of pathos in the situation, and a close -observer might have noticed that the strain was telling upon both of the -actors in it, the girl in particular. For the next fortnight or so, the -moral temperature of the studio was not as equable as of old. Godfrey, -who was of too honest a nature to make a good conspirator, chafed at the -part he was being called upon to play, while Teresina, who only knew -that she loved, and that her love was not returned, was divided between -her affections for the man and a feeling of wounded dignity for herself. - -"I wish to goodness I could raise sufficient money to get out of London -for six months," said Godfrey, one evening, as they sat together in the -studio. "I'd be off like a shot." - -Fensden knew why he said this. - -"I am sorry I can't help you," he replied. "I am about as badly off as -yourself. But surely the great picture sold well?" - -"Very well; for me, that is to say," Godfrey replied. "But I had to part -with most of it next day." - -He did not add that he had sent most of it to his widowed sister, who -was very badly off and wanted help to send her boy to college. - -A short silence followed; then Fensden said: "If you had money what -would you do?" - -"Go abroad," said Godfrey quickly. "The strain of this business is more -than I can stand. If I had a few hundreds to spare we'd go together and -not come back for six months. By that time everything would have settled -down to its old normal condition." - -How little did he guess that the very thing that seemed so impossible -was destined to come to pass! - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -One morning a week or so after the conversation described at the end of -the previous chapter, Godfrey Henderson found lying on the table in the -studio a long, blue envelope, the writing upon which was of a neat and -legal character. He did not own a halfpenny in the world, so what this -could mean he was not able to imagine. Animated by a feeling of -curiosity he opened the envelope and withdrew the contents. He read the -letter through the first time without altogether realizing its meaning; -then, with a vague feeling of surprise, he read it again. He had just -finished his second perusal of it when Fensden entered the room. He -glanced at Godfrey's face, and said, as if in inquiry: - -"Anything the matter? You look scared!" - -"A most extraordinary thing," returned Godfrey. "You have heard me talk -of old Henderson of Detwich?" - -"Your father's brother? The old chap who sends you a brace of grouse -every season, and asks when you are going to give up being a starving -painter and turn your attention to business? What of him?" - -"He is dead and buried," answered Godfrey. "This letter is from his -lawyer to say that I am his heir, in other words that Detwich passes to -me, with fifteen thousand a year on which to keep it up, and that they -are awaiting my instructions." - -There was a pause which lasted for upward of a quarter of a minute. Then -Fensden held out his hand. - -"My dear fellow, I am sure I congratulate you most heartily," he said. -"I wish you luck with all my heart. The struggling days are over now. -For the future you will be able to follow your art as you please. You -will also be able to patronize those who are not quite so fortunate. -Fifteen thousand a year and a big country place! Whatever will you do -with yourself?" - -"That is for the Future to decide," Godfrey replied. - -That afternoon he paid a visit to the office of the firm of solicitors -who had written to him. They corroborated the news contained in their -letter, and were both assiduous in their attentions and sincere in -their desire to serve him. - -Four days later it was arranged that Godfrey and Fensden should start -for the Continent. Before doing so, however, the former purchased a neat -little gold watch and chain which he presented to Teresina, accompanied -by a cheque equivalent to six months' salary, calculated at the rate she -had been receiving. - -"Don't forget me, Teresina," he said, as he looked round the now -dismantled studio. "Let me know how you get on, and remember if ever you -want a friend I shall be only too glad to serve you." - -At that moment Fensden hailed him from the cab outside, bidding him -hurry, or he feared they would miss their train. Godfrey accordingly -held out his hand. - -"Good-bye," he said, and though he would have given worlds to have -prevented it, a lump rose in his throat as he said it, and his voice was -so shaky that he felt sure she must notice it. - -Then, bidding her give the key to the landlord when she left the studio, -he went out into the street, and jumped into a cab, which next moment -started off for the station. How was he to know that Teresina was lying -in a dead faint upon the studio floor? - -When they left England for the Continent Godfrey had only the vaguest -notion of what they were going to do after they left Paris. Having spent -a fortnight in the French capital they journeyed on to Switzerland, put -in a month at Lucerne, three weeks in Rome, and found themselves, in the -middle of November, at Luxor, looking upon the rolling waters of the -Nile. Their sketch books were surfeited with impressions, and they -themselves were filled with a great content. They had both visited the -Continent on numerous occasions before, but this was the first time that -they had made the acquaintance of the "Land of the Pharaohs." Godfrey -was delighted with everything he saw, and already he had the ideas for a -dozen new pictures in his head. - -"I had no notion that any sunset could be so gorgeous," he said one day, -when they sat together watching the ball of fire descend to his rest on -the western horizon of the desert. "The colours have not yet been -discovered that could possibly do it justice. For the future I shall -come out here every year." - -"Don't be too sure, my friend," said Fensden. "There was a time when -such a thing might have been possible, but circumstances have changed -with you. You are no longer the erratic Bohemian artist, remember, but a -man with a stake in the country, and a county magnate." - -"But what has the county magnate to do with the question at issue?" -Godfrey inquired. - -"Everything in the world," retorted his companion. "In virtue of your -new position you will have to marry. The future Mrs. Henderson, in all -probability, will also have a stake in the country. She will have great -ideas, moreover, connected with what she will term the improvement of -the land, and, beyond a trip to the Italian lakes at long intervals, -will not permit you to leave the country of her forefathers." - -"What a strange fellow you are, to be sure!" replied Godfrey. "To hear -you talk one would think that the possession of money--and, by Jove, -it's a very decent thing to have when you come to consider it--must -necessarily relegate a man to the region of the commonplace. Why -shouldn't I marry a girl who is fond of travelling?" - -"Because, as a rule, Fate ordains otherwise," Fensden replied. "I think -I can describe the sort of girl you will marry." - -"Then do so, by all means," said Godfrey, "I'll smoke another cigar -while you are arranging it." - -"In the first place she will be tall. Your idea of the ludicrous would -not let you marry a small woman. She will have large hands and feet, and -the latter will be heavily shod. That is how in London I always pick out -the girls who live in the country. She will be handsome rather than -pretty, for the reason that your taste lies in that direction. She will -not flirt, because she will be in love with you. She will be an -admirable housewife of the solid order, and while I should be prepared -to trust to her judgment in the matter of dogs and horses, roots, crops, -and the dairy farm, finer susceptibilities she will have none. Do you -like the picture?" - -"Scarcely," said Henderson; "and yet, when all is said and done a man -might do worse." - -There was a pause, during which each man knew what the other was -thinking about. Godfrey was recalling Teresina's beautiful face, and -Fensden knew that he was doing so. - -"By the way," said Fensden, very quietly, "I noticed this morning that -you received a letter bearing an Italian post-mark. Would it be -indiscreet if I inquired your correspondent's name?" - -"I don't see why there should be any mystery about it," Henderson -replied. "It was from Teresina." - -"From Teresina?" said the other, with a look of surprise. - -"Yes, from Teresina," his friend answered. "I made her promise before we -left home that should she leave England she would let me have her -address, and, if she were in need of anything, she would communicate -with me. You can see the letter if you like. Here it is." - -He took the letter in question from his pocket and handed it to his -companion. It consisted of only a few lines and gave the writer's -address with the hope that the time might soon come when she would again -be allowed to sit to "her kind patron." - -Victor, having perused it, handed it back to Godfrey, who replaced it in -his pocket without a word. - -Two days later they returned by steamer to Cairo, where they took up -their abode at the Mena House Hotel. Godfrey preferred it, because it -was some distance from the dust of the city, and Fensden because he -averred that the sneer on the face of the Sphinx soothed him more than -all the luxuries of Cairo. As it was, he sat in the veranda of the hotel -and made impressionist sketches of dragomen, camels, and the -backsheesh-begging Bedouins of the Pyramids. Godfrey found it impossible -to work. - -"I am absorbing ideas," he said. "The work will come later on." - -In the meantime he played polo in the Ghezireh, shot jackals in the -desert, flirted with the charming tourists in the verandas of the hotel, -and enjoyed himself immensely in his own fashion. Then one day he -received a telegram from England announcing the fact that his mother was -seriously ill, and asking him to return without delay. - -"I am sincerely sorry," said Fensden, politely. Then he added, -regretfully: "I suppose our tour must now, like all good things, come to -an end. When do you leave?" - -"By to-morrow morning's train," he answered. "I shall pick up the mail -boat at Ismailia and travel in her to Naples. If all goes well I shall -be in England to-morrow week. But look here, Victor, when you come to -think of it there's not the least necessity for you to come, too. It -would be no end of a shame to rob you of your holiday. Why should you -not go on and finish the tour by yourself? Why not come with me as far -as Port Said, and catch the steamer for Jaffa there?" - -"It's very good of you, my dear Godfrey," said Fensden, "but----" - -"Let there be no 'buts,'" the other returned. "It's all arranged. When -you come home you shall describe your adventures to me." - -Needless to say, in the end Fensden agreed to the proposal, and next day -they accordingly bade each other good-bye on the promenade deck of the -mail steamer that was to take Henderson as far as Naples. Fensden was -beginning to realize that it was by no means unpleasant to have a rich -and generous friend. Poverty was doubtless romantic and artistic, but a -well-filled pocket-book meant good hotels and the best of wines and -living. - -While the boat ploughed her way across the Mediterranean, an idea -occurred to Godfrey, and he resolved to act upon it. It was neither more -nor less than to utilize what little time was given him in Naples in -seeking out Teresina and assuring himself of her comfort in her old -home. He had quite convinced himself by this time that any affection he -might once have felt for her was now dead and buried. For this reason he -saw no possible danger in paying her a visit. "Victor made more of it," -he argued, "than the circumstances had really warranted. Had he not said -anything about it, there would have been no trouble, and in that case -Teresina would still be in London, and sitting to me." - -As soon as the vessel was in harbour, he collected his luggage and made -his way ashore. A cab conveyed him to an hotel he had patronized before; -and when he was safely installed there, and realized that he could not -proceed on his journey until the next morning, he resolved to set out in -search of Teresina. Producing her letter from his pocket-book he made a -note of the address, and then started upon his errand, to discover that -the signorina Cardi's home took some little finding. At last, however, -he succeeded, only to be informed by an intelligent neighbour that the -signora was not at home, while the signorina had gone out some fifteen -minutes before. Considerably disappointed, he turned to descend the -steps to find himself face to face with Teresina herself as he stepped -into the street. She uttered a little exclamation of astonishment and -delight at seeing him. - -"How is it that you are here, signor?" she inquired, when they had -greeted each other. "I did not know that you were in Naples." - -"I only arrived this afternoon," he answered. "I am on my way to -England." - -"To England?" she said, and then uttered a little sigh as if the very -name of that country conjured up sad memories. "It is cold and wet in -England now; and do you remember how the studio chimney smoked?" - -This apparently irrelevant remark caused them both to laugh, but their -mirth had not altogether a happy sound. - -"I am going to give up the studio," he answered. "I expect that for the -future I shall do my work in the country. But you are not looking well, -Teresina!" - -"I am quite well," she answered, hurriedly. How was he to know that for -many weeks past she had been eating her heart out for love of him? If -the whole world seemed dark to her now it was because he, her sun, no -longer shone upon her. - -"And your mother, the signora, how wrong of me not to have inquired -after her. I trust she is well?" - -"Quite well, signor," she replied. "She often talks of you. She is at -Sorrento to-day, but she may be back at any minute. She would have liked -to have seen you, signor, to have thanked you for your great goodness to -us." - -"Nonsense," said Henderson, hurriedly. "It is the other way round. My -thanks are due to you. Had it not been for your face, Teresina, my -picture would never have been such a success. Do you know that several -ladies, great ladies in England, said that they would give anything to -be so beautiful? I don't think I shall ever do a better piece of work -than that." - -He had just said this when he noticed that a young man, tall, slim, and -very dark, had approached them unperceived, and was now glaring angrily -at him. Teresina had also become aware of his presence, and was visibly -affected by it. Whereas only a moment before she had been all sunshine -and delight at seeing Henderson once more, now she was quite the -reverse. - -"Is this man a friend of yours?" Godfrey asked, in English. "He seems -to be put out about something." - -"It is only Tomasso Dardini," she answered, as if the explanation were -sufficient. "He is quick-tempered, but he means no harm." - -"Then I wish to goodness he'd go away; he glares as if he would like to -eat me. If I may hazard a guess, Teresina, I should say that he is in -love with you." - -"He is very foolish," she answered, and a flush spread over her face. -"Some day, if he is not very careful, he will get into trouble." - -"I should not be at all surprised to hear it," Godfrey replied. - -Then, turning to the man in question, he signed to him to be off about -his business. For a moment the youth seemed inclined to refuse, but -presently he thought better of it, and marched off down the street, -looking back now and again as if to see whether the Englishman and the -girl were still conversing together. - -"And now, Teresina, I have a little plan to propose to you," said -Godfrey, when the other had turned the corner. "As I told you just now, -I am on my way to England, and therefore, shall only be able to spend -to-night in Naples. From the announcements I see they are playing -'Faust' at the Opera-House. Why should not you and your mother dine with -me, and go there afterward? It would be a pleasant way of spending the -evening, and we could talk of old days." - -Teresina clapped her hands with delight. In her love of the Opera she -was a genuine Neapolitan. - -"It would be lovely," she cried. "My mother will come, I feel sure. It -is kind of you, signor." - -It was thereupon arranged that they should meet at a certain place, -dine, and then go on to the Opera together. Having settled this, -Henderson returned to his hotel, whiled away the time as best he could, -and when the hour arrived, set off to the rendezvous. - -Punctual to the moment he put in an appearance at the place. It was a -restaurant not unlike that in which he had first met Teresina and her -mother. He could not help recalling that memorable evening as he waited -on the pavement outside, and his one wish was that Fensden could have -been there to have shared the entertainment with him. When the signora -and her daughter arrived, it was plain that they regarded the occasion -an important one. They were both attired in their best, and, so far as -colour went, the signora herself was not unlike a bird of Paradise. -Teresina was more soberly clad, but Henderson noticed that a necklace -with which he had once presented her, as a memento of a certain piece of -extra work she had done for him, encircled her slender throat. As he -looked at it, he thought of the day on which he had given it to her, and -as the remembrance occurred to him, he wondered whether it was wise on -his part to play with fire for a second time. The signora greeted him -with southern volubility, and, as soon as he could get in a word, -Henderson suggested that they should enter the restaurant. Having done -so, they seated themselves at one of the small tables, and he gave his -orders. It was a banquet that was destined to be remembered with -pleasure by two of the party, and also by a third, for another and less -romantic reason. - -"And so you are returning to England, signor?" said the signora, when -the first pangs of her hunger had been assuaged. Then, remembering the -circumstances connected with the latter portion of their stay in London, -she added, pathetically: "I think if it were possible, I should not be -sorry to return--even though the winter is so cold and it rains so -often." - -"If you feel as if you would like to return, why do you not do so?" -asked Godfrey, with a quickness that caused Teresina to look up at him -in surprise, and then to look down again with equal celerity. "I am sure -Teresina could get plenty of employment. I would do all I could to help -her. For my own part, I never could understand why you left so quickly." - -If he had reflected for a moment, he would probably have been able to -arrive at an understanding of the reason that had prompted her -departure. He was too modest a man, however, to think of such a thing. -Nevertheless, he changed the conversation by making inquiries as to -their present life in Naples, and then went on to talk of Fensden, who -at that moment, could they have seen him, was fast asleep in a railway -carriage, on his way from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The signora had never been -partial to the impressionist artist and poet, and she had a vague idea -that it was to that gentleman's agency that they owed the flight of the -owner, and the consequent cessation of Teresina's employment at the -studio. She was too prudent, however, to say anything on that score to -Godfrey. She knew the friendship that existed between the two men; and -she was also aware that her daughter, who was the possessor of a quick -temper, and a tongue that she could use when she liked, would brook no -disparagement of either Mr. Henderson or his friend. - -"As to returning to England, we must think it over," she said, -complacently, when Godfrey had filled her glass with champagne for the -fourth or fifth time. "It would make another great change in our -affairs, but Teresina is young, and there is nothing for us to do in -Naples. I could wish that she should marry, signor, but she will not -hear of it. I tell her the time may come when it will be too late. But -girls do not listen to their elders nowadays." - -Godfrey glanced at Teresina's face to find that it had suddenly become -very pale. He hastened to render her assistance without delay by -twitting her mother as to the number of sweethearts she herself had had, -much to that lady's delight. This crisis having been smoothed over, he -paid the bill and they left the restaurant. - -Darkness had fallen by this time, a fact which may have accounted for -the young man's uncertainty as to whether he did or did not recognise -the figure of a man who was watching the doorway from the other side of -the street. It certainly looked as if it belonged to Tomasso Dardini; -but he said nothing on this point to either of his guests. He would be -leaving Naples in the morning, he argued, and no necessity existed for -making a fuss about it. If the silly young man were jealous, the morrow -would remove the cause; and after that it would not matter very much -whether he were aware of their visit to the Opera or not. With Teresina -beside him and the signora on the other side, they entered the theatre -and took their seats. The house was crowded, and the Opera itself was -received with that critical appreciation so characteristic of the -Neapolitan theatre-goer. Whether Godfrey enjoyed it as much as his -neighbours is a question that admits of some doubt. He certainly found -pleasure in studying the expressions that flitted across Teresina's face -as she watched what went on upon the stage; but I scarcely think it -went further. When it was over, he escorted them back to their dwelling, -and bade them good-bye upon the threshold. - -"Good-bye, Teresina," he said. "It may not be very long before we meet -in London. Do you remember the little place where I first saw you? I -think, when I get back, I must dine there once more, if only for old -association's sake." - -"Good-bye, signor," she said, giving him her hand after the English -fashion. "It was kind of you to think of us, and to give us such -pleasure as you have done to-night." - -"I have enjoyed it," he replied, and then, bidding her return soon to -London, he left her, and made his way down the narrow, evil-smelling -street toward the quarter in which his hotel was situated. He was still -fifty yards from the corner when a figure emerged from a doorway and -hurried quickly after him, keeping on the dark side of the street. -Leaving the thoroughfare in which Teresina's house was located, he -employed a short cut with which he had become acquainted that afternoon. -He had scarcely entered this, however, before he became aware of a light -footstep behind him. Turning quickly, he found a man, whom he -immediately recognised, within a few feet of him. Muttering something in -Italian, he raised his arm, and Godfrey saw that he held a poniard in -his hand. With the quickness of a practised athlete, he seized the -uplifted wrist with his left hand, while with his right he delivered a -blow that took the would-be assassin beneath the chin and sent him -sprawling upon his back in the road. Picking up the dagger that the -other had let fall, he placed it in his pocket, saying, as he did so: "I -will keep this, my friend, as a memento." Then, having made sure that -the other had no intention of following him, he continued his walk, -little dreaming how strangely that incident was to affect his future -life. - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -If I were given my choice of all the charming residences in the county -of Midlandshire, I fancy I should decide in favour of Detwich Hall. To -my thinking it is, in every respect, an ideal residence. While -sufficiently old to have a history (one of the Charleses spent some days -in hiding there), it has proved itself capable of being adapted to -modern ideas of comfort. The main portion was built, I believe, toward -the close of the reign of the Virgin Queen; a wing was added by the -owner who occupied it in the time of the early Georges; while the father -of the man who had bequeathed the property to Godfrey, was responsible -for the stables, and a somewhat obscure wing on the southern front. It -was admirably situated in the centre of a park of some three hundred -acres, and was approached by a picturesque drive, about half a mile -long, which ran for some distance along the banks of an ornamental -lake. On this lake, by the way, some of the finest duck shooting in the -county is to be obtained. In his boyhood Godfrey had spent many happy -days there, little dreaming that some day it would become his own -property. Indeed, it is quite certain it would not have done so had his -cousin Wilfred not been killed in India in the performance of a piece of -desperate heroism that will be remembered as long as a certain native -regiment exists. As for Godfrey, the old man had always liked the boy, -but had been bitterly disappointed when he had resolved to embark upon -an artistic career instead of playing the part of a country gentleman, -as so many of his ancestors had done before him. To have proved himself -a capable Master of Hounds would have been in the old bachelor's eyes a -greater distinction than to have painted the finest picture that ever -graced the walls of Burlington House. Yet in his heart he knew the power -of the young man, and honoured him for the dogged persistence with which -he had fought the uphill fight of a painter's life. - -"Well, well, I suppose he'll come out of it all right in the end," he -was wont to say to himself when he thought of the matter. "He'll be -none the worse for having known a little poverty. I like the boy and he -likes me, and, please God, he'll do his best by the dear old place when -he comes into it. I should like to see him in it." - -This, unfortunately, he was not able to do; but could he have heard the -universal expression of approbation so lavishly bestowed upon the young -master of Detwich when he had been six months in possession he would -have felt that his generosity had been rewarded. Indeed, there could be -no sort of doubt as to Godfrey's popularity. He was received by the -county with open arms, and by his tenantry with a quiet appreciation -that showed they knew how to value the blood that ran in his veins -without making a fuss about it. Owing to the short time that had elapsed -since his uncle's death it was necessarily impossible for him to see -very much society, but those who partook of his hospitality returned -home not only delighted with their host, but also with the quality of -their entertainment. - -"An acquisition, a decided acquisition," said old Sir Vivian Devereux, -the magnate of the district. "His idea of game preservation is -excellent, and he is prepared to support the hunt with the utmost -liberality. All he wants to make him perfect is a wife." - -On hearing this Lady Devereux looked at her lord and her lord looked at -her. Between them they had a very shrewd idea that they knew where to -look for the future mistress of Detwich Hall. Mistress Margaret, their -daughter, called by her friends Molly, who had that season made her bow -before her Majesty, said nothing, but maybe that was because she did not -think there was anything to be said. She had her own ideas on the -subject. She had seen the young squire of Detwich, though he had not -been aware of the fact, and, being an unaffected, straightforward -English girl, without prudery or conceit of any sort, had come to the -conclusion that she liked the look of him. Eligible young men were -scarce in the neighbourhood, and if she dreamt dreams of her own who -shall blame her? Not I, for one. - -Three months had passed since Godfrey had escorted Teresina and her -mother to the Opera. The summons which had brought him home so hurriedly -had, fortunately, proved to be a false alarm. Though his mother had been -seriously ill, there had not been so much danger as they had led him to -suppose. A month at Torquay had completely restored her to health, and -now she was back at Detwich once more, as hale and hearty an old lady as -any to be found in the kingdom. Assisted by her youngest daughter, -Kitty, she welcomed the wanderer home with every sign of delight. - -Godfrey, unlike so many other people, had the good fortune to be as -popular in his own family circle as he was out of it, and he and his -youngest sister had been on the best of terms from the days when they -had gone bird's-nesting together, until the time when she had assisted -him in packing his first picture for the Academy. Since then, however, -she had not seen so much of him. - -"Kit's no end of a brick," he had been heard to say, "and the fellow who -marries her may consider himself lucky." - -It was scarcely to be wondered at, therefore, if Miss Devereux and -Kitty, living as they did within two miles of each other, should soon -have become intimate. They were in the habit of seeing each other -several times a week, a fact which Godfrey, from a distance, had felt -somewhat inclined to resent. - -"When I get home I shall find this girl continually in the house," he -said to himself; and when he _did_ arrive and the many charming -qualities of her friend had been explained to him he did not feel any -the more disposed to be cordial. - -"I can see what it will be," he said to his sister, "I shall not catch a -glimpse of you now." - -"Perhaps you won't want to when you meet Molly," was the arch rejoinder. -"You have no idea what a pretty girl she is. They say she created a -tremendous sensation when she was presented this year. Folks raved about -her." - -"The bigger duffers they," was the uncompromising reply. "You have one -fault, my dear girl. Ever since I have known you your swans have -invariably turned out to be geese. I fancy I can realize what Miss -Devereux will be like." - -"In that case pray describe her," was the saucy rejoinder, and Miss -Kitty made a very pretty losing hazard (they were playing billiards at -the time), after which she failed to score and chalked her cue. - -Now it seems scarcely fair to say so, but Godfrey, being taken at a -disadvantage, fell back on what can be only considered by all honest -people a mean device. In describing Miss Devereux he used the almost -identical terms used by Fensden when he had attempted to draw a picture -of his friend's future wife. - -"You are quite at sea," said Miss Kitty, patting her dainty shoe with -the end of her cue as she spoke. "Some day, if you are not very careful, -I will tell Miss Devereux what you have said about her. She would never -forgive you the large feet and thick boots." - -"As you are strong be merciful," said Godfrey, potting the red into the -right-hand pocket and going into the left himself. "I don't mind -admitting without prejudice that I am getting anxious to see this -paragon. When do you think she will next honour you with her society?" - -"On Friday," Kitty replied. "We have taken up wood-carving together, and -she is coming to see some patterns I bought in town last week." - -"In that case we will defer consideration of her merits and -demerits--for I suppose she has some--until then," Godfrey replied, and -then once more going into the pocket off the red he announced the game -as standing at one hundred to ninety-five. - -On the following afternoon he had occasion to drive to the market town. -It was a bright, clear day, with a promise of frost in the air, and as -his dog-cart rolled along the high road, drawn by a tandem team he had -purchased the previous week, he felt as well satisfied with himself and -his position in the world as it was possible for a young man to be. His -business transacted in the town he turned his horses' heads homeward -once more. The handsome animals, knowing that they were on their way to -their stables, stepped out bravely, and many an approving glance was -thrown at the good-looking young squire of Detwich by folk upon the -road. He had completed upward of half his journey when he became aware -that a young lady, who had appeared from a by-road, was making her way -in the same direction as himself. - -"Whoever she is she certainly sits her horse well," he said to himself, -as he watched her swinging along at a slow canter on the soft side of -the road. "I wonder who she can be?" - -As soon as the turf gave place to hard metal she pulled her hack up and -proceeded at a walk. This very soon brought Godfrey alongside, and as -he passed he managed to steal a glance at a very pretty face and as neat -a figure as he ever remembered to have seen. - -"I wonder who she can be?" he repeated. And as he continued his drive he -meditated on the subject. - -On the Friday following he was unexpectedly called to town. His -solicitors desired an interview with him respecting the purchase of a -farm, and he had no option but to comply with their request. As luck -would have it, however, he was able to return by a somewhat earlier -train than he expected, and was just in time to hear from his butler -that afternoon tea had been carried into the drawing-room. - -"Are there any visitors?" he inquired. - -"Miss Devereux, sir," said the man; "she came to lunch." - -"I had forgotten that she was to be here to-day," he said to himself as -he crossed the hall in the direction of the drawing-room. "I wonder what -she will be like?" - -As every one who has visited Detwich is aware, the drawing-room is an -exceedingly handsome room. It is long and lofty, if possible a little -_too_ long for cosiness. This fault, if fault it be, is amply atoned -for, however, by a capitally constructed ingle-nook, in which it was the -custom for the ladies to take afternoon tea. Godfrey strolled across the -floor to this charming contrivance, little guessing what was in store -for him. A lady was sitting with her back to him holding a cup of tea in -her hand. - -"I don't think you have met Miss Devereux, Godfrey," said his sister. - -"I have not yet had that pleasure," he replied. Then to himself he -added: "Good gracious! It's the fair equestrienne." Then aloud: "I've -heard a good deal of you from Kitty, Miss Devereux." - -"And I of you," she answered. "You seem to have been everywhere, and to -have seen everything. Doubtless you find this part of the world very -dull." - -"Not at all," he answered. "I am extremely fond of the country, and -particularly of that about here." - -If the truth were told I fancy he had never thought much about it until -that moment. For the future, however, under a certain magic influence, -he was to view it with very different eyes. - -"In spite of what some people say," he continued, "I consider English -country scenery charming." - -"And yet it must be very beautiful abroad. Kitty read me one or two of -your letters, and from the description you gave of the various places -you had visited, I gathered that you thought nothing could be so -beautiful on earth." - -"No doubt they are very beautiful," he answered. "But for my part give -me the old-world peace of England. There is certainly nothing like that -to be found elsewhere. I would rather stand on the hill yonder and look -down the valley in summer-time, than gaze upon the Rhine at Heidelberg, -or Naples harbour at daybreak, or visit ancient Phil by moonlight." - -What further heresies this young man would have pledged himself to in -his enthusiasm I can not say. Fortunately for him, however, the vicar -and his wife were announced at that moment, and a distraction was thus -caused. Until that moment Miss Kitty had been regarding him with -steadfast eyes. Clever beyond all other men, as she considered her -brother, she had never seen him come out of his shell like this before. -Hitherto he had been rather given to pooh-poohing the country, and had -once been known even to assert that "London and Paris were the only two -places in which it was possible for a civilized man to live." What was -the reason of this sudden change? - -The vicar was a tall man with a pompous air, who looked forward some day -to being a bishop, and had already assumed the appearance and manners of -one. His wife, on the other hand, was small, and of a somewhat peevish -disposition. It was currently reported that the husband and wife spent -the greater portion of their time in squabbling, while it was certain -that they contradicted each other in public with an openness and -frequency that at times was apt to be a little embarrassing. - -"Possibly I may have been wrong," said the vicar, when he had seated -himself and had taken a cup of tea from his hostess's hands, "but did I -not hear you extolling the beauties of a country life as I entered the -room, Mr. Henderson?" - -He put the question as if it were one of world-wide importance, which, -answered carelessly, might involve great international complications. -Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued: "For my part, while -admitting that a country life is possessed of many charms, with which -the Metropolis can not compare, I must go on to say that there is a -breadth, if I may so express it, in London life that is quite lacking -outside." - -His wife saw her opportunity, and, as was her habit, was quick to take -advantage of it. - -"You have never had any experience of London life, William, so how can -you possibly tell?" she said, sharply. - -"My dear, I venture to say that it is a generally admitted fact," her -husband replied. - -"Generally admitted facts are as often as not rubbish," retorted the -lady with some asperity. "What I say is, let a man do his duty wherever -he is, and make the best of what he's got, without grumbling." - -There was an unmistakable innuendo in this speech, and for a moment an -awkward silence ensued. - -"I hear you have built a new conservatory, Mr. Henderson?" said Miss -Devereux, as if to change the subject. - -"It is just completed," said Godfrey. "Would you care to see it?" - -A general desire to inspect this new wonder having been expressed, -Godfrey led the way from the room, contriving, when all had passed out, -to take up his position beside their youngest visitor. - -"Will you take pity upon a stranger in the land?" he said, "and give me -some information?" - -"What can I tell you?" she asked. - -He glanced at the vicar and his wife, who were some little distance in -front. - -"Do they always squabble like this?" he inquired. - -"Yes, invariably," she replied. "We are used to it, but strangers are -apt to find it embarrassing. I really believe the habit of squabbling -has grown upon them until they have become so accustomed to it that they -do not notice it. By the way, Mr. Henderson, there is one question of -vital importance I must decide with you. Are you going to hunt?" - -As a matter of fact Godfrey had made up his mind to do so occasionally, -but now, remembering that Miss Devereux possessed the reputation of a -second Diana, he spoke as if it were the hunting that had mainly induced -him to live in Midlandshire. He registered a vow that he would purchase -a stud immediately, and that he would look upon missing a run as a sin -that could only be expurgated by religiously attending the next. - -By this time they had reached the new conservatory, which adjoined the -studio Godfrey had built for himself. It was a handsome building, and -gave a distinction to that side of the house which it certainly had -lacked before. - -"Admirable, admirable," said the vicar, complacently. "It reminds me of -the palm-house at Kew." - -"It is twenty years since you were at Kew, William; how can you possibly -remember what the palm-house is like?" retorted his wife. - -"My dear, I have always been noted for the excellence of my memory," the -vicar replied. "I assure you I have the most vivid recollection of the -house in question." - -"You mislaid your spectacles this morning, and if I hadn't seen you put -them in your pocket you would never have thought of looking for them -there," said his wife, to whom this fact appeared to be relative to the -matter at issue. - -From the conservatory to the studio was a natural transition, and the -latest work upon the easel was duly inspected and admired. - -"I remember your picture in the Academy last year, Mr. Henderson," said -Miss Devereux. "I can assure you that it brought the tears into my -eyes." - -"It is very kind of you to say so," he said, feeling that no compliment -that had ever been paid him was so much worth having. - -Then a luminous idea occurred to him. - -"I wonder if, some day, you would let me paint you a little picture?" he -asked, almost timidly. - -"I really could not think of such a thing," his companion replied. "Your -time is too valuable to be wasted in that way." - -"I shall paint one, nevertheless," he replied. "In return, perhaps, you -will instruct me in the ways of the Midlandshire hunt?" - -"I shall be delighted," she answered. "You must make Kitty come too." - -Godfrey promised to do so, but for once in his life he was ungallant -enough to think that he could dispense with his sister's society. -Presently Miss Devereux's cart was announced and Kitty and Godfrey -accompanied her to the front door. She kissed Kitty and then held out -her hand to Godfrey. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Henderson," she said. "Remember that the hounds meet at -Spinkley Grove on Thursday, at eleven o'clock, when you will be -permitted an opportunity of making the acquaintance of the Master and -the Hunt." - -"I shall be there without fail," he answered, as he helped her into the -cart and arranged her rug for her. She thereupon nodded to the groom, -who left the ponies' heads and jumped on to the step behind as the cart -passed him, with an adroitness that was the outcome of long practice. A -moment later the vehicle had turned the corner of the drive and was lost -to view. - -"Well?" said Kitty as they turned to go in. - -"Well," Godfrey replied. - -"You like her?" - -"Very much indeed," he answered, and as they passed down the hall -together he made an important decision to himself. "Provided she will -have me," he said, "I think I have found my wife." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -More than a month had elapsed since Godfrey had made his dbut as a -recognised member of the Midlandshire Hunt. It is also necessary to -state that during that period he had seen a good deal of pretty Miss -Molly Devereux, who, faithful to the promise she had given him, had -shown him a large amount of the country, with the fences, hedges, and -ditches thereof. She was also the person who was mainly responsible for -the large sum of money he had spent on horseflesh during that time. As a -matter of fact, this impressionable young man was head over ears in -love, and to prove it, he neglected his work, imperilled his neck, and, -as his mother remarked, ran an almost daily risk of coming to an early -grave through waiting about on the outskirts of damp coverts, to say -nothing of the long, wet rides home on wintry evenings. - -"I can not understand why you do it," said the old lady, who, by the -way, was not nearly so obtuse as she pretended to be. "When you first -came home from abroad, you declared that the hunting would never possess -sufficient attraction to take you out on a damp day. Now you are never -happy unless you are in the saddle." - -"It's a good healthy exercise, mother," said Kitty, with the suspicion -of a twinkle in her eyes. "Besides, Godfrey has taken such a liking to -Sir George Penistone, the Master, that he is never happy when he is -parted from him." - -Now if there was one person in the country for whom Godfrey entertained -a profound distaste, it was for the gentleman in question. Sir George -was known to have been desperately in love with Miss Devereux ever since -he had left the 'Varsity; but, while he was plucky enough in the saddle, -and would ride his horse at anything that an animal could be expected to -jump, and at a good many that it could not, he had never been able to -screw up his courage sufficiently to broach the subject to her. Finding -that he had a rival in the field, however, had given him a fillip, and, -in consequence, relations between the two young men were as strained as -it was possible for them to be, and yet to allow them to remain on -speaking terms. Whether the young lady herself was aware of this is more -than I can say; if she were she gave no sign of it, but treated them -both with the same impartiality. Certain other ladies of the hunt vowed -that she was a heartless flirt, and that she was playing one man off -against the other. Such uncharitable sentiments, however, could only be -expected from people who would have acted in the same fashion had they -been placed in a similar position. - -It has been said by a well-known writer, who, for all we know to the -contrary, was a crusty old bachelor, and therefore well qualified to -speak upon the matter, "that the very uncertainty of love is one of its -greatest charms." I fancy that Godfrey Henderson, at that particular -time, would not have agreed with the sage in question. The uncertainty -of knowing whether he was loved or not, was making a different man of -him. In days that seemed as far removed from the present as if a gulf of -centuries lay between, he had been a happy-go-lucky, easy-going fellow, -taking the world as he found it, and never allowing himself to be much -troubled by anything. Now, however, he had grown preternaturally solemn, -was much given to silent communings with himself, and only brightened -up when he was in the presence of the person who was the object of his -adoration. Naturally this could not continue for long. - -"I'll speak to her the very first opportunity I get," he said to -himself; "and if she won't have me, I'll cut the whole show and go -abroad. I could pick up Fensden in Dresden, and we'll go off to Japan -together." - -But when he was given a favourable opportunity of speaking, he found he -was unable to bring his courage to the sticking-point, and for the next -day or two he called himself by a variety of names that, had they been -addressed to him by any one else, he would have considered most -objectionable. Regarded dispassionately, in the silent watches of the -night, it seemed a small thing to do. He had only to get her alone, to -take her hand, if he could manage to obtain possession of it, and then -to make his passion known, and ask her to be his wife. Any one could do -that, and he had the best of reasons, when he looked round the circle of -his married acquaintances, for knowing that it had been carried out -successfully on numerous occasions before. Yet when it became necessary -to put it into practice he discovered that it demanded a heroism to -which the charge of the Light Brigade and the storming of the Redan were -as nothing. - -"I see that the hounds meet at Churley cross roads on Monday," said his -sister, one morning at breakfast. "Molly wants me to go, but I fear it -will be impossible. I suppose it is not necessary to ask if you will be -there?" - -"I suppose I shall," Godfrey replied, as if he had not thought very much -about the matter. - -In his heart, however, he knew that it would require an extraordinary -force to keep him away. On Friday he did not go, for the reason that he -had incidentally learned that a certain lady would be in town at her -dressmaker's. The same day he discovered that his old friend and -schoolfellow, James Bradford, to wit, had returned from America, en -route to the Continent, and the inference was that if they did not lunch -together, they would be scarcely likely to meet again for some -considerable time. What, therefore, was more fitting than that he should -catch the 10.18 train at Detwich, and set off for the Metropolis? His -mother and sister said nothing, except to wish him a pleasant journey. -When they were alone together afterward, however, Mrs. Henderson turned -to her daughter. - -"Poor boy," she said, "I never thought he would take it as seriously as -he is doing. I have never seen a harder case." - -To which her daughter replied somewhat enigmatically: - -"I wish I knew what she intends doing." - -Despite the eagerness Godfrey had shown to renew his acquaintance with -his friend, Mr. James Bradford, he did not appear to derive such a vast -amount of satisfaction from their meeting as the trouble he had taken to -bring it about would have implied. - -"I never saw such a change in a man in my life," said Mr. James Bradford -afterward, when Godfrey had left the club. "He fidgeted about all the -time we were at lunch, and examined his watch at least twice in every -five minutes. Coming into money doesn't appear to agree with him. It's a -pity, for he used to be such a good chap." - -On leaving Pall Mall Godfrey took a cab to Bond Street, and for upward -of an hour paced religiously up and down that fashionable thoroughfare. -Then, taking another cab, he drove to Euston, where he spent at least -three-quarters of an hour inspecting the various trains that passed in -and out of the station, pottering about the bookstalls, and glaring at -the travellers who approached him. As every one is aware who lives in -the neighbourhood, there is only one good train in the afternoon that -stops at Detwich, hence his reason for going to the station at that -hour. As the time approached for that train to leave, he grew more and -more nervous, and when the train itself at length backed into the -station to take up its passengers, his anxiety became almost pitiable to -watch. Placing himself near the bookstall, he scrutinized every -passenger who approached him. At last he became aware of two figures, -who were making their way leisurely along the platform in search of an -empty carriage. One was Lady Devereux, tall, gray-haired, and eminently -dignified; her companion there is no need to describe. It struck -Godfrey, as he watched her, that never in his life had he seen so pretty -a face or figure. Nerving himself to carry out the operation he had in -mind, he strolled down the platform, then turning, walked back along the -train, glancing into the various carriages as he passed, until he -reached that in which the two ladies were seated. Then, as if he were -more than surprised at seeing them, he lifted his hat. - -"How do you do, Lady Devereux?" he said. "This is an altogether -unexpected meeting!" Then, having saluted the younger lady, he inquired -whether they would permit him to travel down with them. - -"Do so, by all means," Lady Devereux replied. "Molly and I have been -obliged to put up with each other's company since the early morning. But -how is it that you are not hunting to-day, Mr. Henderson?" - -"An old friend has just returned from America," Godfrey remarked, "and -he invited me to lunch with him. Otherwise I should have been out, of -course." - -Whether Miss Molly believed this statement or not I can not say, but I -do not think it probable. One thing was plain; on this particular -occasion she had made up her mind not to be gracious to the poor young -man, and when he endeavoured to draw her into conversation, she answered -him shortly, and then retired into the seclusion of her newspaper. - -Why she should have treated him so it is impossible to say, but there -could be no sort of doubt that she was offended at something. In -consequence the poor fellow was about as miserable a specimen of the -human race as could have been found in England that day. When Detwich -was reached, he saw the two ladies to their carriage, and bade them -good-bye. Then, mounting to the box of his own dog-cart, he sent the -horse flying down the street at a pace that, had he not been well known, -would in all probability have secured him an interview with a -magistrate. - -"And what sort of journey did you have?" inquired his mother, as she -gave him a cup of tea on his arrival at the house. - -"Very pleasant," he answered, though his looks belied his assertion. - -"And would you care, as you said the other day, to go back to live in -London?" asked mischievous Miss Kitty. - -"I think London is one of the most detestable places on earth," he -replied, stirring his tea as though he were sweeping the Metropolis into -the sea. - -"And did you see any one you knew while you were in town?" inquired his -mother. - -"A lot of people I don't care a scrap about," he answered. - -Feeling that he was not in a fit humour for society, he took himself off -to his studio, where he threw himself into an easy chair, and lit the -largest pipe in his possession. This he smoked as savagely as if it were -responsible for his troubles. By the time the dressing-bell rang, he was -more than ever determined to set off for Japan. So strong, however, was -the chain which bound him, that, on second thoughts, he came to the -conclusion that he would postpone his departure until after the meet at -the Churley cross roads on the following Monday. In consequence he spent -a miserable Saturday, and it was not until he came out of church on -Sunday morning that he was anything like his old self. All through the -service he had been paying a greater amount of attention to a neat -little toque, and the back of a very shapely head, a few seats in front -of him, than was altogether proper in a place of worship. According to -custom, the two families united in the porch. - -"Good-morning, Mr. Henderson," said Molly, as they shook hands, and -then, after they had passed outside and the usual commonplaces had been -exchanged, she continued: "What do you think of the state of the -weather?" - -There was more in her speech than met the eye. What she really meant -was: "Do you think we shall be able to hunt to-morrow? If so, I am -prepared to be kind to you once more." - -Godfrey replied that there had been signs of frost early in the morning, -but he rejoiced to see that they were going off. - -"We shall see you to-morrow, I suppose?" she said, as they passed -through the lych-gate out into the high road. - -"Of course," he answered. "Provided old Benbow doesn't break his neck in -the meantime, I shall be there." - -"I am so glad," she answered, and then, as though she felt that she had -said too much, she devoted her conversation during the rest of the walk -to Kitty, leaving Godfrey to discuss parish affairs with her father. - -She had said enough, however, in that short time to transport Godfrey -into the seventh heaven of delight; and I venture to think that if any -one had been foolish enough to suggest a trip to Japan to him at that -moment, it would have been at the peril of his or her life. - -I must leave you to imagine with what attention he studied the -appearance of the sky during the next eighteen hours. The barometer in -the hall was tapped with a regularity that was sufficient to -disorganize its internal economy forever and a day. Before he retired to -rest, he took careful stock of the heavens, and was relieved to find -that there was no sign of frost in the air. Next morning he was up -betimes, took his tub with the air of a man from whom great things are -expected, and made a heartier breakfast than he had done for some weeks -past. He looked a handsome figure in pink as his mother was careful to -inform him. - -The distance to Churley cross roads from the Hall is little more than a -mile, so that the half-hour he had allowed himself to get there, enabled -him to jog along without hurrying his horse. It was what might be -described as a perfect hunting morning. A slight mist hung in places -upon the fields; it was, however, being quickly dispersed by the -sunshine. A pleasant breeze was driving the clouds across the sky, -throwing delightful shadows upon the meadows, and crisping the surface -of the river as he passed over the old stone bridge. When he reached the -cross roads he had still some ten minutes in hand; but as there were -several others as early as himself, this fact did not weigh heavily upon -his mind. Meanwhile he kept a sharp eye on the road down which he had -come, and when he espied the stout figure of the old baronet on his -famous hunter, with his daughter beside him, mounted on a somewhat -vicious-looking chestnut, he rode forward to receive them. - -"A capital day," said the old gentleman, when they had exchanged the -usual salutations. "We could scarcely have a better. Strangely enough, -as I was saying to Molly just now, in fifty years I've never known a wet -Churley Cross Meet." - -"What do you think of my new horse, Mr. Henderson?" inquired his -daughter, when the latter had remarked upon the strangeness of the -coincidence. "Papa bought him for me on Saturday." - -"He must be very nearly thoroughbred," Godfrey replied, not caring to -add that he did not altogether like the look of the animal in question. -There was a nasty flicker in the horse's eyes, of which, to Godfrey's -thinking, he showed a great deal too much white. There could be no -denying his make and shape, however. "You'll be showing us a clean pair -of heels to-day." - -"I'll be bound she will," said the old baronet, upon whom the horse had -evidently made a favourable impression. "They tell me he won a decent -steeplechase last season; and Seth Warton, of whom I got him, says he is -the best he has had in his stable for many a long day. That says -something." - -"I sincerely hope he may prove to be all you could wish," said Godfrey; -and at that moment the Master came forward to bid them good-morning. - -"I think we'll try the Spinney first, Sir Vivian," he said. "I hear good -reports in that direction. A new horse, Miss Devereux, and I should say -a fast one. Have pity on us all!" - -As if to prove that his manners were not so good as his looks, the -animal in question made as if he would rear, and for a moment Godfrey's -heart seemed to stand still. - -"I don't like the look of him," he said to himself. "Heaven send he does -her no mischief." - -But he was not permitted much time to think of such a thing, for the -Master had given the signal, and already a general move was being made -in the direction of the Spinney. Godfrey settled himself down by Miss -Devereux's side, leaving the old gentleman free to discuss the -prospects of the day with the local doctor, a sportsman of some -celebrity in the neighbourhood. - -"Miss Devereux," said Godfrey, as they approached the wood, "at the risk -of offending you, I must say that I don't altogether care about the look -of that horse. I should say, from his appearance, handsome as it is, -that he possesses more than a touch of temper. I do hope you will be -careful what you do with him to-day." - -"You needn't be afraid," she answered, as she flashed a sharp glance at -him. "I think we understand each other perfectly. He hasn't been with -hounds for some time, and he's naturally a little excited. It will wear -off, however, before the day is done." - -"I sincerely hope it may," Godfrey continued. "In the meantime I can not -help wishing that we could exchange mounts." - -"You think that you could manage him better than I?" she said. "If that -is a challenge we will see. Now, let us watch what goes on, for I want -to be well away." - -At that moment three blasts of the horn were heard from the right, and, -before Godfrey could have counted twenty, the hounds were out of cover -and streaming away in the direction of the village--only to change -their course after the first quarter of a mile. - -"It looks as if we were in for a fast thing," said Miss Devereux; and -the words had scarcely left her lips when the chestnut gave a violent -plunge in the air and was off at a racing pace. - -"If he goes on like that, the brute will pull her arms out, if he -doesn't do anything worse," Godfrey muttered to himself. - -But so far the girl had got him well in hand. Sitting back in the -saddle, she let him have his head, taking a gradual pull at him as they -neared the first hedge. Whatever his other faults may have been, he was -certainly a jumper, for he cleared the obstacle in unmistakable style. -As she had said a few moments before, there could be no doubt that they -were in for a fast thing. The hounds were racing as if their one desire -was to run Master Reynard to earth before he could get into the next -field. Godfrey's own horse, to use a phrase that his mother could never -understand, "was going strong," but he could not live in the same county -with the chestnut. In spite of Miss Devereux's undoubted skill in the -saddle, the horse was gradually becoming the master. At the third fence, -an ugly-looking post and rail, with a bad approach, he took off too -soon, giving his rider the chance of an extremely nasty fall. She saved -the situation, however, by a miracle. They had reached the top of the -hill, and were descending into the valley on the other side, when -Godfrey, whose horse was doing its best, realized that something very -serious was the matter ahead. The chestnut had undeniably got out of -hand, and, scared by some sheep, was edging toward the left. - -"It is just what I expected," he said to himself as he rode along some -half-a-dozen lengths behind the other. "She is losing control over him. -I must follow at all costs." - -Digging his spurs into the horse's side, he endeavoured to race up to -the animal in front of him. He was too late, however. The chestnut had -got the bit in his teeth, and, swerving to the left, was galloping in -the direction of a small wood. Observing this, Godfrey turned his -horse's head and made after him. Fortunately, the paddock over which -they were galloping was a large one; but the chestnut was going at such -a pace that he very soon crossed it. Skirting the wood, he began to -descend the hill on the other side. Then he disappeared altogether from -view. When Godfrey reached the top of the rise, he scarcely dared to -look about him; but when he did so, he saw that the horse had altered -his original course, and was making his way again across the angle, as -if he desired to reach the line the hounds were still following. In a -flash Godfrey realized the situation and took in the fact that the -animal was unconsciously making direct for a large chalk pit, and that -unless something were done at once to prevent him, nothing could save -both horse and rider from a terrible death. - -"God help me to save her!" he cried. "God help me to save her!" - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -For a moment after he realized the true state of affairs Godfrey was -spellbound with terror. Was it just possible that he would be able to -head the horse off from the pit? If he could not, then it would be the -end of all things as far as Miss Devereux was concerned. With the cold -sweat of terror on his brow he watched the girl he loved racing down the -slope on the maddened horse. He saw that she was making a brave fight to -bring him to a standstill; but even at that distance he could tell that -her effort was in vain. A moment later the animal had once more changed -his course and had dashed toward a hedge. He scarcely rose at it; as a -natural consequence he struck it, toppled over, and then both horse and -rider disappeared together. Fearful at what he might find, Godfrey -galloped toward the spot, jumped the gate that separated it from the -neighbouring field, and looked about him for what he should see. The -horse was lying stretched out upon the ground, and one glance was -sufficient to show him that its neck was broken. In the dry ditch below -the hedge he could catch a glimpse of a black figure. He sprang from his -horse and approached it. Lifting her head he supported her in his arms, -and as he did so a little sigh escaped from her lips. - -"God be thanked, she is still alive!" he muttered to himself, and then -he replaced her head upon the bank. - -Taking off his coat he made it into a ball. He placed it beneath her -head, and then set off in search of water. When he had procured a little -in his hat he returned and bathed her forehead and temples with it. -After a while she opened her eyes and looked up at him. - -"I feel better now," she answered, in reply to his inquiries. "Where is -the horse?" - -"Close beside you," he said, and then going to his own animal he took -his flask from the holster and filled the little cup with sherry. - -"Drink this," he said. "It will do you good." - -The wine revived her, and in a few minutes she was so far recovered as -to be able to sit up and discuss matters with him. - -"I am quite well now," she said. "But how am I to get home? Poor papa! -What a state he will be in when he hears! Since my horse is dead I -suppose I must try to walk." - -"You will do nothing of the kind," Godfrey replied, firmly. "I will lift -you into the saddle and you must try and ride my horse. If we can find a -village near here, you can remain there until a carriage is sent from -the Court to fetch you." - -"As I have proved myself incompetent I suppose I must obey you," she -answered, with a touch of her old spirit. "But what is to be done with -my own poor beast?" - -"I will arrange about him when I have attended to your comfort," he -said, and then assisted her to rise and lifted her into the saddle. For -the first hundred yards or so they walked almost in silence. She was the -first to speak. - -"Mr. Henderson," she said, looking down at him, "I owe you an apology. I -was rude to you the other day, and I laughed at you when you told me -this morning that you did not like my new horse. Events have proved that -you were right. Will you forgive me?" - -"I have nothing to forgive," he answered; "but you can have no idea how -nervous I was this morning when I saw how that brute behaved." - -"Why should you have bothered yourself about me?" she asked, not, -however, with quite her usual confidence. - -Here was the very opportunity he had been looking for so long. He felt -that he must take possession of it at once. - -"Because I love you," he answered. "You must have known that I have been -in love with you ever since I first saw you, Molly. Don't you believe -me?" - -"Yes, I know it," she replied, looking at him with the love-light -shining in her own eyes. - -"And your answer, Molly? What can you say to me?" - -"Only that I love you too," she murmured. - -I do not know what my spinster readers will think, but the fact remains -that the paddock they were crossing was a large one, some twenty acres -in extent. It was almost in the centre of this open space that he -proposed to her, and she, brazen creature, at his suggestion, I will -admit, stooped from her saddle and permitted him to kiss her where all -the world might see. - -It was between three and four o'clock that afternoon when Godfrey -reached home. He had waited at the little village inn until the -carriage, which he had sent for to convey her home, arrived from the -Court. Then, when he had promised to ride over in the morning in order -to interview her father, he watched her drive off and had afterward -departed himself to his own abode. - -"Well, Godfrey, and what sort of a day have you had?" asked Miss Kitty, -as they stood in the drawing-room before the fire. - -"Splendid," he answered. "I was awfully cut up at one time, but on the -whole it has been one of the best days in my life." - -"You seem to have enjoyed it. Where did you find?" - -"At Churley Spinney," he answered. - -"And you killed at----?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," was the reply. - -"How long did you run?" - -"I don't know that either." - -"You don't seem to have been very observant. What _do_ you know?" - -"I only know that I am engaged to Molly Devereux. For the present that -seems to me to be quite sufficient." - -In a moment her arms were round his neck. - -"You dear boy, I can not tell you how thankful I am." - -Nor was Mrs. Henderson's pleasure the less sincere. - -To say that Godfrey Henderson was a happy man after his acceptance by -Miss Molly would be too mild an expression altogether. It is my opinion -that for the next few days he could not have been said to be properly -responsible for his actions. He behaved like an amiable lunatic, spent -the greater part of his time, when he was not with his _fiance_, -planning alterations to a house which was already perfect, and vowed -many times a day that he was not nearly good enough for one so angelic. -Every one, with the exception of Sir George Penistone, perhaps, was -delighted with the match. The worthy old baronet gave his consent -immediately almost before it was asked in point of fact, and vowed that -the two properties would run splendidly together. A county dinner was -given to celebrate the engagement. There were folks who prophesied that -the wedding festivities would be on a scale seldom witnessed even by -Midlandshire, which as all the world knows, or should know, is the most -hospitable county in the three kingdoms. The engagement was to be a very -short one, and the happy couple were to leave directly after the -marriage ceremony for the South of France. - -"You are quite sure that you are not anxious to change your mind?" said -Molly to her lover one evening, when they were riding home from hunting. -"Remember, there is still time." - -"If it were not so light, and I had not the best of reasons for knowing -that old Farmer Giles is behind us, and has his eyes glued upon our -backs, I would find a means of making you repent of that speech." Then -he added more seriously: "Darling, whatever may happen in the future, -whatever troubles may be in store for us, you will always believe that I -love you, will you not?" - -"Always," she answered. "Happen what may, I shall never doubt that. But -what makes you suddenly so solemn?" - -"I don't know," he replied. "Somebody walking over my grave, I suppose." - -She gave a little cry of pain. - -"For pity's sake don't talk like that!" she cried. "You have no idea how -it hurts me." - -"In that case I will never do so again," he said. "Forgive me and forget -that I said it, dear." Then to change the conversation, he added: "I -expect this will be our last day's hunting together before we are -married. We shall both be too busy to be able to spare the time." - -"I have no idea how I am going to get through all I have to do," she -said. "I shall practically live in shops for the next month, and I do -detest shopping. Mamma, on the other hand, seems to revel in it. I fancy -she would like to have a wedding to arrange every month in the year. By -the way, Godfrey, have you decided who is going to be your best man?" - -"Yes," he replied. "Victor Fensden. He is my oldest friend, and I heard -from him only this morning that he will be delighted to officiate in -that capacity. He is in Paris just now, but returns to England at the -end of the week, when I have invited him to come down here for a few -days. I hope you will like him." - -"I am certain to like any friend of yours," she replied. "I shall be -very interested in Mr. Fensden. I came across a volume of his poems the -other day. It was very strangely bound and illustrated in an -extraordinary manner by himself." - -"That's his own idea. And did you like the poetry?" - -"Well, if I must be candid, and I'm sure you won't mind, I must confess -that I did not understand much of it. It seems so confused. Not a bit -like Tennyson, or Keats, or Shelley." - -"I quite agree with you," said Godfrey. "Fensden is very clever, too -clever for me, I'm afraid. One or two literary people rave about his -work, I know, but for my part I like less words and a little more human -nature. Give me 'Gunga Din,' or the 'Charge of the Light Brigade,' for -my money, and anybody else can have all the nymphs and satyrs, and odes -to Bacchus and Pan that were ever crammed into the realms of poetry." - -Loath as I am to say it, such was the infatuation of this girl that she -positively agreed with him. Fate, with that characteristic kindness for -which it is celebrated, had been good enough to endow them with minds of -similar calibre, which, of course, was very desirable, and just as it -should be. - -On the Wednesday morning following the conversation I have just -described Molly and her mother departed for London, where the former -was to be handed over to the tender care of Madame Delamaine and her -assistants. They were to be away for three days, returning home on the -Friday evening, and, as a little compensation for their absence, it was -agreed that Godfrey should meet them in town on the Thursday and take -them to a theatre. - -Accordingly the morning train conveyed him to the Metropolis. He had the -pleasure of the vicar's society on the way up, and the latter, not being -restrained by his wife, was able to give him his opinion on matters in -general and the immediate stress on politics in particular. In -consequence, as Godfrey admitted afterward, he spent two such hours of -boredom as he hopes never to experience again. On his arrival in London -he drove to his tailors and ordered his wedding garments, going on -afterward to a well-known firm of jewellers in Regent Street, from whom -he bought a wedding-ring with as much care as he would have given to the -purchase of Crown jewels, and a diamond necklace with little more -concern than if it had been a pair of gloves. From Regent Street he -drove to his club for luncheon. He was late, but that did not matter, -for he felt that the morning had been well spent. On entering the -dining-room he looked about him for a vacant table. He had chosen one, -and was proceeding toward it when a well-known voice behind him said: - -"Come and sit here, Godfrey." - -He turned round to find himself face to face with no less a person than -Victor Fensden. - -"My dear old fellow, this is indeed a surprise," he said as he shook -hands. "I thought you were still in Paris. How long have you been in -London?" - -"I crossed this morning," Victor replied. "I am tired of travelling and -want to settle down." - -"And you have enjoyed yourself?" - -"Fairly well," Victor replied. "I have met a lot of people whom I hope -never to see again, and have tasted, I should say, every example of -villainous cookery in Europe. I am thinking of bringing out a new guide -book, which I shall name 'The Tourist's Vade Mecum'; or, 'Where _not_ to -go in Europe.'" - -Considering that it was to Godfrey's generosity that he owed the long -holiday he had been able to take, this was scarcely a grateful speech, -but the latter did not comment on it. He was too happy himself and too -glad to see his friend once more to take offence. He noticed that in his -dress Victor was even more artistic than before. His hair was a shade -longer, his tie a trifle larger (he wore it tied in a bow with ends -flying loose), and the general tone of his costume a little more -pronounced. - -"And the future Mrs. Henderson?" he said, airily. "How is she? As you -may suppose, I am all anxiety to make her acquaintance." - -"You will do so on Saturday," Godfrey replied, "for I presume you are -coming down to me then?" - -"I shall be delighted," said Fensden. "An English country house will be -soothing after the caravansaries I have been domiciled in lately. I -never knew how much I detested my brother Briton until I met him in a -foreign hotel." - -The sneer on his face as he said this was not pretty to watch. - -"And now that you are at home once more, I presume you will resume your -old habit of searching the slums for foreign eating houses?" said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "Do you remember how and where we met Teresina?" - -"Perfectly," Victor replied shortly, and then changed the conversation -by inquiring how long Godfrey intended remaining in town. - -"I go back to-morrow morning," was the other's reply. "And now that I -come to think of it, why shouldn't you come down with me? It would be -just the thing for you. We shall be very pleased to see you if you care -to come." - -"Impossible," the other answered. "I have such a lot to do. I could not -possibly manage it before Saturday." - -"Let it be Saturday then," said Godfrey, with an imperturbable good -humour that contrasted very strongly with the other's peevishness. -"There's a first-rate train which gets you down in time for afternoon -tea. I'll meet you at the station." - -When Godfrey had finished his lunch he paid a visit to his saddler and -his bootmaker, and then to fill in the time, inspected the stables of a -well-known horse-dealer. He would have liked to go round to Eaton Square -where Molly and her mother were staying with an old maiden aunt, but he -thought better of it, and contented himself by strolling down Bond -Street on the off-chance that he might meet them. He was not successful, -however, so he returned to his hotel to dress and dine. - -At ten minutes to eight he was to be seen standing in the vestibule of -the Lyceum, waiting for the ladies to put in an appearance. When their -carriage drove up he hastened forward to greet them, and conducted them -forthwith to the box he had engaged. Nothing that could tend to their -comfort had been omitted by this extravagant young man, and he found his -reward in the tender little squeeze Molly gave his hand when he removed -her cloak. During the evening he did not concern himself very much with -the play; he watched his future wife's pretty face and the expressions -that played upon it. As soon as they were married he was determined to -paint a life-size portrait of her, which he prophesied to himself would -be the best piece of work he had ever accomplished. But even the -happiest evenings must come to an end, and this particular one was no -exception to the rule. When the curtain fell on the last act, he -re-cloaked his two charges, and escorted them downstairs once more. -Then, bidding them wait in the vestibule, he himself went out in search -of their carriage. When he had placed them in it, he bade them -good-night, and came very near being knocked over by a hansom as he -watched them disappear in the traffic. - -The night was bitterly cold, and snow was falling. Reflecting that it -would be wiser not to stand still, he turned up the collar of his coat, -and wondered what he should do next. Should he go back to his hotel and -to bed, or should he stroll on to his club and see who was there? He -eventually decided in favour of the hotel, and accordingly set off along -the Strand in the hope that he might presently be able to pick up a cab. - -He had reached Exeter Hall, when, with a cry of astonishment, he found -himself standing face to face with the one person of all others he had -least expected to see in England. It was Teresina! - -"Teresina!" he ejaculated, in surprise. "What on earth does this mean? -How long have you been in England?" - -"Nearly a month," she answered, looking away as if she desired to avoid -his eyes. - -"And why did you not let me know that you were coming?" he asked, -reproachfully. "You must surely remember that you promised to do so?" - -"I did not like to trouble you," she replied, still in the same -curiously hard voice. "You were not in London, and I thought you would -be too busy to have time to spare for me." - -"You know that is not true," he answered. "I should be a mean brute if I -did not find time to look after my friends. Where are you living? In the -old house?" - -She paused for a moment before she replied. He noticed her -embarrassment, but did not put the right construction upon it. - -"Near the Tottenham Court Road," she said at last. "I don't think you -would know the street if I told you." - -"And your mother, how is she?" - -He saw the look of pain which spread over her face, and noticed that her -eyes filled with tears. - -"My mother is dead!" she answered, very quietly. "She died in Naples two -months ago." - -"And you are alone in the world? My poor child! This will never do. You -must let me help you if I can." - -"No, no!" she cried, this time almost fiercely. "I do not require any -help. I can support myself quite well." - -"I shall have to be convinced of that before I let you go," he answered. -"London is not the sort of place for a young girl to be alone in, -particularly when one is a foreigner and poor." - -"You were always kind to me," she replied, "but I can not let you do -more. Besides you are going to be married. Is that not so?" - -"It is quite true," he answered; "but how did you hear of it?" - -She looked confused for a moment. - -"I can not tell you," she replied. "Perhaps I saw it in the newspapers. -You are famous, and they write about you. Now I must be getting home." - -An empty cab happened to pass at that moment, and Godfrey hailed it. - -"Get in," he said, when the vehicle had drawn up beside the pavement. "I -am going to see you home. This is not the hour for you to be alone in -the streets." - -"No, no," she protested, even more vehemently than before. "I can not -let you do this. I can walk quite well. It is not far, and I have often -done it." - -"Teresina, you must do as I tell you," said Godfrey, firmly. "I insist -that you get in and that you give me your address." - -She hesitated for a moment before she replied. Then she said: - -"No. 16, Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road." - -Having given the address to the driver, Godfrey took his place beside -the girl. He was thankful, indeed, that he had met her, but the -circumstances under which he had found her distressed him more than he -was able to say. As they drove along he endeavoured to elicit some -information from her concerning her present life. She was not -communicative, however. That there was some mystery at the back of it -all, he could see, and the more he thought of it, the more unhappy he -became. Poor little Teresina! He remembered her as she was when she had -first sat to him for the picture which had made his name; and as he -looked out upon the falling snow and the miserable streets with the dark -figures scurrying along the pavement on either hand, and thought of her -future, his heart sank within him. He wondered whether he could persuade -her to accept a sufficient sum of money from him to enable her to return -to her own country and to live in comfort there? He was rich, and after -all it was not only his duty but his pleasure to help an old friend. As -she seemed so distressed at meeting him, he resolved to say nothing on -the subject then, however; nevertheless, he was determined in his own -mind that he would write to her on the morrow and make the offer, -whether she accepted it or not. At last they came to a part of the -Strand which was more brilliantly illuminated than elsewhere. As they -came within the circle of the light, Teresina put up her hand to push -back her hair, and Godfrey noticed that she wore a wedding-ring upon her -third finger. This gave him food for reflection. - -"Teresina," he said, "why did you not tell me that you were married? I -thought you said you were alone in the world." - -"My husband is dead," she answered, with what was almost a note of -despair in her voice. - -"Your husband dead, and your mother dead too?" he repeated, almost -incredulously. "Teresina, my dear child, are you telling me the truth?" - -"Why should you doubt me?" she cried. "You have no reason for doing so." - -"Because I feel that you are hiding something from me," he said. "Is it -any use my imploring you to confide in me? You know that I am your -friend, and that I would help you to the best of my ability." - -"I know you would," she answered. "You were always a good and kind -friend to me. All I ask of you now, however, is to leave me alone. I am -unhappy enough as it is. Do not seek to add to my misery." - -"Heaven knows I have no desire to do that," said Godfrey. "But if you -think I am going to leave you, as you are now, you are much mistaken. If -you would only be brave and tell me everything, it might simplify -matters." - -"Impossible," she cried. "Have I not told you there is nothing to tell? -Oh, why did I not go another way home!" - -"Because it was to be," he answered. "You were in trouble, Providence -sent me to help you. Believe me, that is the explanation." - -A few moments later the cab turned from the Tottenham Court Road into a -narrower and darker street. Half--way down this dingy thoroughfare it -came to a standstill--before a house on the right-hand side. It was by -no means a cheerful dwelling, and at that hour it was wrapped in -complete darkness. They descended from the cab, and Godfrey, who had no -desire that the cabman should overhear his conversation with Teresina, -paid him off with a liberal _largesse_, and allowed him to go on his way -rejoicing. - -"Is it any use my again asking you to tell me your trouble?" he said to -the girl beside him, when the vehicle had disappeared and a policeman -had passed, after taking a long survey of them. - -"Not in the least," she answered. "Please do not ask me." - -"In that case, will you make me a promise, Teresina? If you will do so, -I will ask no further questions for the present." - -"What is it I am to promise?" - -"That you will not leave this house without first letting me know -whither you are going?" - -"I will do that," she answered. "I will let you know when I leave this -house." - -"Here is my card then. You had better take care of it. A letter or -telegram will always find me. And now good-night, my poor girl. -Remember, I am your friend." - -"Good-night, and may God bless _you_." - -So saying, she disappeared into the house, while he, in his turn, after -taking the bearing of the house, in case he should want to find it -again, set off in the opposite direction to that by which he had entered -the street. - -Meanwhile Teresina, choking down her sobs, climbed the stairs to the -room she occupied in that ramshackle tenement. Unlocking the door, she -entered and started to cross the floor in search of a box of matches she -remembered having left upon the chimney-piece. She had not advanced more -than three steps, however, before she was seized by the throat from -behind, while at the same time a keen-bladed knife was driven, as far as -the handle, between her shoulders, only to be withdrawn and thrust in -again and again, until she fell with a little gasp upon the floor. - -When her assassin had made sure that she was dead, he lit the gas and -knelt beside her for a few minutes. Then he rose, placed something in a -box upon the table, turned off the gas once more, picked up the box, and -went out, relocking the door behind him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - -After leaving Teresina, Godfrey made his way back to his hotel. As he -strode along he meditated as to what he should do to help her. That the -girl was in serious trouble, he had not the least doubt; but since she -would not allow him to assist her in any form, what could he do? - -He had been through a good deal that day, and by the time he reached his -hotel he was quite worn out. The night porter who admitted him noticed -his haggard appearance. - -"You don't look very well, sir," he said, sympathetically; "is there -anything I can do for you?" - -"If you could manage to get me a brandy and soda, I should be very much -obliged," Godfrey said, as he dropped into one of the seats in the hall. - -"I will do so with pleasure, sir," the man replied, and disappeared at -once in search of the refreshment, which he very soon brought back. -Godfrey drank it off, and then announced his intention of proceeding at -once to bed. - -"Poor little Teresina!" he said to himself as he wound up his watch; -"poor little girl, it seems a shame that she should suffer so!" - -Little did he guess that at that moment Teresina's troubles were over, -that she would never know sorrow or poverty again. - -Next morning he returned to Detwich by an early train. Though he had -only been absent from it a little more than twenty-four hours, it seemed -to him that he had been away for years. - -"You look tired out, Godfrey," said his mother, as they stood together -in the hall. - -"I did not have a very good night last night," he said, "and I had a -hard day's running about yesterday. That is all. You needn't worry about -me, mother; I'm as strong as a horse." - -He went on to tell his mother of his meeting with Fensden, and informed -her that the latter intended coming to stay with them next day. - -"That will be very nice," she said. "You will enjoy having him. I shall -put him up in the south wing in order that he may be near you. The -wall-papers are more subdued there. I know, of old, how he notices these -things." - -"I don't think he will bother himself very much about wall-papers," said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "He declares that he is so tired of travelling -that the quiet of an English country house will brace him up again." - -"I have no doubt it will," said the old lady: "I remember when your -father took me to Paris for our honeymoon, the mere sound of the French -language gave me a headache. I never hear it now without thinking of -that time. And now tell me about Molly. Did she enjoy the play you took -her to see?" - -"Immensely," he replied. "She sent her love to you, and bade me tell you -that she would be very pleased to come over to meet Fensden on Saturday. -I only hope that she won't be knocked up by all this shopping." - -His mother shook her head. - -"I don't think you need have any fear on that score," she said. "When a -girl is about to be married to the man of her heart, the collection of -her _trousseau_ becomes a labour of love. She will make a beautiful -bride, worthy of my boy. I can't say more than that." - -"You shouldn't say so much," said Godfrey. "If your boy were to believe -all the compliments you pay him, he would become insufferably conceited. -And now I must go round and see how things have been progressing in my -absence." - -The following morning witnessed Molly's arrival at the Hall. It was the -first time she had stayed there since her engagement, and in consequence -she was received with rapturous delight by her lover. Though they had -only been parted for a day, they seemed to have a hundred things to tell -each other. There were, moreover, certain important matters to be -discussed connected with the internal arrangements of the house of which -she was so soon to be mistress. I believe, so infatuated was the young -man that, had she expressed a desire to have the whole fabric pulled -down, and rebuilt in another fashion, he would have set about the work -at once. - -"You are quite sure there is nothing else you would like to have done?" -he asked, when they had made the tour of inspection, and were -approaching to the drawing-room once more. - -"You have done too much already," she replied, looking affectionately at -her lover. "I very much doubt if ever there was a girl so spoilt as I. -You will have to make up for it by ruling me with a rod of iron -afterward." - -"God forbid that I should ever do that," he said seriously. "I hope I -shall always be an indulgent husband to you." - -"Not too indulgent," she said. "For my own sake, you must not be. I -don't want to be like a spoilt child." - -"You will never be that," he said. "To me you will always be the -most----" - -"Hush!" she said, holding up her finger in warning. "I think we must -make it a rule to avoid every sort of compliment. I have had more than -is good for me already." - -"I shall find it difficult to obey you, but I will try," he returned. -"And now come with me to the studio; I have one thing left to show you." - -"What is that?" - -"You must wait and see for yourself," he replied, and led the way -through the conservatory to the room of which he had spoken. They found -the easel covered with a cloth. This he drew aside. - -"It is my present to you," he said, referring to the picture he had -revealed, "to be hung in your own room." - -"Oh, Godfrey, how good of you! What a splendid likeness!" - -It was, in fact, a portrait of himself upon which he had been working -hard ever since his engagement had been announced. He had intended it as -a surprise, and in the pleasure he gave her, he felt that he had been -amply repaid for the labour it had cost him. - -"I shall treasure it all my life long," she said, and rewarded him in a -manner that would have turned many folks green with envy. - -"And now," she said, when she had gazed her full upon it, "I want you to -show me a photograph of your friend, Mr. Fensden, if you have one. -Remember I have no idea what he is like." - -"That can very easily be remedied," he said. "I have a photo which was -taken in Rome, and a small portrait that I painted myself." - -So saying, he crossed the room to his writing-table, and, having opened -a drawer, took from it a packet of cabinet photographs. They were, for -the most part, likenesses of old friends, and when he had selected one -of Victor from the number, he placed it before her. - -"So that is Mr. Fensden?" she said, seating herself in what he called -his business chair. - -For some moments she studied it attentively. Then she replaced it on the -writing-table. - -"Well, now that you have seen the portrait, what do you think of him?" -Godfrey asked, as he turned over some canvases on the other side of the -room. - -"I scarcely know what to say," she replied, slowly. "It is a refined -face, a clever one, if you like; but, if I may be allowed to say what I -think, there is something in it, I can not tell what, that I do not care -about. I fancy the eyes are set a little too close together." Then she -added more quickly: "I hope I have not offended you, dear. I should not -have spoken so candidly." - -"Why shouldn't you?" he inquired. "Perhaps, now you speak of it, the -eyes are a little too close together. But you must wait until you have -seen the man himself before you judge him. I assure you he can be a -charming companion." - -"I gathered as much from his photograph," she answered, taking it up and -looking at it again, "At what time does he arrive to-day?" - -"In time for afternoon tea," said Godfrey. "I am going to drive in to -meet him." - -Molly made a little _moue_; with the selfishness of love, she did not -approve of Godfrey leaving her, if only for so short a time. And, if the -truth be confessed, I fear she was a little jealous of the man who was -to be responsible for his absence. It is not always that a sweetheart is -any too well disposed toward her lover's bachelor friends. For some -reason, Fensden's photograph had prejudiced her against him. She was -resolved to be just; but she felt convinced in her own mind that she -would never be able to say that she really liked or trusted the man. She -did not tell Godfrey this. - -In accordance with the arrangements he had made, that afternoon, at -about three o'clock, Godfrey drove off to the station to meet his -friend. He was looking forward to seeing him, if only that he might show -him how great was the difference between the sketch the other had drawn -of his future wife that night in the desert, and the reality. I fancy if -England had been searched through that day, a happier young man than the -master of Detwich would have been difficult to find. Yet, though he -could not guess it, the climax of his life was only a few hours' -distant. - -As he drove along, he thought of Molly and the happiness that was to be -his portion in the future. Then his thoughts turned to Teresina. While -he had prospered in the world, she had lost what little happiness she -had ever possessed. He determined to discuss her affairs with Fensden on -the first available opportunity, when doubtless the latter would be able -to suggest a way in which he might assist her. By the time he had -arrived at this reflection, he had reached the station, and the groom -was standing at the horse's head. Having placed the reins under the -patent clip, he descended from the cart and went on to the platform. The -station-master saluted him respectfully, and informed him that the train -had already been signalled. Indeed, the words had scarcely left that -functionary's lips before a whistle was heard in the cutting, and a -moment later it came into view. As the train swept past him Godfrey -caught a glimpse of the man he had come to meet, gathering together his -travelling things, in a first-class carriage. - -"How are you, my dear old fellow?" he cried, as he turned the handle of -the door. "You don't know how glad I am to see you! I am afraid you have -had a cold journey. Let me take some of your things." - -Victor graciously permitted the other to assist him with his luggage, -and then he himself descended from the carriage. They shook hands and -afterward strolled in the direction of the gate. Victor was attired in a -magnificent travelling ulster, and a neat deer-stalker's hat. An -orange-coloured tie peeped from the opening under his beard, and his -hands were as daintily gloved as a lady's. Altogether, as he walked down -the platform, he presented as artistic a figure as Detwich had seen for -a very long time. - -"What have you been doing since I saw you?" Godfrey inquired as they -took their places in the dog-cart. - -"Repairing the ravages of time and Continental travel," Victor replied, -somewhat ambiguously. Then he added politely: "I hope Miss Devereux is -well?" - -"Very well, indeed," said Godfrey, "and most anxious to see you. She has -read your poems and has seen your portrait; all she requires now is to -be introduced to the original." - -"In that case I fear she will be disappointed," said Victor, with what -was almost a sneer in his voice. "Since she is with you, I presume your -mother and sister are at the Hall. Do they look forward to the idea of -turning out?" - -"They are a pair of foolish women who would do anything, or give up -anything in order to make me happy," the other replied. "As a matter of -fact, I don't know that they altogether mind. They both prefer London, -and when they return from their travels, I believe it is their intention -to take a flat and settle down somewhere in the neighbourhood of -Kensington." - -"While you are assimilating the bucolic virtues. Well, it's a pretty -picture, and if I had fifteen thousand a year and a fine estate I might -be tempted to do the same. As I haven't the money or the property I -remain what I am." - -"And that is?" - -"A trifler," Victor replied, with unusual bitterness. "One who might -have done and who did not--who dropped the substance in an attempt to -grasp the shadow." - -"Nonsense," said Godfrey, who did not like to hear his friend abuse -himself in this fashion. "If you are going to talk like that I shall -have to prescribe a long dose of country air." - -Then, in an attempt to change the other's thoughts, he talked of their -travels together, and of the curious characters they had met, which -lasted until they had passed through the lodge gates and were well on -their way across the park. Even in the sombreness of winter the place -looked very beautiful, and Victor expressed himself delighted with it. - -"I had no idea it was so fine," he said, as they swept round the drive -and came into view of the house. "I can very well understand your liking -for a country life when you possess an estate like this. Your uncle did -you a kind action when he made you his heir." - -"Nobody is more sensible of that fact than I am," Godfrey replied. "I -only wish I could let the old fellow know how grateful I am. I often -think that during his lifetime he was disappointed in me because I took -to painting instead of becoming a country gentleman. I wonder what he -would say if he could see me now? I don't know what you may think, but -to my mind there are times when one likes to imagine that the dead are -near us." - -Victor gave a violent start, followed by a shiver. - -"Good Heavens! What an idea!" he cried. Then, dropping back into his old -cynical tone, he continued: "I am afraid that if your idea were possible -our human affairs would become somewhat complicated. For my own part I -am quite content that the matter should stand as it is." - -As he finished speaking they drew up before the steps and the two men -descended from the cart. The ladies were waiting in the hall to receive -them. - -"How do you do, Mr. Fensden?" said Mrs. Henderson, coming forward to -meet him. "It is a long time since we have met, and you have been a -great traveller in the meantime." - -"Thanks to your son," said Victor as he took her hand. "How do you do, -Miss Kitty? Events advance too quickly with all of us, but they seem to -have taken giant strides with you." - -"You mean that when last we met I was still on the other side of that -line which is only crossed by a girl when she performs the mysterious -operation called 'putting her hair up,'" answered that sharp-tongued -young lady. - -"Now, Victor," said Godfrey, when Kitty had been annihilated, "let me -have the pleasure of introducing you to Miss Devereux." - -The couple bowed to each other, and Victor offered her his -congratulations. - -"And now you must come and have your tea," said Mrs. Henderson, -hospitably. "You must need it, I am sure, after your long journey." - -"Or perhaps you would prefer something more substantial," put in -Godfrey. "I noticed that you shivered as we came up the drive." - -"I really think I should," said Victor. "After the warmth of the East -our English winters are not to be trifled with." - -Godfrey led the way to the dining-room and placed the spirit-stand -before his friend. - -"I don't think I have ever been so cold in my life before," said Victor, -as he poured out an amount of brandy for himself that made Godfrey open -his eyes in astonishment, for he had always looked upon the other as an -exceedingly temperate man. - -"Now, tell me, would you prefer to see your room first?" Godfrey -inquired, when the other had tossed off his refreshment, "or shall we -join the ladies?" - -"Perhaps I had better make myself presentable first," Victor answered, -glancing complacently at himself in the mirror above the chimney-piece. - -Godfrey accordingly led the way to the room which had been set apart for -his friend's use, and to which the latter's luggage had been conveyed. -It was a pleasant apartment, looking out on what was called the Ladies' -Garden, and thence across the park to a high and wooded hill. Victor -went to the window and studied the prospect. - -"You have a charming home," he said, with what was almost a sigh; "you -are about to marry a beautiful girl; you have wealth, success, and -everything else that can make life worth living, Godfrey. You should be -a happy man." - -"I am happy," Godfrey replied, "and, please God, I'll do my best to make -others so. And that reminds me, Victor, I want to have a talk with you. -Do you know that on Thursday night I met Teresina in the Strand?" - -Victor had turned from the window, and was brushing his hair at the -time. As he heard what Godfrey said, the brush fell from his hand upon -the floor. As he picked it up and continued his toilet, he said in -surprise: - -"Teresina in London? Surely you must have been mistaken. I thought she -was still in Naples?" - -"She is in London," Godfrey repeated. "I could not have been mistaken, -for I spoke to her." - -"At what time did you see her?" - -"Just about midnight," his friend replied. - -"Are you aware that the signora is dead and that Teresina is married?" - -"How should I be likely to?" said Victor. "You know that I have not seen -her since I bade her good-bye in your studio before we went abroad. And -so the pretty model is married? Well, I suppose the proper thing to say -is that one hopes that she will be happy." - -"But she is not happy, far from it. Her husband as well as her mother is -dead." - -"I believe there are some wives who would consider that fact to be not -altogether a matter for sorrow. But what makes you think that Teresina -is unhappy?" - -"Because she told me so, though she would not tell me anything further. -The poor girl seemed in terrible distress." - -"And you gave her money, I suppose?" said Victor. "That is usually the -way one soothes trouble of her kind. I hope she was grateful." - -"I wish to goodness you wouldn't be so cynical," said Godfrey, almost -losing his temper. "I wanted to help her, but she would not let me. -Every time I offered my assistance she implored me to leave her. She -broke down altogether when we reached her house." - -"Then you took her home?" said the other. "Do you think that was wise?" - -"Why should I not have done so?" - -"Well, you see," said Victor, putting his brushes back into their case, -"circumstances have somewhat changed with you. Miss Devereux might not -altogether approve." - -"Miss Devereux is too good and kind a girl to object to my doing what I -could to comfort an old friend in trouble." - -"But when that old friend in trouble happens to be an extremely -beautiful girl the situation becomes slightly changed. However, don't -think that I am endeavouring to interfere. And now shall we go -downstairs?" - -"But, confound it, Victor, you don't mean to say that you take no more -interest in Teresina's fate than this? I thought you liked her as much -as I did." - -"_Mon cher ami_," said Victor, rearranging his tie before the glass, -"that is scarcely fair, either to yourself or to me. Have you forgotten -a little discussion we had together, and which eventually resulted in -our leaving England for a time? Had you not taken such an interest in -Teresina then, I doubt very much whether I should have seen Cairo or -Jerusalem, or a lot of other places. But still, my dear fellow, if there -is anything I can do to help your old model you may be sure I shall be -only too glad to do it." - -"I knew you would," said Godfrey, placing his hand affectionately on the -other's shoulder. "We must talk it over some time and see what can be -done. It will never do to let her go on as she is now." - -"You have no idea, I suppose, of the origin of the trouble?" - -"Not the least. She would tell me nothing. She tried to make me believe -that she had plenty of work, and that she did not stand in need of any -assistance. I knew better, however." - -"And where is she living?" - -"In Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road. It is a miserable -place, mainly occupied by foreigners. The house is on the right-hand -side." - -"Very well," said Victor. "When I go back to town I will look her up. It -will be hard if we can't arrange something." - -Then they descended the stairs together and entered the drawing-room. - -"My dear Godfrey, are you aware that you will have one wife in a -hundred?" said Kitty, pointing to a table on which some twenty packages -of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions were arranged. - -"How so?" said Godfrey. "What new virtue have you discovered in her?" - -"I have found that she can subordinate curiosity to a sense of duty," -said the young lady. "These presents arrived for you just after you left -for the station, and yet she would not open them herself or allow me to -do so until you returned. I have been consumed with a mad desire to -explore them, particularly that foreign-looking box at the end." - -"Well, your curiosity shall very soon be satisfied," he said. "But we -must begin with the most important-looking packages." - -"Let us pray that there are no more Apostle spoons, serviette-rings, or -silver sweet-dishes," said Molly. "We have already some two dozen of -each." - -Package after package was opened in its turn and the contents displayed. -As they were for the most part presents to the bridegroom individually, -they were mainly of a nature suited to his tastes: hunting flasks, -silver sandwich cases, cigar and cigarette holders, and articles of a -similar description. At last they came to the curious-looking box to -which Kitty had referred. It was oblong in shape, and bore the name of a -Vienna firm stamped on the end. It was tied with cord, and the label was -addressed in an uneducated handwriting to "Mr. Godfrey Henderson, -Detwich Hall, Detwich, Midlandshire." - -In his own mind he had no doubt that it emanated from Teresina, who, as -he was aware, had been informed as to his approaching marriage. Having -untied the cord, he prized the lid, which was nailed down, with a dagger -paper-knife, which he took from a table close at hand. An unpleasant -odour immediately permeated the room. A folded sheet of newspaper -covered the contents, whatever they were, and this Godfrey removed, -only to spring back with a cry of horror. In the box, _the fingers -tightly interlaced, were two tiny hands_, which had been severed from -the body, to which they had once belonged, at the wrist. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - -It would be impossible to picture, with any hope of success, the horror -which accompanied the ghastly discovery described at the end of the -previous chapter. Save for the cries of the ladies, who shrank from the -box and covered their faces with their hands, and a muttered ejaculation -from Godfrey, some seconds elapsed before any one spoke. Fensden was the -first to recover his presence of mind. Picking up the sheet of paper -which had fallen to the ground, he covered the box with it, thus -shutting out all sight of the dreadful things it contained. - -"Perhaps it would be as well, ladies, if you were to leave the room," he -said. "Godfrey and I must talk this matter over, and consider how we are -to act." - -"Come, mother," said Kitty, and she led the old lady in a semi-fainting -condition from the room, closely followed by Molly. - -When the door had closed behind them, Godfrey spoke for the first time. - -"Good Heavens, Victor!" he said. "What does this mean? Am I mad or -dreaming?" - -"I fear it is no dream," replied the other. "Who could have done it? Is -it a case of murder, or what? Did you recognise the--the hands?" - -Godfrey crossed to the chimney-piece and covered his face. A suspicion, -so terrible that he dared not put it into words, was fast taking -possession of him. - -"Come, come," said Victor, crossing to him, and placing his hands upon -his shoulder, "we must look this matter squarely in the face. Be a man, -and help me. The upshot may be even more serious than we suppose. Once -more I ask you, did you recognise what you saw?" - -"I fear so," said Godfrey, very slowly, as if he were trying to force -himself to speak. "There was a little scar, the result of a burn, -half-an-inch or so above the knuckle of the second finger of the right -hand." - -He had painted those beautiful hands too often not to remember that -scar. Without a word, he crossed to the table in the middle of the room -upon which the box stood, surrounded by the cases containing the other -wedding presents, and once more removing the lid and the paper, -carefully examined what he saw there. No, God help him! there could be -no sort of doubt about it; the hands were those of Teresina Cardi, his -model and friend. When he had satisfied himself as to their identity, he -closed the box and turned to Fensden once more. - -"It is too horrible," he said; "but what does it mean? Why should the -murderer have sent the hands to me in this dreadful way?" - -"That is what I have been asking myself," Fensden replied. "The man, -whoever he was, must have borne you a fiendish grudge to have done such -a thing. Is there anything about the box that will afford a clew as to -the identity of the sender? Let us look." - -He examined the box carefully, but, beyond the printed name of the firm -who had originally used it, there was nothing that could serve as a -clew. It had come by train from Euston, and had been sent off on the -previous evening. That for the present was all there was to know about -it. - -"Once more, what are we to do?" inquired Fensden. - -"Communicate with the police," said Godfrey. "In the meantime, I think I -will send a note to my future father-in-law, asking him to come over. I -should like to have his help and support in the matter." - -"A very proper course," said his companion. "I don't think you could do -better. I should send a man away at once." - -Accordingly Godfrey went to a writing-table in the corner of the room, -and wrote the letter, then rang the bell, and bade the servant who -answered it see that the note was despatched without delay. When the man -had disappeared, he turned to Fensden once more. "And now," he said, "I -think it would be better if we removed the box to the studio." - -They did so, by way of the new conservatory, of which mention has been -made elsewhere. Then, in something less than an hour, Godfrey's future -father-in-law arrived. Godfrey received him in his studio, and -introduced Fensden to him as an old friend. - -"It is very good of you to come so quickly, Sir Vivian," he said, -motioning him to a chair. "I took the liberty of sending for you because -I want your advice in a very serious matter. How serious it is you will -understand when you have heard what we have to tell you. We have had a -terrible experience, and I am not quite sure that I am capable of -looking at the matter in a temperate light at present." - -"You alarm me, my dear boy," said the old gentleman. "What can have -happened? Tell me everything, and let me see if I can help you." - -"If I am to do that, I must tell you a story. It will simplify matters, -and it won't take very long. As you are aware, before my uncle's death, -I might have been described as a struggling artist. I was painting my -biggest work at that time, and was most anxious to find a model for the -central figure. I had hunted London over, but without success, when Mr. -Fensden here happened to discover an Italian model whom he thought might -be of use to me. I saw her, and immediately secured her services. In -company with her mother, she had been in England for some little time, -and was glad to accept my offer of employment. When the picture was -finished and hung, I still retained her services, because I liked the -girl and found her useful to me in some other work I had on hand. Then -my uncle died, and I came into the estate. Mr. Fensden and I immediately -agreed to travel, and we accordingly set off together for Egypt and the -East, intending to be away about a year. At the same time, it must be -borne in mind, the girl and her mother had returned to Italy. While we -were at Luxor, I received a letter from her, forwarding me her address -in Naples, in case I might desire to communicate with her concerning -future work. Some three weeks later my mother was taken ill, and I was -telegraphed for to come home at once. I left Port Said in a mail -steamer, intending to take the overland express from Naples to England. -Having some hours to spend in the latter city, I thought there could be -no harm in my discovering the mother and daughter. I did so, we dined -together at a small restaurant, and went on to the Opera afterward." - -"You did not tell me that," said Fensden, quickly. - -"I did not deem it necessary," said Godfrey. "I should have done so when -we came to discuss the matter at greater length. But to continue my -story. After the Opera I escorted them back to their dwelling, but I did -not enter. On my way to my hotel afterward, I was nearly stabbed by a -lover of my former model, a man, so she had informed me, who was -extremely jealous of any one who spoke to her. Fortunately for me, he -did not succeed in his attempt. I knocked him down, and took his dagger -from him." - -As he said this, he took the small poniard, with which the Italian had -attempted his life, from a drawer, and handed it to the old gentleman. - -"Next morning I left Naples, to find, on reaching England, that my -mother was decidedly better, and I need not have abandoned my tour. Then -I met your daughter, fell in love with her, and in due course our -engagement was announced. From the moment I said good-bye to her in -Naples, until last Thursday night, I had neither seen nor heard anything -of or from my former model." - -"You saw her on Thursday night?" repeated the old gentleman. "In that -case she must have returned to England?" - -"Yes," Godfrey replied. "It was after the theatre, and when I had seen -Lady Devereux and Molly to their carriage. I was walking down the Strand -in search of a cab to take me back to my hotel, when I met her. She -recognised me at once, and informed me that her mother was dead, that -she had married, she did not say whom, and that her husband was also -dead. Though she seemed in great distress, for reasons of her own she -would not let me help her. Feeling that she ought not to be in the -streets at such an hour, I took a cab and drove her to her home, which -was a house in a narrow street leading out of the Tottenham Court Road. -I bade her good-bye on the pavement, and having once more vainly -endeavoured to induce her to let me help her, walked back to my hotel." - -As he said this, he crossed to the table on which the box had been -placed, and once more removed the lid and paper. - -"A number of wedding presents have arrived to-day," he continued, "and -this box came with them. We opened it, and you may see for yourself what -it contained." - -Sir Vivian approached the table and looked into the box, only to start -back with an exclamation of horror. His usually rubicund face turned -ashen gray. - -"My dear boy, this is more terrible than I supposed!" he gasped. "What -does it mean?" - -"I am afraid that it means murder," said Godfrey, very quietly. "My poor -little Italian friend has been brutally murdered, by whom we have yet to -discover. But why these hands of hers should have been sent to me, I can -not for the life of me understand." - -"Are you sure they are her hands?" - -"Quite sure. There can be no doubt about it. Both Fensden and I -recognised them at once." - -"One thing is certain: the man who committed this dreadful deed must -have been jealous of you, and have heard of your kindness to the girl. -Is there any one you suspect?" - -"I have it," said Fensden, suddenly, before Godfrey could answer. "The -man in Naples, the lover who tried to assassinate you. He is the man, or -I am much mistaken. We have the best of reasons for knowing that he was -in love with her, and that he would not be likely to stop at murder. If -he would have killed you, why should he not have killed her? You told me -upstairs, when we were speaking of her distress, that the street was -occupied by foreigners; what is more likely, therefore, than that he -should have lived there too? Possibly, and very probably, he was her -husband." - -"But she told me her husband was dead," Godfrey asserted. - -"She may have had some reason for saying so," Fensden replied. "There -are a hundred theories to account for her words. It is as likely as not -that she did not want you to see him. He is a Neapolitan. For all we -know to the contrary he may be an Anarchist, and in hiding. She might -have been afraid that if you saw him it would lead to his arrest." - -"There certainly seems a good deal of probability in Mr. Fensden's -theory," said Sir Vivian; "but the best course for you to adopt appears -clear to me. You must at once communicate with the police and cause -inquiries to be made. I have seen no mention in the papers of a woman's -body having been found under such circumstances. The discovery of a body -so mutilated would have been certain to have attracted a considerable -amount of public attention." - -"I think you are right," said Godfrey, after a moment's hesitation. "In -the meantime what are we to do with these poor relics?" - -"They must be handed over to the police," said Sir Vivian. "It is only -through them that we can hope to unravel the mystery. If I were you I -should send for the head constable at once and give them into his -charge." Then he added kindly: "I can not tell you how sorry I am, -Godfrey, for your trouble. It must be a terrible blow to you." - -"No one can tell what a blow it is, Sir Vivian," said Godfrey in a husky -voice. "A more cruel murder has never stained the annals of crime. The -girl was an honest, kindly creature, and that she should have met her -death in this manner shocks me inexpressibly. If any reward can secure -the arrest of the murderer I will gladly pay it. No effort on my part -shall be wanting to bring him to justice." - -"You may be sure that he is a cunning fellow," said Fensden, "and that -his plans were deeply laid. For my own part, if I were you I should -place it in the hands of Scotland Yard and patiently await the result. -You may be quite sure that they will do all in their power, and if they -can not bring about his arrest, nobody else will be able to do so." - -"Even if they do not succeed in capturing him I should not abandon the -search," said Godfrey. "Poor little Teresina shall not go unavenged. -There must be several private detectives in London who know their -business almost as well as the officials of Scotland Yard. I will find -the cleverest of them and put them on the trail without delay. If a -promise of a thousand pounds can stimulate him to greater exertions it -shall be paid." - -"You will be only throwing your money away," said Fensden. "He will be -paid by the hour, with expenses, and he will fool you with bogus clews -from first to last." - -"I must risk that," Godfrey replied. - -A message was thereupon despatched to the head of the local -constabulary, who very soon put in an appearance at the Hall. He was a -little man, with a pompous manner and a great idea of his own -importance. It appeared to be his opinion that Detwich was the centre of -civilization, and he the custodian of its peace and safety. On his -arrival he was shown into the studio, where he found the three gentlemen -waiting for him. He saluted Sir Vivian with the deepest servility, -Godfrey respectfully, and Victor Fensden good-naturedly, as if the -latter, not being a landowner in the district, was not entitled to -anything more than a nod. - -"We have sent for you, Griffin," said Sir Vivian, "in order to inform -you that a serious crime has been committed, not in this neighbourhood, -but in London." - -"A good many serious crimes happen there every day, Sir Vivian," -remarked the official. "May I ask the nature of this particular one?" - -"Nothing short of murder!" Sir Vivian replied; "and as Mr. Henderson -here has been brought into it we have adopted the course of sending for -you at once in order that you may acquaint the proper authorities." - -"A very proper proceeding, sir, I have no doubt," said the officer, -diving his hand into his pocket and producing a pencil and an enormous -pocket-book. "I shall be glad, sir, if you will give me the -particulars." - -For the third time that afternoon Godfrey told his story, while the -officer made notes. By the time the contents of the box were shown to -him the man's interest was thoroughly aroused. It had always been his -ambition to be mixed up in some big affair, and now his chance had come. -That being so, he was resolved to make the most of it. - -"There can be no doubt, sir," he said, addressing Sir Vivian, "that it -is likely to be a very serious matter. So far as I can understand, the -disappearance of the woman has not been noticed, nor has her body been -discovered. I will report the facts of the case to Scotland Yard at -once, and in the meantime I will take possession of this box and its -contents. So far as I can see at present it doesn't look as if it should -be very difficult to lay our hands upon the murderer." - -"In that case, I suppose your opinion tallies with ours," said Fensden, -who had just started another cigarette. "You suspect the Neapolitan -lover." - -"I do, sir," the man replied with dignity, as if his suspicions were not -things to be treated lightly. "I only wish I had the conducting of this -case throughout. But, there, I suppose it will go elsewhere and others -will get the credit of the job. There is nothing else you wish to see me -about, I suppose, gentlemen?" - -"I think not," said Godfrey. "But I should be glad if you would let us -know all that goes on. As I have told you, the poor girl was an old -friend, and her cruel death is naturally a great blow to me." - -"I will let you know as soon as I hear anything," the man replied. "I -shall telegraph to Scotland Yard as soon as I get back to the station, -and I expect they will be on the move within the hour. Let me see that I -have got the name and address right, sir. Teresina Cardi, No. 16, -Burford Street, Tottenham Court Road. That is correct, I suppose?" - -"Quite correct," said Godfrey. "It is a tall house and there is a -lamp-post exactly opposite the door." - -These additional facts having been duly noted, the officer was about to -withdraw, when the butler entered with the evening papers. He handed -them to his master, who made as though he would place them on one side, -as being irrelevant to the matter at issue, when Sir Vivian stopped him. - -"One moment," he said. "Before you go, Griffin, let us make sure that -there is no reference in the evening papers to the crime. Will you look, -or shall I?" - -In answer Godfrey opened the first paper. It was as well that he did so, -for on the middle page was this announcement in large type: - - TERRIBLE MURDER OF A GIRL! - - REVOLTING DETAILS! - -"I thought as much," said the police officer in a tone of bitter -disappointment. "Just my luck again. I was in hopes of being able to put -them on the scent, but it seems that they have found it out without me. -Might I be so bold, sir, as to ask what it says?" - -"I will read the account," said Godfrey. - -"At an early hour this morning it was reported to the authorities at -Scotland Yard that a murder of an unusual nature had been committed in -the vicinity of the Tottenham Court Road. The victim is an Italian -woman, known as Teresina Cardi, an artist's model, who, it is stated, -has been living in the house in Burford Street, in which her body was -discovered, for upward of a fortnight. It might be mentioned that the -house is let out in flats, the occupants being in the main of foreign -nationality. The girl herself was of a reserved disposition, and did not -associate with the other tenants of the building. She was last seen -alive at seven o'clock on the evening of Thursday, when she was observed -descending the stairs dressed for going out. The hour of her return is -not known, nor was her absence remarked on Friday. Early on Saturday -morning, however, the occupant of a neighbouring room, a German -cabinet-maker, named Otto Grunther, noticed a small stream of dark-red -fluid under the door. His suspicions being aroused, he informed the -owner of the house of what he had seen, who called in the assistance of -the policeman on the beat. Together they ascended to the room in -question to find that the door was securely locked. Their knocks having -elicited no response, a key was obtained and the door opened. On -entering the room it was discovered that the woman was lying dead upon -the floor between the table and the door. Her throat was cut and she -had been stabbed in several places. More horrible still, her hands had -been severed at the wrists and were missing. Though the police are -naturally reticent as to the matter, we are led to believe that they -have not succeeded in finding a clew. Needless to say the revolting -crime has caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood." - -"Later News.--Up to the moment of going to press, the most diligent -inquiries have been made by our own representatives as to the identity -of the murdered woman. Teresina Cardi, it would appear, sat as a model -for the central figure in Mr. Godfrey Henderson's famous picture 'A -Woman of the People,' which attracted so much attention in the Royal -Academy Exhibition of last year. She was a Neapolitan by birth, but has -spent a considerable time in this country. It has also come to light -that on the evening in question she returned home shortly after midnight -and was seen talking to a gentleman in evening dress on the pavement in -front of the house. - -"The police hope very shortly to be able to discover the identity of -this mysterious individual, when doubtless further light will be thrown -upon the tragedy." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey. "They surely don't think that I know -anything more about it than I have said?" - -"You must set the matter right without delay," said Sir Vivian. "Does it -say when the inquest will be held?" - -"On Monday," Godfrey replied, after he had once more consulted the -paper. - -"Then you had better communicate with the coroner at once, telling him -that you are the person referred to, and offering him all the -information it is in your power to give. You owe it to yourself, as well -as the community at large, to do this at once." - -"I will do so to-night," Godfrey replied. "In the meantime, Griffin, you -will communicate with Scotland Yard yourself and tell them what we have -discovered. The man who murdered her must have seen us together that -night, and in the madness of his jealousy have sent the evidence of his -crime on to me." - -When he had wrapped up the horrible box the police officer took his -departure, leaving the others to discuss the matter and to endeavour to -come to some understanding about it. At last, when there was nothing -further to be said, Godfrey proposed that they should go in search of -the ladies. He had scarcely opened the door of the studio, however, when -there was the sound of a heavy fall. Turning round, he discovered that -Victor Fensden had fallen in a dead faint upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - -In the previous chapter I described to you how Victor Fensden had fallen -in a dead faint just at the moment when the gentlemen were about to go -in search of the ladies, in order to reassure them after the terrible -shock they had received. Immediately on hearing his friend fall, Godfrey -hurried to his assistance, asking Sir Vivian meanwhile to go in search -of brandy. The latter had scarcely left the room, however, before Victor -opened his eyes. - -"My dear old fellow," said Godfrey, "I am indeed thankful to see that -you are better. I knew very well that this terrible business had upset -you more than you were willing to admit. Never mind, it will all be put -right in the end. How do you feel now?" - -"Much better," Victor replied. "I can not think what it was that caused -me to make such an idiot of myself." - -At this moment Sir Vivian returned with a glass of brandy and water. -Victor sipped a little. - -He had not been feeling well of late, he explained, and this shock, -coming on the top of certain other worries, had unmanned him altogether. - -"This has been a terrible day," said Godfrey, "and a poor welcome for -you to Detwich. Now, perhaps, you would rather rest a little before -joining the others." - -"I think I should prefer to do so," said Victor, and he accordingly -retired to his room, while Sir Vivian and Godfrey went on to explain -matters as best they could to the ladies, who were in the dining-room, -awaiting their return with such patience as they could command. - -"My dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, hastening forward to greet Godfrey -as he entered the room, "you must know how we all feel for you. This has -been a terrible experience. Have you been able to arrive at any -understanding of it?" - -"I think I can," said Godfrey, who dreaded another explanation. "It will -be time enough, however, for me to explain later on. It is sufficient at -present to say that a terrible murder has been committed in London, and -that the assassin, knowing that I had endeavoured to be a good friend to -his victim, has played a ghastly practical joke upon me. As you may -suppose, the circumstance has upset me terribly; and when I tell you -that you will make me happier if you will spare me further conversation -upon the subject for the present, I am sure you will do so." - -"I think it would be better," said Sir Vivian. "We have placed the -matter in the hands of the police, and I am sure that Griffin will do -all that lies in his power to prevent Godfrey from being unduly worried -by the affair." - -Godfrey felt a small hand steal into his. - -"I am so sorry for you," whispered Molly. - -The touch of her soft warm hand was infinitely soothing to him. It did -him more good than any amount of verbal sympathy. - -"But where is Mr. Fensden?" inquired Mrs. Henderson. - -"The shock has proved too much for him," Sir Vivian explained. "He -informed Godfrey that he would prefer to go to his room to rest for a -while. I have never met your friend before, Godfrey, but I should say -that he is not very strong." - -"I am afraid he is not," the other replied, and the subject dropped. - -A quarter of an hour later Sir Vivian announced his intention of -returning home, and when his carriage had come round, took Godfrey on -one side. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my boy," he said. "The man who committed the -crime will certainly be captured before very long, and then the poor -girl will be avenged." - -Then the kindly old gentleman drove away. When he had seen him depart, -Godfrey went into the house and made his way upstairs to inquire after -Fensden's welfare. Somewhat to his surprise, he found him apparently -quite himself once more. - -"I can not think what made me behave in that foolish fashion," said -Victor, as he rose from the sofa on which he had been lying. "I am not -given to fainting fits. Forgive me, old fellow, won't you?" - -"There is nothing to forgive," said Godfrey. - -As he spoke the dressing gong sounded, and after having asked Fensden -whether he would prefer to come down, or to have his meal sent to him, -and having received an answer to the first in the affirmative, Godfrey -left him, and proceeded along the passage to his own room. When he -reached it he passed to the further end and stood before the original -sketch of his famous picture, "A Woman of the People." It was only a -mere study, roughly worked out; but whatever else it may have been, it -was at least a good likeness of the hapless Teresina. - -"And to think that that beautiful face is now cold in death," he said to -himself, "and that the brute who murdered her is still at large. God -grant that it may be in my power to bring him to justice!" - -Before he dressed, he sat down at his writing-table and composed a -letter to the coroner, informing him of all he knew of the case, and -promising him that he would be present at the inquest in order to give -any evidence that might be in his power to supply. It was only when he -had finished the letter and sealed it that he felt that he had done a -small portion of his duty toward the dead. He also wrote to his -solicitor giving him an account of the affair, and telling him that he -would call upon him on Monday, prior to the inquest, in order to discuss -the matter with him. - -Then he rang for his valet and gave instructions that the letters should -be posted without fail that evening. Then he began to dress with a heart -as heavy as lead. He remembered how much he had been looking forward to -this dinner ever since the idea had first occurred to him. In his own -mind he had endeavoured to picture the first meal that Victor and his -betrothed should take together. He had imagined his friend doing his -best to amuse Molly with his half-cynical, half-burlesque conversation, -with Kitty chiming in at intervals with her sharp rejoinders, while he -and his mother listened in quiet enjoyment of their raillery. How -different the meal was likely to prove! - -His dressing completed, he descended to the drawing-room, where he had -the good fortune to find Molly alone. It was plain that she had been -there long enough to read the evening paper, for there was a look of -horror upon her face as she came forward to meet her lover. - -"Godfrey, darling," she said, "I see by this paper that a terrible -murder has been committed in the neighbourhood of the Tottenham Court -Road, and that the victim was once your model. I can now understand why -it has affected you so much. Those hands were hers, were they not? I see -also that it says that some one, a gentleman in evening dress, was seen -talking to her about midnight on the pavement outside her house. Do you -think that that man had anything to do with the crime?" - -"I am quite sure he had not," Godfrey answered. "For the simple reason -that that man happened to be myself." - -"Yourself? You, Godfrey?" she inquired, looking up at him with startled -eyes. "But that was the night on which we were at the theatre together?" - -"Yes, dear, the same night," he answered. "Perhaps it would be better if -I were to tell you the whole story." - -"Tell me nothing more than you wish," she said. "I am content to trust -you in everything. If I did not, my love would scarcely be worth having, -would it?" - -And then he told her of his association with the unhappy woman; told her -of Teresina's sorrow, and of his own desire to assist her. Molly's heart -was touched as she listened. - -"You were right," she said, "to try and help her, poor girl! If I had -known, I would have endeavoured to have done something for her for your -sake. Now, unhappily, it is too late. But you must not think too much of -it, Godfrey dear. Try to put it away from you, if only for a time." - -At this moment Victor Fensden entered the room. It was plain that he had -recovered his former spirits. He apologized in an easy fashion for his -weakness of the afternoon, and ascribed it to his recent travels, which, -he said, had proved too much for his enfeebled constitution. - -"I am not like Godfrey, Miss Devereux," he said. "He seems capable of -bearing any amount of fatigue, plays cricket and football, tennis and -golf, while on a summer's day I sometimes find it impossible even to -lift my head." - -It was a sad little party that sat down to dinner that evening. Godfrey -was in the lowest spirits, and Molly was quiet in consequence. Fensden -was accepted, on his own showing, for an invalid, Mrs. Henderson was -naturally of a silent disposition, while Kitty, finding that her efforts -were unappreciated, lapsed into silence after a time, and thus added to -the general gloom. After dinner there were music and polite conversation -in the drawing-room until ten o'clock, followed by a retirement to the -billiard-room for a game at pool. It did not prove a success, however. -No one had any heart for the game, and before the first three lives had -been lost it was voted failure, and the cues were accordingly replaced -in the rack. The memory of two white hands, tightly clinched in despair, -rose continually before every eye, and when, at half-past ten, Mrs. -Henderson proposed that they should retire for the night, every one -accepted the situation with a feeling that was very near akin to relief. - -The next day was scarcely better. For the first time since he had been -master of the house Godfrey rose early on a Sunday morning, and, having -ordered his dog-cart, drove into the village. It was scarcely seven -o'clock when he reached the police-station to discover that the head -constable had not yet risen from his bed. He waited in the small office -while the other dressed, finding what consolation he could in a case -above the chimney-piece in which several sets of manacles were -displayed. The constable in charge was plainly overwhelmed by the -squire's presence, and to cover his confusion poked the fire almost -continuously. At last, after what seemed like an hour, Griffin put in an -appearance, and with many apologies invited Godfrey to accompany him to -his own private sanctum where breakfast was being laid. - -"It's the first time for many a long day that I have overslept myself, -sir," he hastened to remark; "but I have been so thinking of this 'ere -case that I did not get to sleep until this morning, and I am mortal -sorry, sir, that I should have kept you waiting." - -"You have communicated with Scotland Yard, of course?" said Godfrey, -after the other had finished his apology. - -"I telegraphed to them last night, sir, and forwarded my written report -at the same time. The post isn't in yet, sir, but I expect I shall get -some instructions when it comes." - -He visibly swelled with importance as he made this remark. He felt that -in having the Squire of Detwich for his ally he could scarcely fail to -be noticed, particularly when the most valuable evidence in the case -would be given by the gentleman in question. - -Finding that the man had no further news to give him, Godfrey drove -sorrowfully home again, feeling that both his early rising and his visit -to the village were alike of no avail. All through the service in the -little church afterward, despite the fact that Molly worshipped beside -him for the first time, he was ill at ease. Victor had excused himself -from attending the service on the plea of a bad headache, saying he -would go for a walk instead. When they emerged from the sacred edifice -afterward Sir Vivian took his place by Godfrey's side. - -"You have heard nothing more, I suppose?" he asked. "Griffin promised to -communicate with you at once on receipt of any intelligence, did he -not?" - -"He did," said Godfrey. "But when I saw him at the station this morning -there was nothing to tell. In any case I go up to town to-morrow -morning, when I shall first call upon my own solicitor, to whom I have -already written, and afterward attend the inquest as I have promised. -Fensden says he's coming up, too, in order that any evidence he may have -to give may be accepted." - -"One moment, Godfrey," said the old gentleman, stopping him and allowing -the others to go on ahead. "I am going to put a question to you which -may probably offend you. But whether it does or does not, it must be -asked." - -"Anything you ask me, sir, you may be sure will not offend me," said -Godfrey. "What is this particular question?" - -"I want to know how long you have known your friend?" the old man -inquired. "You see I am going to be perfectly candid with you. You may -think me absurd when I say so, but I have come to the conclusion that -Mr. Fensden does not like you." - -"In that case, sir, I am sure you are mistaken," said Godfrey. "Victor -and I were at school together, and we have been companions ever since. -He may be a little cynical in his humour, and inclined to be affected in -his dress and speech, but, believe me, in his inmost heart he is a -thoroughly good fellow." - -Sir Vivian was silent for a moment. - -"If that is so," he went on, "then I am wrong in my conclusions. I must -confess, however, that I was not favourably impressed with Mr. Fensden -yesterday. I noticed that when he was looking at you and you were not -watching him, there was a curious expression upon his face that was -either one of malice or something very like it. If I were asked my -opinion about this affair I should say that he knew more about it than -you and I put together, and more than he either cares, or is going, to -tell." - -"I can not help disagreeing with you, sir," said Godfrey, warming in -defence of his friend. "I happen to know that Victor has not seen -Teresina since the day we left England. It was he who induced me to get -rid of her because he was afraid that she, being a pretty woman, might -possibly induce me to fall in love with her. You see, I am quite candid -with you." - -"I am glad that you are," the other rejoined. "Nevertheless obstinacy is -proverbially an old man's failing, and I still adhere to my opinion -concerning the gentleman in question. Whether I am right or wrong time -will prove. In the meantime you say that you go up to town to-morrow -morning." - -"Yes, to-morrow morning, first thing," said Godfrey. "We shall leave -Detwich by the 10.18." - -"In that case I am going to ask a favour of you," said the other. "Will -you allow me to accompany you? Remember that, as you are going to marry -my daughter, your interests are, and must be, as my own." - -"I shall be only too glad if you will come, sir," said Godfrey, -gratefully. "It is a kindness I did not like to ask of you. I am sure it -will make Molly happier to know that you are with me, while it will -prove to the world, if such a proof is needed, that you believe my -interest in this miserable affair to be only what I have stated it to -be." - -"We all believe that, Godfrey, of course," Sir Vivian replied. "The man -who thinks otherwise would be insane. And now we turn off here. It is -agreed, therefore, that we meet at the railway station to-morrow morning -and go up to town together?" - -"With all my heart, sir," Godfrey replied, and then the kindly old -gentleman turned off with his wife at the path that led across the -fields to the court. When they were out of sight Godfrey informed Molly -of her father's decision. - -"With father and Mr. Fensden beside you, the newspapers will not dare to -hint at anything more." - -Then for the first time in his life Godfrey felt a vague distrust of -Victor Fensden. - -He put the suspicion from him, however, as being not only dishonourable -to his friend, but also to himself. - -"I have known Victor for a good many years," he muttered, "and I should -surely be familiar with his character by this time." - -Yet, despite his resolve to think no ill of the man, he felt that the -idea was gaining ground with him. - -When they reached the house they found Fensden in the drawing-room, -comfortably ensconced in a large chair before a roaring fire. He had -changed his mind, he asserted, and had not gone for a walk after all. He -certainly did not look well. His face was paler than usual, while he was -hollow-eyed, as if from want of sleep. As the party, radiant after their -walk through the sharp air, entered the room, he looked up at them. - -"How nice it must be to be so energetic," he said, languidly. "Godfrey -looks disgustingly fit, and more like the ideal country squire than -ever. You should paint your own portrait in that capacity." - -This time there was no mistaking the sneer. It may have been the -thoughts that had occupied his brain as he walked home, but even _he_ -could not help coming to the conclusion that the man he had known for so -long, whom he had trusted so implicitly, and for whom he had done so -much, was no longer well disposed toward himself. He said nothing, -however, for Victor was not only his guest, but he had troubles enough -of his own just then to look after, without adding to the number. Molly -had noticed it also, and commented on it when she and her lover were -alone together. - -"Never mind, dear," said Godfrey. "It doesn't matter very much if he -has taken a dislike to me. I think the truth of the matter is he is not -quite himself. Though he will not show it, I have an idea he is as much -cut up by this terrible business as I am myself. He is very highly -strung, and the shock has doubtless proved too much for his nerves. You -won't see very much more of him, for he will bring his visit to a close -to-morrow morning, as he has decided to go abroad again immediately -after the inquest." - -"But I thought he was tired of travelling, and that he had stated his -desire never to see a foreign hotel again?" - -"I thought so too, but it appears we were mistaken. However, do not let -us talk about him just now. Can you realize, dearest, that in ten days' -time we are to be married?" - -"I am beginning to realize it," she answered. "But this terrible affair -has thrown such a shadow over our happiness for the last twenty-four -hours that I have thought of little else." - -"The shadow will soon pass," he answered. "Then we will go to the sunny -South and try to forget all about it." - -In his own heart he knew that this was likely to be easier said than -done. Ever since he had seen it on that memorable Thursday night, -Teresina's piteous face had been before him, and now with the -recollection of what had followed so close upon their interview to -deepen the impression, it was more than likely that some time would -elapse before he would be able to forget it. - -That night, when he went to bed, he found it difficult to get to sleep. -It was as if the events of the morrow were casting their shadows before, -and when he did sleep he was assailed with the most villainous dreams. -He saw himself in a garret room with Teresina kneeling before him -holding up her hands in piteous entreaty; then he saw her lying dead -upon the floor, her glassy eyes looking up at him as if in mute -reproach. A moment later he was sitting up in bed staring at Victor -Fensden, who was standing beside him, holding a candle in his hand, and -with a look upon his face that showed he was almost beside himself with -terror. - -"Good Heavens, man, what is the matter?" cried Godfrey, for the other's -face frightened him. It was as white as paper, while in his eyes there -shone a light that was scarcely that of reason. - -"Let me stay with you, let me stay with you!" he cried. "If I am left -alone I don't know what I shall do. I have had such dreams to-night that -I dare not even close my eyes. For God's sake give me brandy! I must -have something to bring back my courage. Look, look! Can't you see, man, -how badly I need it?" - -Needless to say, Godfrey saw this. Accordingly bidding him remain where -he was, he went off to procure some. When he returned he found Victor -seated on the settee at the foot of the bed. Apparently he had recovered -his self-command. - -"I am afraid you must think me an awful fool, Godfrey," he said. "But I -have really had a deuce of a fright. You don't know what awful dreams I -had. I could not have stayed alone in that room another minute." - -It must indeed have been a fright, for Godfrey noticed that, though he -pretended to have recovered, he was still trembling. - -"Well, I am glad to see that you are feeling better," he said. "Drink -some of this, it will make a new man of you." - -"If it could do that I'd drink a hogshead," he said bitterly. "If -there's one man in this world of whose society I am heartily sick, it is -Victor Fensden. Now I'll go back to my own room. Forgive me for -disturbing you, won't you, but I could not help myself." - -So saying, he took up his candle once more and returned to his own room, -leaving Godfrey to put what construction he thought best upon the -incident. - -"I am beginning to think that poor Victor is not quite right in his -head," said the latter to himself as he blew out his candle and composed -himself for slumber once more. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - -The first train that left Detwich for London next morning had for its -passengers Sir Vivian Devereux, Godfrey Henderson, and Victor Fensden. -Inspector Griffin was also travelling by it, not a little elated by the -importance of his errand. On reaching Euston, after promising to meet -them at the inquest, Fensden drove off to his club, while Sir Vivian and -Godfrey made their way to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where they were to have -an interview with Mr. Cornelius Bensleigh, of the firm of Bensleigh and -Bensleigh, solicitors. That gentleman had already received a letter from -Godfrey, written on the Saturday night, giving him an outline of the -affair, and acquainting him of the part the latter had played in the -mystery. - -"I am afraid this will be calculated to put you to a considerable amount -of inconvenience, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, after they had -discussed the matter for a few moments. "From what I can gather, you -were the last person to see the poor woman alive, and as Sir Vivian -Devereux says, for that reason we must be particularly careful that no -breath of scandal attaches itself to your name. Now, as cases like this -are somewhat foreign to our experience, I have made up my mind, always, -of course, with your permission, that I will introduce you to a -gentleman who makes them his particular study. Of course, should you -desire it, I will put precedent on one side, and do all I can for you; -but, if you will be guided by me, you will place your case in the hands -of Mr. Codey, the gentleman to whom I refer, and whose name is doubtless -familiar to you. His office is not far from here, and if you will -accompany me, I shall be only too pleased to escort you to it, and to -introduce you to him." - -This course having been agreed upon, they accompanied him to the office -of the lawyer in question, and, after a few moments' delay, were -conducted to his presence. He looked more like a trainer of racehorses -than a criminal lawyer. He was the possessor of a sharp, keen face, a -pair of restless eyes, a clean-shaven mouth and chin, while the whiskers -on his cheeks were clipped to a nicety. The elderly lawyer introduced -Sir Vivian and Godfrey to him, and explained the nature of their visit. - -"Ah, the Burford Street murder," said Mr. Codey, as soon as he heard the -name of the case. "I was wondering how long it would be before I was -drawn into it. And so, Mr. Henderson, you have the misfortune to be -connected with it? As a matter of fact, I suppose you are the gentleman -in evening dress who was seen speaking to the girl on the pavement -outside the house." - -"I am; but how do you know it?" Godfrey asked, in considerable surprise. - -"I merely guessed it," said the lawyer. "I see from the papers that the -deceased was once your model. Now you come to me for help. I simply put -two and two together, with the result aforesaid. Perhaps you will be -kind enough to tell me all you know about it. Be very sure you keep -nothing back; after that I shall know how to act." - -Thus encouraged, Godfrey set to work, and told the tale with which by -this time my readers are so familiar. The lawyer listened patiently, -made a few notes on a sheet of paper as the story progressed, and when -he had finished asked one or two more or less pertinent questions. - -"You say that you returned to your hotel immediately after your -interview with the deceased?" - -"Immediately," Godfrey answered. - -"Did you take a cab?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "it was a cold night, and I thought the walk would -do me good." - -"But you drove to the house in a cab?" - -"I did, and dismissed it at once." - -"That was unfortunate. Do you think the driver would know you again?" - -"I should think it very probable," said Godfrey. - -"You were standing under the lamp-post, of course, when you paid him, -with the light shining full upon your face?" - -"I suppose so, as the lamp is exactly opposite the door; but I did not -think of that." - -"No; but, you see, I must think of these things," said the lawyer. "And -when you returned to your hotel?" - -"I called for a brandy and soda, and, having drunk it, went to bed." - -When he had learned all he desired to know, it was arranged that Mr. -Codey should attend the coroner's court, and watch the case on Godfrey's -behalf; after which they left the office. On reaching the club where Sir -Vivian and Godfrey had elected to lunch, they found that the murder was -the one absorbing topic of the day. This was more than Godfrey had -bargained for; for, when it was remembered that the deceased woman had -been his model, he was cross-questioned concerning her on every hand. So -unbearable did this at last become, that he proposed to Sir Vivian that -they should take a stroll in the park until it should be time for them -to set off to the business of the afternoon. - -When they reached the building in which the inquest was to be held, they -discovered that a large crowd had collected; indeed, it was only with -difficulty, and after they had explained their errand, that they could -gain admittance to the building. Fensden was awaiting them there, still -looking pale and worried; also Mr. Codey, the lawyer, appearing even -keener than he had done at his office. - -"Public curiosity is a strange thing," said the latter, as he looked -round the packed court. "Probably not more than five persons now in this -room ever saw the dead girl, and yet they crowd here as though their -lives depended upon their not losing a word of what is said about her." - -At this moment an official came forward, and said something to Godfrey -in a low voice. The latter immediately followed him from the room. When -he returned he was very white, and he seemed visibly upset. - -Then the coroner entered, a portly, dignified gentleman, and took his -seat, after which the proceedings were opened in due form. - -The landlord of the house, in which the deceased had resided, was the -first witness called. He deposed as to the name she was known by in the -house, stated that she was supposed to be an artist's model, and that, -to the best of his belief, she had been a quiet and respectable girl. At -any rate, her rent had invariably been paid on the day on which it had -become due. He had identified the body as being that of his lodger. -During the time she had been with him he had never known her to receive -a visitor; as a matter of fact, she had kept to herself; scarcely -speaking to any one save when she returned their salutations on the -stairs. He was not aware that she had received a letter, and, as far as -he knew, she had not a friend in London. - -The next witness was the German cabinet-maker, who had been the first to -discover the murder. He gave evidence through the medium of an -interpreter, and described how he had seen the congealed blood under -the door and the suspicions it had given rise to. In answer to a -question put by a superintendent of police, who represented the -commissioner, he stated that he had never spoken to the deceased, for -the reason that he knew no English or Italian, and she was not -acquainted with German. He had heard her go out on the night in -question, and return shortly after midnight, but whether she was -accompanied by any one he could not say. He also deposed to the position -of the body when they opened the door, and to the mysterious fact that -the hands were missing. - -The next witness was the police-constable on the beat, who had been -called in by the landlord. He gave evidence as to the opening of the -door, and the discovery then made. He was followed by the doctor, who -had made the post-mortem examination, and who described the nature and -situation of the various wounds, and the conclusions he had drawn -therefrom. Then came the first sensation of the afternoon, when the -well-known artist, Godfrey Henderson, was called. In answer to the -various questions put to him, he deposed that he had known the deceased -for upward of a year; that he had employed her for the model of his -picture, "A Woman of the People," and had always found her a quiet and -eminently respectable girl. He had been compelled to dismiss her, not -because he had any fault to find with her, but because he was going -abroad. This was not the last he had heard of her, for, while on the -Nile at Luxor, he had received a letter from her, informing him of her -address, in view of any future work he might have for her. At Naples he -had again met her, when he was on his way back to England, and had taken -her to the Opera in her mother's company. On the night of the murder, he -had again met her in the Strand, quite by accident, when, finding that -she was in serious trouble, he had offered to help her. She would not -accept his assistance, however. Noticing that she was in a most unhappy -state, and not liking to leave her alone in the streets, he had called a -cab and escorted her to her abode in Burford Street. He did not enter -the building, however, but bade her good-bye in the street, after which -he returned to his hotel. He was unable to assign any motive for the -crime, and added that the only person he could have believed would have -committed it, was a man named Dardini, an Italian, who was in love with -the girl, and who had attempted his (the witness's) life in Naples, on -the night of the visit to the Opera. Whether the man was in England he -was unable to say. Whether she had been in want of money at the time of -his last seeing her, he also was unable to say. She had declared that -she was in work, that was all he knew of the matter. - -"On hearing that she was married, did you not inquire the name of her -husband?" asked the coroner. - -"I did," Godfrey replied, "but she refused to tell me." - -"Did not that strike you as being singular?" - -"No," Godfrey replied. "When she informed me that he was dead, I did not -press the matter." - -"You are quite sure, I suppose, that she was not married when you met -her at Naples?" - -"I feel convinced that she was not; but I could not say so on my oath." - -"And when you opened the box, which you say was sent you at your country -residence, were you not shocked at the discovery you made?" - -"Naturally I was!" - -"And what conclusions did you come to?" - -"I gathered from it that my old friend had been murdered." - -"What caused you to recognise her hands?" - -"A certain mark above the knuckle of the second finger, the result, I -should say, of a burn." - -At this point, Mr. Codey, who had already informed the coroner that he -was appearing on behalf of the witness then being examined, asked an -important question. - -"On making this terrible discovery, what was your immediate action?" - -"I sent for my prospective father-in-law, Sir Vivian Devereux, and for -the police officer in charge of Detwich. It was at once agreed that we -should communicate with the authorities and that I should render them -all the assistance in my power." - -"Pardon my touching upon such a matter, but I believe you are about to -be married, Mr. Henderson?" said the coroner. - -"I hope to be married on Thursday next," said Godfrey. - -"I do not think I need trouble you any further," the coroner then -remarked. - -The next witness was a police officer, who informed the Court that -inquiries had been made in Naples concerning the man Dardini, with the -result that it was discovered that he had been arrested for assault upon -a foreigner a fortnight before the deceased's return to England, and -that he was still in prison. This effectually disposed of his -association with the crime, and added an even greater air of mystery to -it than before. - -When this witness had stepped down, Mr. Victor Fensden was called. He -stated that he was also an artist, and a friend of Mr. Godfrey -Henderson. It was he who had first discovered the deceased, and he had -recommended her to his friend for the picture of which she was afterward -the principal figure. She had always struck him as being a quiet and -respectable girl. When asked why she had received her notice of -dismissal, Victor answered that it was because his friend, Mr. -Henderson, had suddenly made up his mind to travel. - -"I understand you to say _suddenly_," said the superintendent in charge -of the case. "Why was it Mr. Henderson suddenly made up his mind to go -abroad?" - -"I do not know that this question is at all relevant to the case," said -Victor, appealing to the coroner. "It was purely a private matter on Mr. -Henderson's part." - -"But anything that bears on the question at issue can scarcely be -irrelevant," said the coroner. "I think it would be better if you would -answer the question." - -Fensden paused for a moment while the Court waited in suspense. - -"I repeat my question," said the superintendent. "Why did the deceased -so suddenly lose her employment?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Godfrey looked at him in surprise. Why did -he not go on? - -"We decided to travel on account of a conversation Mr. Henderson and I -had concerning the girl." - -"What was that conversation?" inquired the coroner. - -Once more Fensden seemed to hesitate. - -"Did the conversation refer to the deceased?" - -"It did!" - -"I gather from your reluctance to answer that you were afraid Mr. -Henderson might become attached to her, so you used your friendly -influence in order to hurry him away as quickly as possible? Am I right -in so supposing?" - -Another pause, during which Victor's face was seen to express great -emotion. - -"That was so." - -"You are sure that Mr. Henderson was attached to the deceased?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"Did you know that Mr. Henderson was aware of the deceased's return to -Naples?" - -"I was aware that he was in correspondence with her," said Victor; "but -he said nothing to me of his intention to visit her in Naples." - -"Had you known this, would you have endeavoured to dissuade him from -such a course?" - -"I do not know what I should have done; but I should think it very -probable that I should have endeavoured to prevent their meeting." - -"When did you become aware of the deceased's return to England?" - -"When Mr. Henderson informed me of it on my arrival at his house at -Detwich Hall." - -"You were naturally very much surprised to hear that he had met her, I -suppose?" - -"Very much," Victor replied. - -"Did you say anything to him upon the subject?" - -"I warned him against the folly of being drawn into another entanglement -with her, particularly when he was to be married in ten days' time." - -"You say _another_ entanglement with her? Are we, therefore, to -understand that there had been an entanglement before?" - -Again Victor paused before he replied. - -"I withdraw the word 'another,'" he said, hurriedly. "I did not mean it -in that sense. I merely suggested to Mr. Henderson that his _fiance_ -might not care to know that he had been seen driving through the streets -of London after midnight with an Italian girl, who had once been his -model." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey to himself. "And this is the man whom I -have trusted and who has called himself my friend for so many years!" - -At this point the coroner, addressing the jury, stated his intention of -adjourning the inquiry until the following Wednesday morning at eleven -o'clock. He had excellent reasons for keeping it open until then, he -said, and these reasons he had communicated to the foreman of the jury, -who was completely satisfied. The Court thereupon adjourned, and -Godfrey presently found himself in the street with Mr. Codey on one side -and Sir Vivian Devereux on the other. Victor Fensden was waiting for -them on the pavement, and, as soon as they emerged, he approached them -with a face that still bore the traces of violent emotion. - -"Godfrey," he began, in a faltering voice, "after what they dragged out -of me, I scarcely know what to say to you." - -"In any case, I beg that you will not say it," said Godfrey, coldly. -"You have said quite enough already." Then, turning to the others, he -continued: "Come, gentlemen, let us find a cab. I suppose we had better -go back to your office, Mr. Codey?" - -"I think it would be better," said that gentleman. "I must have a talk -with you upon this matter." - -Then, hailing a cab, they entered it, leaving Fensden on the pavement -looking after them. Godfrey's face was still very pale. It was -impossible for him to be blind to the fact that his kindness to Teresina -had been the means of bringing down grave suspicion upon himself. Yet, -even with that knowledge before him, he knew that he would not, or -could not, have acted otherwise than he had done. - -When they reached the lawyer's private office, the door was shut and -they sat down to business. - -"Well, Mr. Henderson," said Mr. Codey, "what is your opinion now?" - -"I think that the public mind is already jumping to the conclusion that -I am responsible for the murder," Godfrey answered, without fear or -hesitation. - -"I am very much afraid that you must accustom yourself to look upon it -in that light," the other replied. "The man Fensden's evidence, given in -such a manner as he gave it, was unnecessarily damaging." - -"He is a black-hearted scoundrel," said the old baronet, wrathfully. "I -told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I didn't trust him, and that I felt -sure he bore you some ill-will. And yet, do you know, Mr. Codey," he -added, turning to the lawyer, "Mr. Henderson has done everything for -that man. He has practically kept him for years past, he took him on a -tour round Europe only a few months ago, and this is the result. It -makes one sick with humanity." - -"When you have seen as much of humanity as I have, you will not be -surprised at anything," said the lawyer. "The greater the obligation in -many cases, the deeper the ingratitude. We are wandering from the point, -however. Now I am going to be plain-spoken. Tell me, Mr. Henderson, did -you ever, under any sort of circumstance, make love, or suggest love, to -the woman who is now deceased?" - -"Never," said Godfrey, firmly. "The man who declares that I did, lies." - -"Very probable, but that won't prevent his saying it. When you left her -in Burford Street, did you meet any one near the house?" - -"Not a soul. The street, so far as I could see, was empty." - -"I think you said this morning that the night porter let you in at your -hotel? Did you make any remark to him respecting the time?" - -"Yes, I said to him when he had opened the door, 'I'm afraid I'm rather -late,' then, looking at my watch, I added, 'Why, it's half-past -twelve!'" - -"If he's blessed with a good memory, he will recollect that," said -Codey. Then with his usual abruptness, he continued, "Which way did you -walk from Burford Street?" - -"Through the Tottenham Court Road, along Oxford Street, and down Bond -Street." - -"A man shall walk it quickly to-morrow morning in order to see how long -it will take. If only that hall porter has a good memory, and can be -relied upon, this should prove an important point." - -"But surely, my good sir," put in Sir Vivian, "you do not for a moment -suppose that Mr. Henderson will be accused of having killed this woman?" - -"I should not be at all surprised," said the lawyer, quietly. "Let us -regard the facts of the case. Some months back, Mr. Henderson employed -this girl as his model, and retained her services when he really had no -need for them. He was on such familiar terms with her that his friend -felt compelled to remonstrate with him. As a result they left England -hurriedly, the girl following them to Naples. No, no, Mr. Henderson, I -beg that you will be silent. Remember, I am telling the story as I -should tell it if I were against you instead of for you. As I have said, -the girl left for Naples, and I insinuate that she followed you. It can -be proved that she corresponded with you, and that you sent your friend -on his way to travel alone; always bearing in mind that he was the man -who had persuaded you to give the girl up. You, in the meantime, -returned to Naples, in order to visit her again. You may dispute the -motive, but you can not deny that you took her out to dinner and to a -theatre afterward." - -"But her mother was with her," said Godfrey hurriedly, his face flushing -angrily at the imputation put upon his action by the other. - -"That point is immaterial," the lawyer replied calmly. "It is sufficient -for the purposes of the prosecution that you met her there. Then you -proceeded to England, and, after a little while in the country, became -engaged to the daughter of Sir Vivian, now present. The Italian girl had -also gone to England. Why? To be with you, of course. You, however, see -nothing of her. Therefore, she is unhappy. Why? Because you are about to -be married." - -"But that is only supposition," said Godfrey. "As a matter of fact, she -herself was already married." - -"To whom? Why not to yourself?" - -"Good Heavens, man," said Godfrey, starting from his seat, "you don't -surely mean to say that you believe I had married her?" - -"I believe nothing," he replied, still with the same coolness. "But you -will find that the counsel for the prosecution will consider it more -than likely. Let me continue my story. I was saying that she was unhappy -because you were about to be married. It is only natural. Then you came -up to town, visited the theatre, and afterward, quite by chance, met her -in the Strand, at midnight. At midnight, and by chance, mark that! Does -that meeting look like an accidental one? Could you convince a jury that -it was? I doubt it. However, let us proceed. The girl is in trouble, and -you take her home in a hansom. The policeman and the cabman will -certainly identify you, and, for the reason that you say the street was -empty when you bade her good-bye, no one will be able to swear that you -did not go into the house with her. Now, Mr. Henderson, I ask you to -look these facts in the face, and tell me, as a thinking man, whether -you consider the public is to be blamed if it regards you with -suspicion?" - -"As you put it, no," said Godfrey. "But it can surely be proved that I -had nothing whatsoever to do with it, beyond what I have said." - -"Exactly; and that is what we have got to do. But I don't mind telling -you candidly that I fancy we shall have our work cut out to do it. You -see, we have to remember that, beyond your own evidence, there is -absolutely nothing for us to argue upon. The two strongest points in -your favour are the facts that you were at Detwich when the box -containing the dead woman's hands was sent off at Euston, and that there -would not be sufficient time between the moment when the policeman saw -you in Burford Street and the time when you arrived at your hotel, for -you to have committed the crime. What we have to do is to find the -person who despatched the box from London, and to make sure of the hall -porter. In the meantime go back to Detwich, and be sure that you don't -stir from home until you hear from me." - -"One more question, Mr. Codey. I should like you, before we go any -further, to tell me honestly whether, in your own heart, you believe me -to be innocent or guilty?" - -"I believe you to be innocent," said the lawyer; "and you may be sure I -shall try to prove it." - - - - -CHAPTER X - - -A more miserable home-coming than Godfrey's, after the events described -in the previous chapter, could scarcely be imagined. They had taken a -cab from the lawyer's office to Euston Station, and during the drive, -neither of them referred in any way to the interview they had just had -with Codey. It was not until they were seated in the railway carriage, -and the train had started upon its journey, that they broke their -silence. - -"Sir Vivian," said Godfrey, "I can not express to you my thanks for the -kindness which you showed me in standing by me to-day. Believe me, I am -very sensible of it." - -"You must not speak of it;" said the worthy old gentleman; "and as for -the affair itself, it is a piece of ill-luck that might have happened to -the best of us. At the same time, I should very much like to have an -opportunity of telling that wretched Fensden what I think of him." - -"Do not let us talk of him," said Godfrey. "His own feelings must be -sufficient punishment for him. There is one thing, however, that I must -say to you before we go any further." - -"And what is that?" - -"It concerns my wedding," Godfrey replied. "I am afraid it will be a -terrible blow to poor Molly; but until this charge, which I have no -doubt will be brought against me, is disproved, she must not think any -more of me." - -Sir Vivian stared at him in astonishment. - -"Nonsense, my dear lad," said he. "I know that you love my girl, and -that she loves you. It is her duty, therefore, to stand by you and to -comfort you when you are in trouble. Believe me, she will have no doubt -as to your innocence." - -"I know that," said Godfrey; "but I do not think it would be fair for me -to allow her name to be linked with mine under such painful -circumstances." - -"It will be linked with it whether you like it or not," was the reply. -"If I am prepared to stake my honour on your innocence, you may be very -sure that she will stake hers. Molly isn't a fair-weather friend." - -"She is the truest and best girl in the world," said Godfrey. "No one -knows that better than I." - -"Then wait until you have seen her and talked it over with her alone. -Put the question to her, and see what she will say. I know her well -enough to guess what her answer will be." - -"God bless you for your trust in me!" said Godfrey, in a shaky voice. "I -fear I have done very little to deserve it." - -"It is sufficient that I know you for what you are," the other answered. -"I knew your uncle and grandfather before him, and I am as certain that -you would not do anything dishonourable as I am of my own name. What we -have to do is to put our wits to work and to endeavour to find out, as -Codey says, the sender of the box. Then I believe we shall be on the -track of the real criminal. It was a very good suggestion on Mr. -Bensleigh's part that we should employ that man; we could not have had a -better. I never saw such eyes in my life. He seems to look one through -and through. I pity Mr. Fensden when he comes to be cross-examined by -him." - -The old gentleman chuckled over the thought and then lapsed into -silence. - -When they reached Detwich, they became aware that Griffin had travelled -from London by the same train. Godfrey beckoned to him. - -"Of course you heard the evidence to-day, Griffin," Godfrey began when -the other approached. - -"Yes, sir, I did," said the police official, gravely. - -"And you must have drawn your own conclusions from it?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Well, Griffin, what I wanted to say to you is that, if I am wanted for -anything, I shall not leave the Hall until Wednesday morning; then I -shall go up to the inquiry again." - -"I will bear the fact in mind, sir," said the man. "But there's one -thing I should like to say, if you don't mind." - -"What is it? Say it by all means." - -"It's this, sir. Whether it's going against my duty or not--and there's -nobody here to hear it if it is--whatever verdict they may bring in, I -don't believe for a moment that you had any more to do with that poor -girl's death than I had. You will excuse my saying so, I hope, sir?" - -"On the contrary, I am very much obliged to you for your good opinion," -Godfrey replied, holding out his hand which the other took. "I am afraid -that it's going to be a very unpleasant business for me. That can't be -helped, however. Good-night." - -"Good-night, sir," the man answered. - -Then Godfrey joined Sir Vivian and, as had been arranged, they drove off -to the Hall together. The moon was rising above the hill as they went -through the park, and as Godfrey looked on the peaceful scene around him -and thought of the terrible suspicion that was growing in people's minds -concerning himself his heart sank within him. If only little Teresina -could speak, how easily she could clear up all the dark charges against -him! She was dead, however, brutally murdered, and he, the only man who -had ever befriended her, was suspected of having caused her death. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my lad," said Sir Vivian, as they alighted from -the carriage and ascended the steps. "Think of the ladies, and don't -make them any more unhappy than you can help." - -The door was opened by the ancient butler who had served his uncle -before him, and Godfrey entered his home, but how different a man from -the young fellow who had left it that morning! - -"The ladies are in the drawing-room, sir," said the servant, when he had -relieved them of their hats and coats. - -They accordingly proceeded thither, one of them at least with a sinking -heart. - -"We have just been wondering when we should see you," said Kitty. - -There was a look of anxiety on Molly's face as she came forward to meet -her lover. She placed her hand in his, and they sat down together. - -"Well, my dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, "what have you to tell us? -What was the result?" - -There was no need for her to say to what she referred. Their minds had -been too much occupied with it that day to leave room for any -uncertainty upon the point. - -"Nothing is decided yet," said Sir Vivian, who took upon himself the -part of spokesman. "The inquiry is adjourned until Wednesday." - -"That means that you will have to go up again," said Molly. "Why -couldn't they settle it at once?" - -Godfrey knew, but he dared not tell her the reason. - -"They are searching for more evidence, I fancy," said Sir Vivian. "You -must remember that the matter is, at present, shrouded in the greatest -mystery. Until that can be cleared up, nothing can be done." - -"And Mr. Fensden, where did you leave him?" asked Mrs. Henderson. - -"We parted outside the Court," said Godfrey. "I have no idea where he is -staying to-night." - -Though he tried to speak unconcernedly, Molly felt certain in her own -mind that there had been trouble between the two men. She said nothing -to him about it, however. She knew that he would tell her in good time. - -That night, when Sir Vivian's carriage was announced, Godfrey -accompanied him to the front door. Before leaving, the old gentleman -took him on one side out of earshot of the servants. - -"Keep up your spirits, my dear lad," he said, as he had done so many -times before. "Remember that you have many friends and that I am not the -least of them. Should anything occur, send for me at once, and I will be -with you as fast as horses can bring me. In the meantime do not alarm -the ladies more than you can help." - -"You may rely upon my not doing so," said Godfrey, and then Sir Vivian -entered his carriage and drove away. - -Later, when Godfrey bade Molly good-night, she looked up at him with -sorrowful eyes. - -"I feel sure," she said, "that there is something you are keeping back -from me. I beg of you not to do so. You know how I love you, and how -earnest is my desire to share both your joys and your sorrows with you. -Will you not confide in me and tell me everything?" - -"When there is anything worth the hearing, you may be sure I will tell -you, dear," he answered, not daring to let her know the truth that -night. "In the morning we will talk the whole matter over and you shall -give me your advice. And now you must go to bed and try to obtain a good -night's rest, for I am sure you did not sleep well last night." - -"I did not," she answered. "I was thinking of you all night, for I knew -how you were dreading going up to-day." - -He did not tell her that he dreaded going up on Wednesday a great deal -more. He preferred to take her in his arms and kiss her, calling her his -good angel, swearing that he would love her all his life long, and that -even death itself should not separate them. Then he went to his room, -prepared to spend what he knew would be a sleepless night, and he was -not destined to be wrong. Hour after hour he tumbled and tossed upon his -bed, going over the day's proceedings again and again, and speculating -with never-ceasing anxiety as to what was to happen in the future. At -last, unable to bear it any longer, he rose from his bed and went -downstairs to his studio, where he lighted his fire and smoked and read -until daylight. Then a cold bath somewhat refreshed him, and, as soon as -he had dressed, he set off across the park to the home farm. He was -always an early riser, and his presence there at that hour excited no -comment. He watched the sleek, soft-eyed cows being milked, saw the -handsome cart-horses, of which he had once been so proud, set off upon -their day's work, had a quarter of an hour's conversation with his -head-keeper at his cottage gate, and then returned home through the -plantations to breakfast. It was his mother's habit to read prayers to -the household immediately before the meal, and, as he knelt by Molly's -side, and listened to the old familiar words, his heart ached when he -thought of the misery that any moment might bring upon them. - -As the first train from London did not arrive until somewhat late, the -morning papers were delivered with the letters, which usually reached -the Hall about half-past nine. When they arrived Godfrey selected one, -and took it with him to his studio. With a feeling that he had never -before experienced when opening a paper, he turned the crisp pages in -search of the column which he knew he would find. Then he saw in large -type: - - THE BURFORD STREET MURDER - - * * * * * - - EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE - - * * * * * - -There was no need for him to wonder what that evidence was: he knew -before he began to read. The prominence given by the paper to the case -was a proof of the excitement the inquiry had aroused in the public -mind. At last he forced himself to read. Every word rose before his eyes -as vividly as though it had been traced in letters of fire. Set down in -cold print, the affair presented a very sinister aspect, so far as he -was concerned. Every portion of the evidence seemed to point to himself -as being the man who had committed the dastardly deed. He could well -imagine what the feeling of independent persons would be who read it, -and how readily they would arrive at a conclusion unfavourable to -himself. He had just perused it for the second time, when he was -startled by a faint tap upon the door. - -"Come in," he cried, and in response Molly entered the room. - -"I have been looking for you," she said, with the parody of a smile upon -her face. - -"I should have come in search of you in a few moments," he replied. "The -fact is, I have had certain things to do which could not very well be -left undone. Will you forgive me, dear?" - -"Of course I will," she answered. "It is impossible for you to be always -with me, and yet I am selfish enough to grudge you the time you spend -upon anything else." - -He was quick-witted enough to see that what she said was only an attempt -to gain time. She, on her side, knew that he stood in need of comfort, -and she had come to give it to him. - -"Molly," he said, rising from the chair in which he had been sitting and -going toward her, "I feel that I must tell you everything. God knows, -this is the crisis of my life, and to whom should I turn in my sorrow, -if not to the woman I love, and whom I know loves me? Have you read the -account of the inquest in the papers?" - -"No," she answered, "I would not read it, lest I should derive a false -impression from it. I am quite willing to hear what you have to say -about it, and to accept your version as the truth." - -"God bless you, dear, for your trust in me!" he replied; "but it is -necessary that you should hear what other people have to say upon the -matter. Read it carefully, and, when you have finished, tell me what you -think about it." - -He gave her the paper, and for a moment she stood as if undecided. - -"Do you really wish it?" she asked. - -"It is better that you should do so, believe me," he said. "In that -case, no one can say that I kept anything back from you." - -"I will read it," she said, and went toward the window-seat to do so. - -While she was reading, he stood before the fire and watched her. He -noticed the poise of the beautiful head, the sweet hands holding the -paper, on one finger of which sparkled the engagement ring he had given -her, and the tiny foot just peeping from beneath the dark green skirt. -She was a woman worth fighting all the world for, and, as he reflected -how easy it would be for false evidence to separate them, he experienced -a fear such as he had never known in his life before. - -When she had finished, she crossed the room with the paper in her hand. -Deliberately folding it up and laying it upon the table, she went to -him, and placed her hands in his. Looking up into his face with trustful -eyes, she said: - -"I told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I believed in you. I tell you -again, that, whatever the world may say with regard to this dreadful -affair, it will make no difference in my love. I feel as convinced as I -am of anything that, by whatever means, or at whose hand, that poor girl -met her death, you were in no sort of way responsible for, or connected -with it. You believe me, don't you?" - -"I do," he answered, with tears in his eyes. "And I thank God for your -trust. Do you know, yesterday I suggested to your father that, situated -as we are, it would be better if I were to give you back your freedom -until my innocence is proved?" - -"I would not take it," she answered, firmly. "When I gave myself to you, -it was not to be your bride in fair weather alone; it was to be your -partner in the rough seas of life as well as in the smooth. No, come -what may, Godfrey, I will not let you give me up. Promise me that you -will never mention such a thing again? It hurts me even to think of it." - -"Your mind is made up?" - -"Quite made up," she answered. "I should not change, even if you were -what--(here she shuddered)--what that paper would seem to suggest. No, -darling, I am your wife, if not in the law, at least in God's sight." - -"I thank you," he answered, earnestly. "The knowledge that you still -trust me will be my most precious consolation." - -"And now tell me of this Mr. Codey, the lawyer you have employed. Is he -a clever man?" - -"One of the cleverest in the land, I should say," Godfrey replied. "He -has had great experience in these sort of cases, and, if any man can -render me assistance, I should say he is that one." - -"Oh, how thankful I shall be," she said, "when everything is settled! -How little we dreamt, when we were so happy together last week, that -within a few days we should be made so miserable! Perhaps, after all, it -is only our love being tried in the crucible of trouble. And when it is -over, and we have come out of it, we shall know each other's real worth. -That is the best way to look at it, I think." - -"Quite the best," he answered, and kissed her on the forehead. - -Then, adopting a brighter tone, he suggested that they should go for a -walk together, in order, if possible, to dispel, for the time being at -least, the dark clouds that had settled upon them. It was a clear, -bright morning, and as they crossed the park, and mounted the hillside -toward the plantation, where the rabbits were playing, and the -pheasants, who of late had not received the attention their merits -deserved, were strutting about on the open grass land, Godfrey found it -difficult to believe that the situation was really as desperate as he -imagined. Their walk lasted for upward of two hours; indeed, it was -nearly lunch-time before they reached the house once more. When they -did, Molly went upstairs to her room to prepare herself for luncheon, -while Godfrey made his way to his mother's sitting room, where he found -the old lady quietly knitting by the fire. - -"Thank goodness you have come in at last, dear!" said Mrs. Henderson. "I -have been wanting so much to have a talk with you! Godfrey, I have read -the evidence given at the inquest, and it frightens me." - -"I am sorry for that, mother," he said, seating himself by her side. -"What do you think of it?" - -She placed her hand upon his arm, and looked at him with her loving -eyes. - -"I think my boy is too noble to have done anything of which his mother -would have had reason to be ashamed." - -Godfrey rose from his chair and walked to the window. These constant -proofs of the love in which he was held was unmanning him. He could not -trust himself to speak. When his own little world believed in him so -implicitly, how could the greater world be so censorious? - -When they went into luncheon, Godfrey soon saw that the ancient butler -and his subordinate had become aware of the state of affairs. Attentive -to his wants as they always were, on this particular occasion, they -were even more so than usual. It was as if they were endeavouring in -their own kindly way to show that they too believed in him, and were -desirous of proving their sympathy with him. Never before had his own -home struck him in the same light. His heart was too full for speech, -and, in spite of his sister's well-meant attempt to promote -conversation, the meal passed almost in silence. - -After luncheon the bailiff sent in word that he should like to speak to -him. The man was accordingly admitted to the smoking-room, where he -discussed various matters connected with the estate with his master for -upward of an hour. Labouring as he was, under the weight of greater -emotions, Godfrey found it difficult to pin his attention to the matters -at issue, and when the other went his way, after respectfully touching -his forelock, for the first time since he had known the old fellow, he -heaved a sigh of relief. At half-past four he joined the ladies in the -drawing-room for afternoon tea. To add to his pain, another consignment -of wedding presents had arrived, and in order that he should not be -thought to be unduly nervous about the future, he was compelled to -appear delighted with the attentions he had received from his friends. - -"That makes the fifth pair of asparagus tongs we have received," said -Molly, as she closed the case and placed it with its fellows upon the -table. "And what is this? Well, I declare, it's another set of sweet -dishes. That brings the number up to twenty-seven!" - -At that moment the sound of carriage wheels outside reached them, -followed, a few seconds later, by the ringing of the front door-bell. - -"Visitors, I suppose," said Kitty. "It may be rude, but I must say that -I trust it is not the vicar." - -They waited in suspense until Williamson, the butler, entered the room -and informed Godfrey that a gentleman had called to see him, and was -waiting in the library. - -"Who is it?" Godfrey asked. "Did he not give his name?" - -"His name is Tompkins, sir," the butler replied. "He said he should be -glad if you could spare the time to see him for a few moments." - -"I will do so at once," said Godfrey, and, asking the ladies to excuse -him, left the room. - -On entering the library, he found himself face to face with a -middle-aged individual, who at first glance resembled a sporting parson. -He was dressed in black, and carried a black silk hat in his hand. - -"What can I do for you?" Godfrey inquired. "I am not aware that I have -ever seen you before." - -"Very likely not, sir," the man replied. "My name is Tompkins, and I am -a Scotland Yard detective. I hold a warrant for your arrest on a charge -of wilfully murdering Teresina Cardi in Burford Street on the night of -Thursday last. I had better tell you that anything you may say will be -used against you." - -The blow had fallen at last! - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - -For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from -town to arrest him, as if he were stunned. Though he had half expected -it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate -his position. At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession. - -"You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me," -he said to the detective. "But I have no wish to complain to you; you -are only doing your duty. Where is it you desire to take me?" - -"We must go up to town to-night," said the man, civilly enough. "As you -may remember, sir, the adjourned inquest is to be held to-morrow -morning, and it will be necessary for you to be present." - -"In that case we had better catch the 6.10 train from Detwich. It is an -express and gets to Euston at eight. Is your cab waiting, or shall I -order one of my own carriages to take us?" - -"I told the man to wait," the other replied. "He is a station cabman." - -"In that case, if you will allow me, I will tell my servant to put up a -few things for me. I suppose I shall be allowed to take them?" - -"There is no objection to it." - -Godfrey rang the bell, and, when the butler appeared in answer to it, -bade him tell his man that he intended going up to London at once, and -that he wanted his bag prepared without a moment's delay. Then, with a -fine touch of sarcasm, he added: "Tell him also that I shall not require -my dress clothes." - -The detective smiled grimly. It was a joke he could appreciate; he also -liked the other's pluck in being able to jest at such a time. - -"That's the thing with these swells," he said to himself. "They never -know when they're beaten." - -"In the meantime," said Godfrey, "I suppose you will permit me to say -good-bye to my family? I will give you my word, if you deem it -necessary, that I will make no attempt to escape." - -"I will trust you, sir," said the man. "I know it's hard lines on you, -and I want to make it as pleasant for you as I can, provided, of -course, you don't get me into hot water." - -"I will endeavour not to do that," said Godfrey. "And now I'll go to the -drawing-room. If you think it necessary you can wait in the hall." - -"No, sir, thank you. I am quite comfortable here," said the man; "but I -shouldn't make the interview longer than I could help if I were you. -These things are always a bit trying for the ladies. I know it, because -I've seen it so often." - -Having ordered a glass of brandy and water for him, the man's favourite -tipple, and handing him an illustrated paper, Godfrey left him and -returned to the drawing-room. He had an agonizing part to play, and he -wanted to spare his women folk as much pain as possible. As he entered -the room they looked up at him with startled faces. - -"What is it, Godfrey? What is it?" asked his mother, while the two girls -waited for him to speak. - -"It is a man from London who has come down to see me with regard to the -murder," Godfrey began, scarcely knowing how to break the news to them. -"It appears that the authorities are desirous of seeing me prior to the -inquest to-morrow, and so I am going up to-night." - -"Godfrey," cried his mother, springing to her feet and running toward -him, "I see it all. They have arrested you on a charge of murder! Oh, my -boy, my boy, I can not let you go! They shall not take you away." - -"It is only a matter of form, mother," he said, soothingly. "On the face -of yesterday's evidence, they could do nothing else. All well, I shall -be down again to-morrow. It is only a little temporary inconvenience; -for my lawyer, who is one of the cleverest men of his profession, feels -certain that he can disprove the charge." - -"It is monstrous even to suspect you of it," said Kitty. "If they only -knew you, they would not dare even to hint at such a thing." - -Molly said nothing. But he knew what her thoughts were. - -"I must send a note to your father, dear," he said. "He anticipated this -and made me promise to communicate with him directly it should come to -pass." - -He thereupon went to a writing-table in the corner of the room and wrote -a hurried note to Sir Vivian, after which he rang the bell and gave -orders that it should be taken to the Court without a moment's delay. - -"Now," he said, when he had examined his watch and found that it was -nearly half-past five, "I must bid you good-bye. Do not be anxious about -me. I am proudly conscious of my own innocence, and I feel sure that, by -this time to-morrow, the public will be aware of it also." - -But his mother was not to be comforted. She clung to him with the tears -streaming down her cheeks, as if she could not let him go. - -"Mother dear," said Kitty, "you must be brave. Think of Godfrey, and -don't send him away more unhappy than he is." - -"I will be brave," she said, and drew his face down to hers and kissed -him. "Good-bye, my dear boy. May God in His mercy bless you and send you -safely back to us!" - -When Kitty had kissed him, she drew her mother back into the ingle nook -in order that Godfrey and Molly might say good-bye to each other in -private. - -Then Godfrey took Molly in his arms. - -"Good-bye, my own dearest," she said. "I shall pray for you continually. -Night and day you will be in my thoughts." - -He could not answer her, but kissed her passionately. Then, disengaging -himself from her embrace, he left the room. - -Returning to the library, he informed the detective that he was at his -disposal, at the same time telling him that, if they desired to catch -the 6.10 at Detwich, they had no time to lose. - -"We had better be going, then," said the man, and leaving the library -they proceeded into the hall. Godfrey's bag had already been placed in -the cab, and the gray-haired old butler, Williamson, was standing at the -foot of the stairs holding the door open. - -"Good-bye, Williamson," said Godfrey. "I know that I can safely leave -everything in your hands." - -"You can, sir," the man replied, simply; and then for the first time in -his life he allowed himself to become familiar with his master, and -laying his hand on his arm he added, "May God bless you, sir, and send -you back to us soon!" - -Then the cab rolled away down the drive, and Godfrey's journey to prison -had commenced. - -For the greater part of the drive into Detwich neither of them spoke. -One had too much upon his mind to be in the humour for conversation, -while the other, who was sorry for his prisoner, and who knew a -gentleman when he saw one, had no desire to thrust himself upon him in -his trouble. As it happened when they reached the station they found -that they had some minutes to spare. They accordingly strolled up and -down the platform, while they awaited the coming of the express. On its -arrival they secured an empty compartment, and settled down for the -journey to London. When Euston was reached they took a cab and drove -direct to Bow Street, where Godfrey Henderson, of Detwich Hall, Detwich, -was formally charged with the wilful murder of Teresina Cardi, artist's -model. The usual forms having been complied with, he was placed in a -somewhat superior apartment in another portion of the building. Then the -key was turned upon him, and for the first time in his life was a -prisoner. - -Early next morning it was announced that two gentlemen had arrived to -see him. They proved to be Sir Vivian Devereux and Mr. Codey, the -lawyer. - -"My dear lad, this is indeed a sad business," said Sir Vivian, as they -shook hands. "I can not tell you how sorry I am for you. But, thank -God, we know you to be innocent and are determined to prove it." - -They sat down, and the lawyer, who had been looking round the room, -which doubtless he had seen on many previous occasions, began to ply him -with questions, which Godfrey answered to the best of his ability. When -they had withdrawn, he was left to himself until the time arrived for -him to set off for the coroner's court. When he did so, it was in a cab -with a couple of stout policemen beside him to see that he made no -attempt to escape. On reaching it, he found that it was packed to -overflowing. Victor Fensden was there, seated in the space reserved for -the witnesses, but Sir Vivian noticed that he avoided meeting Godfrey's -eyes. With one exception, the proceedings proved comparatively tame. It -was only when the hall porter referred to Godfrey's haggard appearance -when he returned to the hotel on the Thursday night, that there was -anything approaching excitement. He deposed that Mr. Henderson, who had -been staying at the hotel, and whom he now recognised as being in Court, -returned to the hotel on the night of the murder between a quarter-past -and half-past twelve. He, the porter, was immediately struck by his -strange appearance. In reply to a question put by a juror, he replied -that he looked very much as if he had been upset by something; his face -was deadly white, and he had an anxious, what he should call frightened, -look in his eyes. At the other's request, he had procured him some -brandy, and, as he had had some trouble next morning with the head -waiter about it, the fact was the more vividly impressed upon his -memory. The cabman who had driven them from the Strand to Burford Street -was next called. In answer to questions put to him, he stated that, when -he was hailed by the person now in court, the deceased woman seemed very -reluctant to enter the cab. But the other had at last prevailed upon her -to do so, and he had driven them to the house in the street in question. -He had identified the body, and could swear as to the identity of the -person in court. The police-constable, who had passed a few minutes -before he bade Teresina good-night, was next examined. He remembered -seeing them together, and thought it a strange place for a gentleman to -be in at such a time. His attention was drawn to them because the girl -was crying, while the gentleman seemed somewhat excited. Feeling that, -as he was not appealed to, he had no right to interfere, he passed on -down the street. In answer to the coroner's inquiry, he was unable to -say whether or not the man entered the house. - -Ten minutes later a verdict of wilful murder against Godfrey Henderson -was returned, and he was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant. - -Instead of returning to Bow Street from the coroner's court, Godfrey was -now driven to Holloway Prison, where he was placed in an ordinary cell. -His spirits by this time had fallen to as low an ebb as it would be -possible for those of a human being to reach. What had he done to -deserve this cruel fate? He was not conscious of ever having done any -one an injury; he had always done his best to help his fellow-men. Why, -therefore, was he brought so low? He thought of Molly, and pictured her -feelings when she should hear that he was committed for trial. He could -imagine his mother's despair and could almost hear poor, sorrowing Kitty -vainly endeavouring to comfort her. - -During the afternoon Sir Vivian and Mr. Codey came to see him again. The -former was very plainly distressed; the latter, however, regarded -matters in a somewhat more stoical light. He had seen the same things -so many times before, that he had become in a certain measure hardened -to it. In all the cases upon which he had hitherto been engaged, -however, he had never had one in which the prisoner was a country -gentleman, besides being an artist of considerable repute. "You must not -give way, Mr. Henderson," he said, kindly. "There's plenty of time yet -for us to prove your innocence. Doubtless, when this is all over and you -are free once more, you will regard it as a very unpleasant experience, -certainly, but one which might very easily have been worse. Now, with -your permission, I will tell you what I have done. In the first place, -we must endeavour to find the real murderer. Only a trained hand could -do this, so I have engaged a man with whom I have had a great many -dealings in the past. He is a private detective of an unusual kind, and -has a knack of securing information which neither the Government men nor -the private agents seem to possess. He will be expensive, but I suppose -you will have no objection to paying him well for his services, if he is -successful, as I trust he will be." - -"You may be quite sure I shall have no objection," said Godfrey. "Let -him get me out of this scrape, and I'll pay him double, even treble, -his usual charges." - -"Oh, he won't bleed you as much as that," returned the lawyer. "He is -below now, and if you care to see him, I will obtain permission for him -to come up." - -The necessary authority being forthcoming, Codey presently returned, -accompanied by a burly, rosy-cheeked individual, who might very well -have been the landlord of a well-to-do country inn or a farmer in a -prosperous way of business. A more jovial countenance could scarcely -have been discovered, had one searched England through for it. Merely to -look at it was to be made to feel happy, while to hear his laugh was to -be put in a good humour for the remainder of the day. He was dressed in -a suit of tweeds, more than a trifle pronounced as to colour, a knitted -blue waistcoat covered his portly, bow-windowed presence, while he wore -a spotted blue and white tie, decorated with a large diamond pin. His -feet and hands were enormous, and when he laughed--which he did on every -available opportunity--his whole figure seemed to quiver like a blanc -mange. - -"This is Jacob Burrell, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, when the door -had closed on them. "I have told him that you wish him to take up your -case, and he is prepared to do so without delay." - -"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Burrell," said Godfrey. "Mr. Codey -has told me of your cleverness. If you can discover who it was who -actually murdered the poor girl, you will not only relieve me from a -position of considerable danger, but you will lay me under an -everlasting obligation to yourself." - -"I'll do the best I can, sir," said the man, jovially, rubbing his hands -together, as if he regarded the whole affair as a huge joke. "As Mr. -Codey may have told you, I have unravelled pretty tangled skeins in my -day, and it won't be my fault if I don't do the same here. Now, sir, Mr. -Codey, who knows my ways of work, has given me an outline of the case, -but if you don't mind, I should like to put a few questions to you on my -own account." - -"Ask me whatever you please," said Godfrey, "and I will answer to the -best of my ability." - -Burrell seated himself opposite Godfrey, placed one enormous hand on -either knee, and looked the other full in the face. - -"Now, sir, in the first place, when you had your old studio in London, -before you inherited your present estate, and when you first engaged the -girl, can you remember who were your intimate friends? I mean, the -friends who were in the habit of dropping into your studio pretty -frequently, to smoke their pipes, and perhaps to take a friendly glass?" - -Godfrey considered for a moment. - -"I had not very many friends in those days," he answered at last. "I was -a hard worker, and for that reason didn't encourage men to waste my -time. Besides, I was only a struggling artist, and couldn't afford to -entertain very much." - -"But there must have been some men who came in. Think, sir, and try to -recollect. It's an important point." - -"Well, of course, there was my friend, Mr. Fensden, who practically -lived with me. He used my studio whenever he had anything to do." - -"He is the gentleman who gave the damaging evidence against you on -Monday, is he not?" - -"He is! Then there was a Mr. Bourke, a leader writer on the Daily -Record." - -"I know Mr. Bourke," said the detective. "We may dismiss him from the -case at once." - -"Then there was an artist named Halliday, who occasionally dropped in, -but he is now in Dresden." - -"When did he go?" - -"Nearly two months before I went abroad myself," Godfrey answered. "I -think I have given you the list of my friends. I can remember no more." - -"Now, sir, that box, in which the hands were sent, had you ever seen it -before?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "I am quite certain I had not." - -"When you came home from Egypt, did you make any purchases in Naples?" - -"None at all. I was only there one night." - -"Now, sir, I am given to understand that your friend, Mr. Fensden, -induced you to go abroad for the reason that he feared you were falling -in love with your model. On what sort of terms was Mr. Fensden himself -with the girl in question?" - -"On very friendly terms," said Godfrey. - -"Was he in love with her, do you think?" - -"I am certain he was not," Godfrey replied, shaking his head. "I do not -think he would ever be in love with anybody." - -"And you are quite sure that he saw nothing of the girl from the day he -bade her good-bye in your studio, until Monday, when he inspected her -dead body in the mortuary?" - -"I am sure of it," Godfrey answered. - -"And when did he return to England, for I understand he has been abroad -until lately?" - -"On Thursday morning. I met him at the Mahl Stick Club an hour or two -after his return from Paris." - -"Now, sir, one other question, and the last. The girl, I understand, -told you that she was married, and refused to say to whom. I have had an -opportunity of examining the wedding-ring from her finger. Somewhat to -my surprise, I found that it was of Austrian make. Now, how does it come -about that a girl living in Naples should be married with an Austrian -wedding-ring? It was, moreover, an expensive one. What I want to know -is, was the young woman ever in Vienna?" - -"Never, to the best of my belief," said Godfrey. "At any rate she never -told me so." - -"Now, sir, there's one point I want to clear up, and when I have done -that, I sha'n't be at all certain that I haven't got the key to the -whole mystery. Is it only a singular coincidence, do you think, that -Teresina Cardi, your old model, wore a wedding-ring of Austrian make, -and that the box in which her hands were sent to you the other day -should bear the label of a well-known Vienna firm?" - -He chuckled and rubbed his hands together, as he put this question to -Godfrey. - -"It certainly seems singular," said the latter; "but why should not the -ring have been purchased in Naples, even if it were of Austrian make?" - -"There is not the least reason why it should not, but the coincidence is -worth remarking. Now, sir, I shall leave you to think over what I have -said. I shall telegraph to Naples and Vienna, and meanwhile endeavour to -find out who it was handed the box in at Euston. Allow me to wish you -good-day, gentlemen." - -They returned his salutations, after which he went away, leaving one -little ray of hope behind him. - -"A most remarkable man that!" said Codey, appreciatively, when the door -was once more closed. "He will follow the trail now like a sleuth-hound. -In the meantime, Mr. Henderson, I can not promise you anything very -hopeful for to-morrow. I shall apply to the magistrate for a remand in -order to give Burrell more time to look about him. I shall keep in touch -with him, you may be sure. I have retained Alfred Rolland as counsel for -you. He and I have often worked together, and I don't think you could -have a better man." - -"I place myself in your hands unreservedly," said Godfrey. "Do whatever -you think best, and spare no expense. I have others besides myself to -think of in this matter." - -"You have indeed, poor souls!" said Sir Vivian. "I shall go down -to-night, and try to reassure them, and come up again first thing in the -morning." - -When they left him, half-an-hour later, Godfrey sat himself down on his -bed and resigned himself to his own miserable thoughts. What enemy had -he who hailed from Vienna? He could think of no one among the circle of -his acquaintances who had ever been there. Certainly no one who would be -likely to do him such an irreparable wrong. After that he thought of his -dear ones at home, and broke down completely. His supper was sent away -untouched. He felt as though he could not have swallowed a mouthful, -even had his life depended on it. At last he retired to bed, but not to -rest. When he rose next morning, he felt older by a dozen years. - -"This will never do," he said to himself. "If I go on like this, people -will begin to think from my appearance that I am guilty. No, they shall -see that I am not afraid to look any man in the face." - -Then the door was unlocked, and he was informed that it was time to set -off for the magistrate's court. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - -The preliminary investigation before the magistrate calls for but little -comment. The evidence was, with but few exceptions, that which had been -given before the coroner on the Monday and Wednesday preceding. If it -were remarkable for anything it was for the number of spectators in the -Court. The building, in which the coroner's inquiry had been conducted, -had been crowded, but the police-court was packed, not with the -poorly-clad spectators which one usually meets and associates with that -miserable place, but by well-dressed and even aristocratic members of -society. When Godfrey recovered from his first feeling of shame at -finding himself in such a place and in such a position, and looked about -him, he recognised several people whom he had once accounted his -friends, but who had now schemed and contrived by every means in their -power, to obtain permission to watch, what they thought would amount to -his degradation and final extinction. Pulling himself together he gazed -boldly around him, and more than one person there told himself or -herself that a man who could look at one like that could never be guilty -of such a crime as murder. Mr. Rolland, the counsel who had been -retained by Codey for the defence, was a tall, handsome man, and of -others, little above middle-age. He was the possessor of a bland, suave -manner which had the faculty of extracting information from the most -unwilling and reluctant witnesses. Near him sat Mr. Codey himself, -keen-eyed and on the alert for anything that might tend to his client's -advantage. The curiosity of the visitors was not destined, however, to -be gratified, for, when certain of the witnesses had been examined, the -case was adjourned for a week, and Godfrey returned to Holloway by the -way he had come. - -How the next seven days passed Godfrey declares he is unable to tell, -but at last that weary week came to an end, and once more he stood in -the crowded Court. At first glance it looked, if such a thing were -possible, as if more people had been squeezed into the building than on -the previous occasion. The fashionable world was as well represented as -before, while this time there were even more ladies present than had -hitherto been the case. The cabman who had driven the pair to Burford -Street was examined and repeated his former evidence. He was subjected -to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Rolland, but his testimony remained -unshaken. The police-constable, who had seen them together outside the -house, also repeated his tale. He was quite certain, he assured the -Court, that the woman in question was crying as he passed them. At the -same time he was not sure whether or not the prisoner was speaking -angrily to her. When he left the witness-box Victor Fensden took his -place. He described the life in the studio before Godfrey left England, -and repeated the story of the attempt he had made to induce him to break -off his relations with the girl. When the prosecution had done with him -Mr. Rolland took him in hand and inquired what reason he had for -supposing that his client had ever felt any affection for the deceased -woman. - -"Because he himself told me so," Fensden returned unblushingly. "I -pointed out to him the absurdity of such a thing, and was at last -successful in inducing him to accompany me abroad." - -"You parted where?" - -"In Port Said. I went on to Palestine, while he returned to Naples." - -"_En route_ to England?" - -"I believe so." - -"On what day did you yourself reach London?" - -"On the day of the murder." - -"When did you next see the prisoner?" - -"He lunched with me at the Mahl Stick Club on the same day." - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland, somewhat to the surprise of the Court. -"I have no further questions to ask you." - -It was at this point that the great sensation of the day occurred. When -Fensden had taken his place once more, Detective-sergeant Gunson was -called, and a tall, handsome man, with a short, brown beard entered the -box. He stated that his name was Gunson, and that he was a member of the -Scotland Yard detective force. Two days previous, accompanied by -Detective-sergeant McVickers, he had paid a visit to the prisoner's -residence, Detwich Hall, in the county of Midlandshire. They had made a -systematic search of the building, with the result that, hidden away -behind a bookcase in the studio, they had discovered a long knife of -Oriental workmanship and design. The blade was of razor-like sharpness, -and was covered with certain dark stains. He found nothing else of an -incriminating nature. Detective-sergeant McVickers was next called, who -corroborated his companion's evidence. - -Dr. Bensford, an analytical chemist and lecturer at the Waterloo -Hospital, stated that he was instructed by the Home Secretary to make an -examination of the marks upon the knife in question, now produced, and -had arrived at the conclusion that they were the stains of human blood. -(Great sensation in Court.) - -So overwhelming was the shock to Godfrey, that for a moment he neither -heard nor saw anything. A ghastly faintness was stealing over him and -the Court swam before his eyes. With a mighty effort, however, he pulled -himself together and once more faced the Court. He looked at Sir Vivian -and saw that the baronet's face had suddenly become very pale. - -"Good Heavens!" he thought to himself, "will he suspect me also?" - -The analyst having left the box, Victor Fensden was recalled, and the -knife handed to him. He took it in his daintily gloved hand and -examined it carefully. - -"Have you ever seen that knife before?" asked the prosecution. - -Victor hesitated a moment before he replied. - -"No," he answered, as if with an effort. - -"Think again," said his examiner. "Remember that this is a court of -justice, and it behooves you to speak the truth. Where did you see that -knife before?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Then in a somewhat louder voice he said: - -"In Egypt. In Cairo." - -"To whom does it belong?" - -"To Mr.--I mean to the prisoner. I was with him when he purchased it." - -A greater sensation than ever was produced by this assertion. Godfrey -leaned forward on the rail of the dock and scrutinized the witness -calmly. - -"Your Worship," he said, addressing the magistrate, "with all due -respect I should like to be allowed to say that I have never seen that -knife in my life before." - -The prosecution having finished their case, Mr. Rolland addressed the -Bench. He pointed out how entirely improbable it was that a gentleman -of Mr. Henderson's character and position would commit a murder of such -a cowardly nature. He commented on the fact that it would have been -impossible, had he even desired to do such a thing, for him to have -committed the crime and have walked from Burford Street to his hotel in -Piccadilly in the time counted from the moment he was seen by the police -officer to the time of his arrival at his hotel. Moreover, he asked the -magistrate to consider the question as to whether a man who had -committed such a dastardly deed would have been likely to send the -mutilated remains to himself as a wedding present. It was useless for -him, however, to argue, the magistrate had already made up his mind, and -Godfrey was therefore not surprised when he found himself committed to -stand for his trial at the next Criminal Sessions, to be held in a -month's time. Bowing to the magistrate, he left the dock, entered the -cab that was waiting for him in the yard, and was driven away to -Holloway. - -"It was the finding of that knife that did it," said Mr. Codey -reproachfully, when he next saw him. "Why on earth didn't you tell me -that it was hidden there?" - -"Because I did not know it myself," Godfrey replied. "When I told the -magistrate that I had never seen it before, it was the truth. I did not -buy a knife in Cairo, so how could I have brought one home with me?" - -"But who could have placed it behind the bookcase, if you did not?" -asked the lawyer. - -"That is more than I can say," said Godfrey simply. - -"Look here, Mr. Henderson," said Codey sharply, "I have met a good many -unsuspicious men in my time, but I don't think I have ever met one so -unsuspicious as you are. I have a list of all the people in your house -at the moment when that box arrived. Let us run it over. There was your -mother, your sister, and your _fiance_, Miss Devereux. As our friend -Burrell would say, they may be dismissed from the case without delay. -Your butler and footman are old family servants, as are the housekeeper, -the cook, and the head parlour-maid. They may also be dismissed. The -remainder of the household would be scarcely likely to possess a knife -of that description, so we will dismiss them also. There remains only -yourself and Mr. Fensden. You declare you are innocent, and we will -presume that you are. Now, Mr. Fensden, by his evidence has placed you -where you are. That is certain. You say that he lied as to the fact of -your being in love with the woman who is dead, and also when he said -that you purchased the knife in Cairo. You say that he came to stay with -you on the day that the murder was discovered--why should he not have -placed it behind the bookcase, in order that it should be another -incriminating point against you?" - -"I can not believe that he would do such a thing," said Godfrey. "He -would not be so base." - -"I am not so sure of it," said the astute lawyer. "What is more, I made -a curious discovery to-day. The man in question pretends to be your -friend. He gives his evidence with reluctance. Yet I noticed that when -that knife was produced his face betrayed neither surprise nor emotion. -Had he had your interests at heart, would he have been so callous? -Answer me that! Now you have my reasons for arguing that he knew where -the knife was, and also the man who had placed it there." - -"The suspicions you suggest are too horrible," said Godfrey, rising and -pacing the cell. "What possible reason could he have for doing me such -an injury?" - -"One never knows. There are some men who hate the man who is supposed to -be their best friend, either because he, the friend, has been successful -in money-making, in love, or perhaps he presumes him to be happier than -himself. You are rich; he is poor. You have been successful in your -profession; he has been a failure. His hatred, like hundreds, might have -begun with jealousy and have terminated in this. I have known more -unlikely things." - -"In that case what am I to do?" - -"Leave it to me and to Burrell to arrange. If things were not going -right, my experience teaches me that that astute gentleman would have -shown signs of dissatisfaction before now. He has got his nose on the -trail, you may be sure, and if I know anything about him, he will not -leave it for a moment." - -"But do you think he will be able to prove my innocence?" asked Godfrey. - -"All in good time, my dear sir, all in good time," said the lawyer. -"With me for your lawyer (pardon the boast), Rolland for your counsel, -Dick Horsden and Braithwaite with him, and Burrell for the ferret that -is to make the rabbits bolt, you could not be better served. For my own -part, I wouldn't mind making you a bet--and as a rule I am not a man -who gambles--that the last-named gentleman has already acquired -sufficient information to secure your return to Detwich with an -unblemished character." - -"Then do so by all means," said Godfrey. "I will take it with the -greatest pleasure in the world." - -"Very well then," answered the lawyer. "I'll tell you what we'll do. -I've a junior clerk who has the making of a man in him, but who is in -consumption. The doctors tell me that, unless he is sent for a long sea -voyage to the other side of the world, he will not live a year. I have -promised to send him to the South Seas, and, if you like, this shall be -our bet: If you get off scot-free, you pay all his expenses--something -like five hundred pounds--and also give him five hundred pounds to go on -with. If you don't, then I pay. Will you agree to that?" - -"With all the pleasure in the world," Godfrey replied. - -"Then it's settled. And now I must be going. Good-bye." - -They shook hands, and then the lawyer took his departure, leaving -Godfrey happier than he had been for some time past. - -The month that separated the magistrate's inquiry from the Sessions at -the Old Bailey seemed to Godfrey like an eternity. Day after day crept -slowly by, with but little, if anything, to relieve the monotony. He -took his daily exercise, kept his cell in spotless order, received -visits from the lawyer, who came to report progress, and from Sir -Vivian, who brought messages of hope and encouragement from the folk at -home. - -On one red-letter day he was informed that visitors had arrived to see -him, and he was accordingly conducted to the room where he had on -several occasions interviewed his lawyer. The warder opened the door and -he entered, to be nearly overwhelmed by surprise. Standing by her -father's side, at the farther end of the room, and waiting to receive -him, was no less a person than Molly herself. She ran forward and threw -herself into his arms. - -"Molly, Molly," he faltered, "what does this mean? Why are you here? You -should not distress yourself like this." - -"I could not help it," she answered. "I had to come, I could stay away -from you no longer. You do not know how I have suffered. It seems as if -a lifetime had elapsed since we parted. At last I managed to persuade -papa to bring me up. My poor boy, how ill you look! How you must have -suffered!" - -"Never mind about that, dear," said Godfrey. "If it all comes right in -the end, we can afford to suffer a little. Now tell me of yourself; you -don't know how hungry I am for news." - -"No, don't let us talk of myself," she answered. "I want to talk about -you and your affairs. Do you know that this morning I saw Mr. Codey, -your lawyer, for the first time? He was introduced to me by papa." - -"And what did he say to you?" Godfrey inquired, with natural interest. - -"I am afraid there is not much to tell," said Molly. "When I asked him -if he thought we should be able to prove your innocence, he said, -'That's a thing we shall have to see about; but I don't mind going so -far as to promise you, that, unless there's anything else that I don't -know of, you and Mr. Henderson will eat your Christmas dinner together -next year!' I asked him and implored him to tell me more, but I could -not get anything else out of him." - -Godfrey felt his heart beat more hopefully. It was something, indeed, to -know that Codey took such a bright view of the case. Then Molly went on -to give him the latest news of his mother and sister. The old lady, it -appeared, was suffering a great deal on her dear boy's account; but she -firmly believed that in the end he would be acquitted. - -"It makes me so sad to see her," said Molly. "As you may suppose, I -spend the greater part of my time there now, and I think we help and -comfort each other." - -"God bless you for your goodness to them, dear!" replied Godfrey. "I -know what it must mean to them to have you with them." - -"And now, Molly," said Sir Vivian, rising from his chair, "I am afraid -we must go. We were only allowed a short time with you, and we must not -exceed it. Good-bye, my boy, and may God bless you! Don't be -down-hearted; we'll prove your innocence yet." - -"You still believe in me, Sir Vivian?" he asked. - -"As firmly as ever," the other answered. "I should not be here if I did -not. And now, Molly, you must come along." - -Godfrey kissed his sweetheart, and wished her good-bye. When she had -left the room, all the sunshine seemed to have gone out of it, and with -a heavy heart he went back to the gloom of his prison life again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - -Jacob Burrell sat in his comfortable armchair and took counsel with -himself. He was a bachelor, and like many other bachelors was wedded to -a hobby, which in some respects was more to him than any wife could -possibly have been. In other words he was an enthusiastic philatelist, -and his collection of the world's stamps was the envy of every -enthusiast who came in contact with them. For Jacob Burrell they -possessed another interest that was quite apart from their mere -intrinsic value. A very large number of the stamps so carefully pasted -in the book had been collected, or had come into his possession, in the -performance of his professional duties. A very rare 1-1/4 schilling blue -Hamburg was picked up by the merest chance on the same day that he ran a -notorious bank swindler to earth in Berlin; while a certain blue and -brown United States, worth upward of thirty pounds, became his property -during a memorable trip to America in search of a fraudulent trustee, -whose whereabouts the officials of Scotland Yard had not been able to -discover. Well-nigh every page had a story of its own to tell, and when -Burrell was in the humour, he could, with the book before him, reel off -tale after tale, of a description that would be calculated to make the -listener's hair stand on end with astonishment. At the present moment he -was occupied, as he very well knew, with one of the most knotty problems -he had ever tackled in his life. His face wore a puzzled expression. In -his right hand he held a large magnifying glass and in his left a -Canadian stamp of the year 1852. But whether it was the case he was -thinking of or the stamp it would have been difficult to say. - -"Genuine or not?" he asked himself. "That's the question. If it's the -first, it's worth five pounds of any man's money. If it's a fudge, then -it's not the first time I've been had, but I'll take very good care -that, so far as the gentleman is concerned who sold it to me, it shall -be the last." - -He scrutinized it carefully once more through the glass and then shook -his head. Having done so he replaced the doubtful article in the -envelope whence, he had taken it, slipped the glass back into its -chamois-leather case, tied the tape round the handle as deliberately as -if all his success in life depended on it, put both book and glass away -in a drawer, and then proceeding to the sideboard on the other side of -the room, slowly and carefully mixed himself a glass of grog. It was -close upon midnight and he felt that the work he had that day completed -entitled him to such refreshment. - -"Good Heavens," he muttered as he sipped it, "what fools some men can -be!" - -What this remark had to do with the stamp in question was not apparent, -but his next soliloquy made his meaning somewhat more intelligible. - -"If he had wanted to find himself in the dock and to put the rope round -his neck he couldn't have gone to work better. He must needs stand -talking to the girl in the Strand until she cries, whereupon he calls a -cab and drives home with her, gets out of it and takes up a position in -the full light of a gas lamp, so that the first policeman who passes may -have a look at his face, and recognise him again when the proper time -comes. After that he hurries back to his hotel at such a pace that he -arrives in a sufficiently agitated condition to stand in need of -brandy. Why, it's an almost unbelievable list of absurd coincidences. -However, he didn't commit the crime, that's quite certain. I've had a -bit of experience in my time, and I don't know that I've ever made a -mistake about a human face yet. There's not a trace of guilt in his. -To-morrow morning I'll just run round to the scene of the murder and -begin my investigations there. Though the Pro's have been over the -ground before me, it will be strange if I can not pick up something that -has not been noticed by their observant eyes." - -A perpetual feud existed between the famous Jacob Burrell and the -genuine representatives of the profession. His ways were unorthodox, the -latter declared. He did not follow the accustomed routine, and what was -worse, when he managed to obtain information it was almost, if not -quite, impossible to get him to divulge it for their benefit. Such a man -deserved to be set down on every possible opportunity. - -True to the arrangement he had made with himself on the previous -evening, Burrell immediately after breakfast next morning set out for -Burford Street. On reaching No. 16 he ascended the steps and entered the -grimy passage, and inquired from a man he found there where the -landlord was to be discovered. In reply the individual he interrogated -went to the head of a flight of stairs that descended like an abyss into -the regions below, and shouted something in German. A few moments later -the proprietor of the establishment made his appearance. He was a small -sallow individual with small bloodshot eyes, suggestive of an undue -partiality for Schnapps, and the sadness of whose face gave one the -impression that he cherished a grievance against the whole world. His -sleeves were rolled up above the elbows, and he carried a knife in one -hand and a potato in the other. - -"Vat is dat you vant mit me?" he inquired irritably, as he took stock of -the person before him. - -"I want you to show me the room in which that Italian girl, Teresina -Cardi, was murdered," Burrell replied, without wasting time. - -The landlord swore a deep oath in German. - -"It is always de murder from morning until night," he answered. "I am -sick mit it. Dat murder will be the ruin mit me. Every day der is -somebody come and say 'Where is dot room?' Who are you that you ask me -that I should to you show it?" - -Burrell, to the best of his ability, explained his motive for proffering -such a request. This must have been satisfactory, for in the end the -landlord consented to conduct him to the room in question. From the day -of the murder it had been kept locked, and it must be confessed that -since no one would inhabit it, and it did not in consequence return its -owner its accustomed rent, he had some measure of excuse for the -irritation he displayed in connection with it. - -"Dere it is," he said, throwing the door open, "and you can look your -full at it. I have scrubbed all dot floor dill my arms ache mit it, but -I can not get der blood marks out. Dot stain is just where she was -found, boor girl!" - -The man pointed, with grizly relish, to a dark stain upon the floor, and -then went on to describe the impression the murder and its attendant -incidents had produced upon him. To any other man than Burrell, they -would probably have been uninteresting to a degree. The latter, however, -knowing the importance of little things, allowed him to continue his -chatter. At the same time his quick eyes were taking in the character -of the room, making his own deductions and drawing his own inferences. -At last, when the other had exhausted his powers of description, Burrell -took from his pocket his favourite magnifying glass, cased in its -covering of chamois leather. Having prepared it for business, he went -down on his hands and knees and searched the floor minutely. What he was -looking for, or what he hoped to find, he did not know himself, but a -life's experience had taught him that clews are often picked up in the -most unexpected quarters. - -"I've known a man get himself hanged," he had once been heard to remark, -"simply because he neglected to put a stitch to a shirt button and had -afterward to borrow a needle and thread to do it. I remember another who -had the misfortune to receive a sentence of fifteen years for forgery, -who would never have been captured, but for a peculiar blend of tobacco, -which he would persist in smoking after the doctors had told him it was -injurious to his health." - -So slow and so careful was his investigation, that the landlord, who -preferred more talkative company, very soon tired of watching him. -Bidding him lock the door and bring the key downstairs with him when he -had finished, he returned to the culinary operations from which he had -been summoned. Burrell, however, still remained upon his knees on the -floor, searching every crack and crevice with that superb and -never-wearying patience that was one of his most remarkable -characteristics. It was quite certain, as the landlord had said, that -the floor had been most thoroughly and conscientiously scrubbed since -the night of the murder. He rose to his feet and brushed his knees. - -"Nothing there," he said to himself. "They've destroyed any chance of my -finding anything useful." - -Walking to the fireplace he made a most careful examination of the -grate. Like the floor, it had also been rigorously cleaned. Not a -vestige of ash or dust remained in it. - -"Polished up to be ready for the newspaper reporters, I suppose," said -Burrell sarcastically to himself. "They couldn't have done it better if -they had wanted to make sure of the murderer not being caught." - -After that he strolled to the window and looked out. The room, as has -already been stated elsewhere, was only a garret, and the small window -opened upon a slope of tiled roof. Above the eaves and at the bottom of -the slope just mentioned, was a narrow lead gutter of the usual -description. From the window it was impossible, unless one leaned well -out, to look down into the street below. - -"Just let me think for a moment," said Burrell to himself, as he stood -looking at the roofs of the houses opposite; "the night of the murder -was a warm one, and this window would almost certainly be open. I -suppose if the people in the houses on the other side of the way had -seen or heard anything, they would have been sure to come forward before -now. The idea, however, is always worth trying. I've a good mind to make -a few inquiries over there later on." - -As he said this he gave a little start forward, and leaning out of the -window, looked down over the tiles into the gutter below. A small -fragment of a well-smoked cigarette could just be descried in it. - -"My luck again," he said with a chuckle. "If some reporter or sensation -hunter didn't throw it there, which is scarcely likely, I may be on the -right track after all. Now who could have been smoking cigarettes up -here? First and foremost I'll have a look at it." - -On entering, he had placed his walking stick on the table in the middle -of the room. He turned to get it, and as he did so he took from his -pocket a small housewife. His multitudinous experiences had taught him -the advisability of carrying such an article about with him, and on this -occasion it promised to prove more than ordinarily useful. From one -compartment he selected a long, stout needle which he placed in a hole -in the handle of the walking stick. Then returning once more to the -window, and leaning well out, he probed for the cigarette lying so -snugly five or six feet below him. Twice he was unsuccessful, but the -third attempt brought the precious relic to his hand. Taking it to the -table, he drew up a chair and sat down to examine it. It was sodden and -discoloured, but the rim of the gutter had in a measure protected it, -and it still held together. His famous magnifying glass was again -brought into action. Once upon a time there had been printing on the -paper, but now it was well-nigh undecipherable. As I have already -remarked, however, Burrell was a man gifted with rare patience, and -after a scrutiny that lasted some minutes, he was able to make out -sufficient of the printing to know that the maker's name ended with -"olous," while the place in which the cigarette had been manufactured -was _Cairo_. - -"I wonder," said the detective to himself, "if this is destined to be of -any service to me. At first glance it would appear as if my first -impression was a wrong one. Mr. Henderson, who is accused of the murder, -has lately returned from Cairo. Though, perhaps he never purchased any -tobacco there, it would certainly do him no good to have it produced as -evidence, that the butt end of a cigarette from that place was found in -the gutter outside the window of the murdered woman's room." - -After another prolonged inspection of the room, and not until he had -quite convinced himself that there was nothing more to be discovered in -it, he descended to the lower regions of the house, returned the key to -the landlord, and immediately left the building. Crossing the street, he -made his way to the house opposite. The caretaker received him, and -inquired the nature of his business. He gave his explanation, but a few -questions were sufficient to convince him that he must not expect to -receive any assistance from that quarter. The rooms, so he discovered, -from which it would have been possible to catch any glimpse of what was -going on in Teresina's apartment in the opposite house, were tenanted -only in the daytime. - -"Nothing to be learned there," said Burrell to himself, when he had -thanked the man and had left the house. "Now the question to be decided -is, what shall I do next?" - -He stood upon the pavement meditatively scratching his chin for a few -moments. Then he must have made up his mind, for he turned sharply round -and walked off in the direction of the Tottenham Court Road. Taking a -'bus there, he made his way on it to Oxford Street, thence, having -changed conveyances, he proceeded as far as Regent Street. It was a -bright, sunny morning, and the pavements of that fashionable -thoroughfare were crowded with pedestrians. As the burly, -farmerish-looking man strode along, few, if any, of the people he passed -would have believed him to be the great detective whose name had struck -a terror, that nothing else could have inspired, into the hearts of so -many hardened criminals. When he was a little more than half-way down -the street, he turned sharply to his left hand, passed into another and -shorter thoroughfare, then turned to his left again, and finally -entered another street on his right. He was now in the neighbourhood of -quiet-looking houses of the office description. There was nothing about -them to indicate that their occupants were the possessors of any great -amount of wealth, and yet one could not help feeling, as one looked at -them, that there was a substantial, money-making air about them. Having -reached a particular doorway, Burrell paused, consulted the names -engraved upon the brass plate on the wall outside, and then entered. He -found himself in a small hall, from which a narrow flight of -linoleum-covered stairs led to the floors above. These stairs he -ascended, to presently find himself standing before a door on which the -names of Messrs. Morris and Zevenboom were painted. Disregarding the -word "Private," which for some inexplicable reason was printed -underneath the name of the firm, he turned the handle and entered. A -small youth was seated at a table in the centre of the apartment, busily -engaged making entries in a large book propped up before him. He looked -up on seeing Burrell, and, in an off-hand fashion, inquired his -business. - -"I want to see Mr. Zevenboom if he's at home," said the latter. "If he -is, just tell him, my lad, that I should like to speak to him, will -you?" - -"That's all very well," said the boy with an assurance beyond his years, -"but how am I to do it if I don't know your name? Ain't a thought -reader, am I?" - -"Tell him Mr. Burrell would like to speak to him," said the detective -without any appearance of displeasure at the lad's impertinence. "I -fancy he will know who I am, even if you don't!" - -"Right you are, I'll be back in a moment." - -So saying, the lad disappeared into an inner apartment with an air that -seemed to insinuate that if Mr. Zevenboom might be impressed by the -stranger, it was certainly more than he was. His feelings received -rather a shock, however, when his employer informed him in a stage -whisper that Mr. Burrell "_was the great detective_" and made him show -him in at once and not keep him waiting. Jacob was accordingly ushered -in, with becoming ceremony, and found himself received by a little man, -whose beady black eyes and sharp features proclaimed his nationality -more plainly than any words could have done. - -"Ah, mein dear friend," said he, "I am glad to see you. It is long since -we have met, and you are looking as well as ever you did." - -"I am all right, thank you," said Burrell genially. "Thank goodness, in -spite of hard work, there's never very much the matter with me." - -Before he seated himself the other went to a cupboard at the back of his -desk and, having unlocked it, took from it a cigar box, one of a number -of others, which he placed upon the table at his guest's elbow. - -"Try one of these," he said, "you will smoke nothing better in all -Europe. I pledge you the word of Israel Zevenboom to that." - -"I can quite believe you," said Burrell, and then mindful of the -business that had brought him there, he added, "if there's one man in -all London who knows a good cigar I suppose you are that one." - -The little man grinned in high appreciation of the compliment. - -"Cigars or cigarettes, I tell you, it's all the same to me," he said, -spreading his hands apart. "There is no tobacco grown, or upon the -market, that I can not put a name to." - -"And you are familiar with all the best makers, I suppose?" - -The other again spread his hands apart as if such a question was not of -sufficient importance to require an answer. - -"I know them all," he continued pompously. "And they all know me. Morris -and Zevenboom is a firm whose name is famous with them all." - -A pause of upward of half a minute followed this remark, during which -Burrell lit his cigar. - -"And now what can I do for you, my friend?" the other inquired. "I shall -be most happy to oblige you as far as lies in my power. You were very -good to me in de matter of----" - -He paused for a moment. Then he thought better of it and came to a -sudden stop. - -"Well, in the matter that we both remember," he added finally. - -"I want a little information from you, that I believe it is in your -power to give," said Burrell, taking a note book from his pocket and -from it producing the scrap of cigarette he had taken from the gutter of -the house in Burford Street. He placed it on the desk before his -companion. - -"I want you to tell me if you can who are the makers of these -cigarettes, and whether they can be obtained in England?" - -The other took up his glasses and perched them on the end of his -delicate nose, after which he held the charred fragment of the cigarette -up to the light. This did not seem to satisfy him, so he took it to the -window and examined it more closely. He turned it over, smelt it, -extracted a shred of the tobacco, smelt that, and at last came back to -the table. - -"That cigarette was made by my good friend Kosman Constantinopolous, of -Cairo, a most excellent firm, but as yet they have no representatives in -England. Some day they will have." - -"Where is the nearest place at which these cigarettes can be obtained?" -asked Burrell. - -"In Paris--if you like I will give you the address," the other replied, -"or better still I will get some for you should you desire to have some. -They are expensive but the tobacco is good." - -"I won't trouble you to procure me any just now, thank you," Burrell -answered. "I only wanted to try and fix the maker's name. It comes into -some important business that I am just now at work upon. I suppose I -can rely upon your information being correct? It will make a big -difference to me." - -"My good friend, you may be quite sure of that," the other answered with -pride. "I am Israel Zevenboom, the expert, and after fifty years' -experience, should not be likely to make a mistake in such a simple -matter as that." - -Then, at Burrell's request, he thereupon wrote down the address of the -firm in Paris, after which the detective thanked him heartily for his -trouble and bade him good-bye. - -"To-morrow," said Burrell to himself, "if all goes well, I will take a -run down to Mr. Henderson's country seat and make a few inquiries there. -After that it looks as if Paris is likely to be the scene of my next -operations. There are one or two little preliminaries, however, that -must be settled before I leave England." - -He was as good as his word, and the mid-day train next day landed him -upon the platform at Detwich. He inquired how far it was to the Hall, -and on being informed of his direction, set off along the High Road at a -swinging pace. He was a man who never rode when he could walk, and, had -he not chosen another profession, it is possible he might have made a -name for himself in the athletic world as a pedestrian. - -"It seems a sad thing," he said to himself, as he turned in through the -lodge gates and began to cross the park, "that a young gentleman owning -such a beautiful place as this should be clapped into limbo on a charge -of murder. But here I suppose is what the literary gentlemen call the -'Irony of Fate.' However, it's my business to get him out of the scrape -he's in if I can, and not to bother my head about anything else." - -Having reached the house he sent his name in to Mrs. Henderson, and -asked for an interview. Her daughter Kitty was with her in the morning -room when the butler entered. - -"Mr. Jacob Burrell?" she said in a puzzled way, looking at the card the -man had handed to her. "I don't know the name, do you, Kitty?" - -"Why, yes, mother, of course I do," the girl replied. "How could you -forget? He is the famous detective whom the lawyers have engaged to take -up the case for poor Godfrey. Tell him that we will see him at once, -Williamson, and show him in here." - -A few moments later Burrell made his appearance and bowed to the two -ladies. That he was not at all the sort of individual they had expected -to see was evident from the expressions upon their faces. - -"Doubtless, ladies, you have heard my name and the business upon which I -am engaged," he said, by way of introducing himself. - -They acknowledged that they had done so, and when they had invited him -to be seated, inquired what success he had so far met with. He shook his -head cautiously. - -"In these sort of cases you must not expect to succeed all at once," he -said. Then observing the look upon their faces he added: "You see, Mrs. -Henderson, a big case, unless the evidence is very clear and -straightforward, is not unlike a Chinese puzzle, being a lot of little -pieces cut out of one big block. Well, all the little cubes are tipped -out upon the floor in confusion, and before you can begin to put them -together it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the rough outlines -of the parts and to make yourself acquainted with the sizes, shapes, and -numbers of the pieces you have to work with. That done you can begin -your work of putting them together." - -"Mr. Burrell is quite right, mother," Kitty remarked. "We must be -patient and not expect too much at first. We ourselves know that -Godfrey is innocent, and Mr. Burrell will very soon demonstrate it to -the world, I am very sure." Then turning to the detective she continued: -"Since you have spared the time to come down here, it is only natural to -suppose that you desire to ask us questions. If so, please do not -hesitate to put them. My mother and I will--only too thankfully--do all -that lies in our power to assist you in your work." - -"Well, miss," said Burrell, "I won't deny that there are certain -questions I should like to put to you. In the meantime, however, if you -will allow me, I'll just take a walk round the place, and if I have your -permission to enter your brother's rooms, it's just possible I may be -able to find something that will be of advantage to him there." - -"Go where you please," said Mrs. Henderson. "Heaven knows at such a time -we should place no restrictions upon any one. If you can save my poor -boy--I shall be grateful to you forever." - -"Be sure, madam, I will do my best. I can't say more." - -Kitty rose from her chair. - -"Perhaps it would be better for me to show you my brother's studio -first," she said. "Will you come with me?" - -Burrell followed her out of the room and down the long corridor to the -room in question. Kitty left him there, and for upward of half-an-hour -he remained in the apartment, busily engaged upon what he called -"forming his own impressions." After that he passed through the French -windows out into the grounds beyond, had a few minutes' conversation -with some of the men, and, when he had exhausted that portion of the -business, returned to the house to find that luncheon had been provided -for him in the library. He thereupon sat down to it and made an -excellent meal. That finished, he was wondering what he should do next, -when Kitty entered the room. - -"I hope you have been well looked after, Mr. Burrell," she said. "You -are quite sure there is nothing else you would like?" - -"Nothing at all, thank you," he answered, "unless I might ask you for a -cigarette?" - -"A cigarette," she replied, with a suggestion of astonishment, for he -did not look like the sort of man who would have cared for anything less -than a pipe or a strong cigar. "That is very unfortunate, for I am -afraid we have not one in the house. My brother Godfrey, you see, never -smokes them, and I remember his saying just before----" she paused for a -moment and a look of pain came into her face, "just before this trouble -occurred," she continued, "that the supply he had laid in for his -friends was exhausted and that he must order some more." Then she -appeared to recollect something, for her face brightened. "Ah!" she -cried, "now I come to think of it, we _do_ happen to have a box which -Mr. Fensden left here before he went away. If you'll excuse me, I'll get -it." - -He thanked her and she left the room, whereupon he walked to the window -and stood looking out upon the lawn, drumming with the fingers of his -right hand upon the pane before him. What his thoughts were at that -moment will in all probability never be known, but when, a few minutes -later, Kitty returned with a box of cigarettes in her hand, he turned to -greet her with as much excitement in his face as he had ever been known -to show about anything. The box in question was flat and square, with -some Arabic writing in gold upon the lid and the inscription Kosman -Constantinopolous et Cie, Cairo. - -Jacob Burrell may or may not have been a cigarette smoker (for my part -I have never seen him with so mild a weed between his lips). I only know -that on this particular occasion he stood with the cigarette in one hand -for some time without lighting it, and the box in the other. - -"Did I understand you to say that Mr. Fensden gave these cigarettes to -your brother?" he inquired at last, after he had turned certain matters -over in his mind. - -"Yes," she replied. "He used to say laughingly that the weakest of all -Godfrey's weak points was his dislike to Egyptian cigarettes, and that -if he would only try to cultivate the taste for that tobacco, he would -be converted from barbarism to comparative civilization. You have seen -Mr. Fensden, of course?" - -"I saw him in Court," Burrell replied, apparently without much interest. -"And now, I think, with your permission, miss, I will return to the -station. I have seen all that is necessary for my purpose here, and am -anxious to get back to town as soon as possible. There are several -matters there that demand my attention." Kitty was silent for a moment. -Then she gained her courage and spoke out. - -"Mr. Burrell," she said, laying her hand upon his arm, "I suspect you -can very well imagine what a terrible time of suspense this is for us. -As I said this morning, we all know that my brother is innocent of the -crime with which he is charged. But how can we prove it? All our hopes -are centred upon you. You have done such wonderful things in the past -that surely you can bring the real perpetrator of this hideous crime to -justice. Can you not give us even a grain of hope to comfort us? My poor -mother is fretting herself to a shadow about it." - -"I scarcely know what I can say just yet," he replied. "I, of course, -have begun to form my own theories, but they are too unsubstantial as -yet for me to be able to pin any faith upon them--much less to allow you -to do so. This, however, I will tell you, and any one who knows me will -tell you that it is something for me to admit. What I say is that up to -the present moment, I have been more successful than I had dared to hope -I should be. Like yourselves, I have a conviction that your brother is -innocent, and you may believe me when I say that it won't be my fault if -we can't prove it. May I ask you to rest content with that? I can not -say more." - -"I can not thank you sufficiently for your kindness," she answered. -"Your words give me fresh hope. May I tell Miss Devereux what you say?" - -"Miss Devereux?" asked Burrell, who for the moment had forgotten the -young lady in question. - -"It is to Miss Devereux that my brother is engaged," Kitty answered. -"You may imagine how sad she is. Yet she has been, and still is, so -brave about it." - -"Not braver than you are, I'll be bound," said Burrell gallantly. "And -now I will wish you good-afternoon." - -He did so, and refusing her offer of a carriage to take him, was soon -striding across the park on his way back to the railway station. As he -walked along he thought of what he had done that day, and of the strange -good fortune that had so far attended his efforts. - -"It is only the merest guess," he said to himself, "and yet it's the -old, old story. It is when they think themselves most secure, and that -detection is impossible, that they are in the greatest danger. At that -point some minute circumstance is sufficient to give them away, and it's -all over. This looks as if it will prove another example of the one -rule." - -It was nearly five o'clock when he reached London. Arriving there he -called a hansom and bade the man drive him with all speed to Mr. Codey's -office. As it happened he was only just in time to catch the lawyer, who -was on the point of leaving. - -"Halloa, Burrell," cried the genial Mr. Codey on seeing him, "you seem -excited. What's the matter now?" - -"I didn't know that I had anything to be excited about," Burrell replied -with a smile at the lawyer's attempt to draw him out. "I only thought I -would drop in upon you, sir, to let you know that I am leaving for the -Continent first thing to-morrow morning. I may be away a week, possibly -a fortnight. I'm not able to put a definite time upon it, for it will -all depend upon circumstances." - -"Then I suppose, as usual, you are beginning to find yourself on the -right track," the lawyer remarked drily. - -"And, just as usual, sir, I reply that that's as may be," said the -other. "I don't deny that I've got hold of a piece of information that -may eventually put me on the proper line--but I've got to sift it -first--before I can act upon it. That's why I'm going abroad." - -"Don't be any longer than you can help about it, then," returned the -lawyer. "You know when the trial comes off?" - -"As well as you do, sir! That's why I want to get away at once. There's -no time to be wasted--that's if we're to be properly posted." - -"Well, then, good-bye, and may good luck go with you." - -Next morning Burrell, acting on the plan he had made, left London for -Paris, with the portion of cigarette in his pocket. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - -The first night of his sojourn in Paris was spent at the residence of a -friend who was also a well-known Stamp Collector. They dined at a -Restaurant together, and spent the remainder of the evening at a Caf -discussing matters connected with their joint hobby. Had one looked in -upon Jacob Burrell then, as he sat sipping a glass of brandy and water, -it would have been difficult to imagine that this man who was so -emphatic and precise about Water Marks, Btonn Papers, Misprints, and -Fudges, was in Paris for the sole reason of elucidating a terrible -crime, and in the hope of bringing the criminal to justice. - -Next morning he was up early and, as soon as was compatible with calling -hours, was on his way to the office of which Zevenboom had given him the -address. Sending his name in to the head of the firm, he asked for an -interview. This was promptly granted him and he was ushered into the -proprietor's office, a charming little apartment fragrant with the odour -of the divine weed. Now Burrell's French is not particularly good, but -Monsieur Zacroft's English was certainly a good deal worse. However, -they managed after a fashion, and with the help of a clerk, to make each -other understand, and that was perhaps all that was wanted. Zacroft -inquired with much solicitude after the bodily welfare of his good -friend Zevenboom, and on being assured that the latter enjoyed excellent -health, so far as Burrell was aware, proceeded to ask in what way he -could be of service to the Englishman. The latter immediately commenced -to explain, speaking in a louder tone than usual and using many -gesticulations, as an Englishman so often does, in the hope of making -his meaning clearer to his auditor. Later on Burrell produced the -charred remnant of the cigarette. The Frenchman admitted that the -cigarette shown to him was of the same brand as that manufactured by -Messrs. Kosman & Constantinopolous of Cairo, of which wealthy firm, he -took care to point out, he was the Parisian representative. He was also -acquainted with Mr. Victor Fensden, and admitted that he had supplied -that gentleman with cigarettes of the brand mentioned for some years -past. - -Burrell admitted to himself that so far this was very good. He hoped -that there would be still better news to follow. - -"Perhaps you can tell me when he obtained his last consignment from -you?" he said, after a short pause. - -The manager begged Burrell to excuse him while he went into his shop to -ask the question. When he returned he laid a piece of paper before the -other. The latter took it up and examined it carefully, though he was -not at all prepared to find that the information would be of much value -to him. The surprise he received, however, almost took his breath away. -It was the work of a moment to whip out his pocket-book and to open it. - -He turned the leaves until he arrived at the entry he wanted. - -"And am I to understand you to say that Mr. Fensden wrote to you from -England for them? Are you quite sure of it?" - -"Quite sure," replied the other, and intimated in exceedingly poor -English that he was prepared to show his customer's letter in proof of -the genuineness of his assertion. He did so, and Burrell examined it -carefully. Ultimately he prevailed upon the other to permit him to keep -the letter. - -"I wouldn't lose it for a thousand pounds," he said to himself. "Good -gracious, this is nothing less than a stupendous piece of luck. It's the -last thing in the world I should have thought of." - -He thanked the little tobacco merchant for his courtesy, and bade him -farewell, promising to remember him most affectionately to Zevenboom -when next he should see him. After that he went off to make arrangements -about his journey from Paris to Naples. - -It was at a late hour of the night when he reached that famous Italian -city. Tired out he betook himself to his hotel, slept the sleep of the -just, and rose in the morning with the pleasant feeling that the day -before him was likely to prove a busy and also an exciting one. After he -had breakfasted, which he made a point of doing in the solid English -fashion, he smoked a contemplative cigar, and interested himself after -his own fashion in the billings and cooings of a young newly married -couple, who were staying at the hotel awaiting the arrival of the -out-going Australian Mail Boat. Then, having discovered the interpreter -whom the hotel manager had found for him, he set off for the street in -which he had been told Teresina Cardi and her mother had dwelt. - -"'See Naples and die' they say," he muttered to himself, as he made his -way out of one into another tortuous and unsavoury street. "It should -have been '_smell_ Naples and die.' A connoisseur could discover a -hundred fresh unsavouries in every hundred yards." - -At last they found themselves in the street in question, and, after some -little hunting, discovered the house in which the murdered girl had -resided with her mother. The interpreter questioned the head of the -family who lived on the ground floor. With many flourishes and bows, the -latter, whose only work in life, it would appear, was to smoke -cigarettes upon the doorstep, informed him that the Signora Cardi was -dead and that the funeral had been a most imposing one. - -"Ask him what has become of the daughter," said Burrell, who was anxious -to discover whether or not the man were aware of the murder. - -"Gone," was the laconic reply. Eventually he condescended to add, "An -Englishman came to see her, and the signorina went away with him. I can -tell you no more." - -He manufactured for himself another cigarette, with the air of a man who -has done everything he could to prove himself hospitable, and is not -quite certain whether he has succeeded in the attempt. At this juncture -Burrell rattled the money in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he thinks he would know the man again if he were to see -him," he said. "Tell him also that I will pay him well for any -information he may give me." - -A vehement debate ensued--which might have lasted from three to five -minutes. At the end the interpreter translated. - -"He says, your Excellency, that he could pick the man out from a -hundred." - -"He's been a jolly long time saying it," said Burrell, and as he spoke -he took from his pocket half-a-dozen photographs which he had brought -with him for that purpose. "However, he shall try!" - -Among the number were likenesses of Fensden and Henderson. There were -also others of men who had nothing whatsoever to do with the case. The -proprietor of the ground floor rooms picked them up one by one and -examined them critically. When he reached Fensden's portrait he held it -up immediately. - -"That is the man," he said to the interpreter. "I need look no farther. -I should know him anywhere." - -Burrell replaced the photographs in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he has any idea where the man he speaks of stayed when he -was in Naples," Burrell remarked to the man, but upon this subject it -appeared that the other could give no sort of information, though he -volunteered for a reward to find out. This help, however, Burrell -declined. After rewarding him, he retraced his steps to the hotel. - -"It should not be difficult," he thought as he went along, "to discover -the Englishman's abode during the time he was in Naples. He is not the -sort of man to put up anywhere but at a good hotel." - -Foreseeing for this reason that the number of the hotels at which the -man he was inquiring about would be likely to stay, were limited, he -resolved to institute investigations that afternoon. He was very soon -successful. At the second at which he called he discovered that Fensden -had resided there and that he had left again on the 3rd of February. The -manager knew nothing of any _liaison_ with a girl of the city, nor could -he say where his guest went after he left Naples. His servants were -equally ignorant, though one of them believed Signor Fensden's -destination to have been Rome. Thanking the manager for his courtesy, -Burrell left the hotel more than a little disappointed, to spend the -remainder of the afternoon securing affidavits as to dates and generally -verifying the discoveries he had made. - -"Well, I suppose there's nothing for it but to try Rome," he said to -himself, when he had considered the matter in all its details. - -Early next morning he accordingly shook the highly scented dust of -Naples from his feet, and in due course reached the Italian capital. He -had been there many times before, and in consequence he was a great -favourite at the hotel where he usually resided. The owner welcomed him -effusively, somewhat as he would have done a long-lost brother of whom -he stood in some little awe, and trusted that he had come to make a long -stay. - -"I am afraid not," said Burrell. "I have got an important piece of -business on hand just now which must be completed as quickly as -possible. I am trying to hunt up the doings of an Englishman, who I have -reason to believe came here from Naples with a Neapolitan girl, in -February last. Possibly he may have stayed with you. Here is his -photograph. See if you can recognise him!" - -He thereupon produced the photograph of Fensden, and laid it on the -table for the manager's inspection. The latter, however, shook his head. -He could not remember the face among his guests. - -"In that case I must begin my rounds of the hotels again, I suppose," -said Burrell. - -After luncheon he did so. The result, however, was by no means -satisfactory. He made inquiries at every hotel of importance, and at -many that were not, but try as he would he could glean no tidings of the -pair whose doings he was so anxious to trace. - -"It's evident I've gone wrong somewhere," he said to himself. "I don't -think I will waste any more time in this place, but go straight on to -Vienna and look about me there. We know that the box hailed from the -Austrian capital and that the wedding ring was manufactured in the same -country. For my own part I don't believe they came to Rome at all." - -Once more he resumed his journey and at length had the satisfaction of -finding himself in Francis Joseph's famous city. He was very fond of -Vienna, partly because he had made two important captures there, and -possibly more so for the reason that one of the best deals in stamps he -had ever effected was brought to a head in that delightful city. On this -occasion he lost no time, but set to work immediately on his arrival. In -this town, however, the search was not destined to prove a difficult -one. He had not been more than twice unsuccessful when he tried the -Hotel National in the Karntner Strasse. The manager himself admitted -that he had a bad memory for faces, but he was quite sure of one thing, -if they had stayed at his hotel, his head waiter would be sure to -recollect them. That functionary was immediately summoned to the -council, and the photograph was placed before him. He had no sooner -looked upon it than he recognised it as being the likeness of the -gentleman who had stayed there with an Italian girl. They had come to -Vienna to be married it was said. - -"To be married?" said Burrell in astonishment. "What do you mean by -that? Weren't they married when they arrived?" - -Before the waiter could answer, light had dawned upon the manager, who -thereupon chimed in. - -"Ah, my friend, I remember now," he said. "That was the gentleman who -was married at the Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse. Now I can -recall the pair perfectly." - -"The Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse, you said, I think," said -Burrell, making a note of the name in his pocket-book for future -reference. "Pray how long did the happy couple remain with you?" - -"For upward of a fortnight," the manager replied, consulting a book. -"But they were not happy all the time!" - -"What do you mean by that? Why were they not happy?" - -"For a very simple reason," the manager replied. "I mean that toward the -end of their stay it was becoming plain to most of us that the gentleman -was a little neglectful of his bride. Yet she was a beautiful girl! Ah! -a beautiful girl!" - -"It was the waning of the honeymoon," said Burrell cynically. "Poor -girl, it didn't last long." He paused for a while to pursue his own -thoughts, then he continued aloud, "Have you any idea where they went -after they left here?" - -The manager reflected for a moment. - -"To Munich, I believe. But of that I am not quite certain. We will ask -Adolphe." - -The head waiter was once more consulted, and corroborated his superior. -The couple had left for Munich with the intention of proceeding later to -Paris. He was sure of this for the reason that he had heard the -gentleman talking to the lady on the subject on the morning of their -departure. - -The next day was spent by Burrell in collecting further evidence. He -interviewed the worthy clergyman who had married them, obtained certain -necessary documents from him, discovered the jeweller who had sold them -the wedding ring, and when he had learned all he wanted to know, took -the train and started for Munich. - -In Munich he discovered the hotel at which they had stayed and sundry -other particulars which might, or might not, prove useful later on. -Thence he continued his journey to Paris, where more discoveries awaited -him. At last, and none too soon, he boarded the steamer which was to -carry him to England. Even this short voyage was not devoid of interest, -and by the time he reached London once more, he felt that there was not -very much standing between him and the end. But what remained was in all -probability more important than the beginning. There was a blank to be -filled in, and filled in it must be, somehow or another, before the -trial commenced. - -His first act on reaching home was to write out a true and complete -record of his doings since he had left London. This done he consulted -the memoranda he had received from the representative of Messrs. Kosman, -Constantinopolous & Co., in Paris, and then set off by train to the -little town of Staines. From Staines to the charming little village of -Laleham is a comparatively short and a most charming walk. It was almost -mid-day by the time he reached the village and began to look about him -for Laburnum Cottage. When he discovered it it proved to be a pretty -little thatched building standing in a garden which in summer would be -bright with hollyhocks, nasturtiums and other homely flowers. A card in -the window proclaimed the fact that apartments could be had within, but -at that particular season of the year this announcement would be little -likely to attract attention. Pushing open the gate, Burrell made his way -up the garden path to the neat little porch where he gave a smart -rat-tat with his stick upon the door. The sound had scarcely died away -before it was opened to him by a stout, matronly person, dressed in -black, and wearing a cap and a neat white apron. - -"Mrs. Raikes?" asked Burrell, to make sure she was the person he desired -to see. - -"That is my name, sir," said the woman. "Perhaps you will tell me what I -can do for you." - -"I want you to give me some information," Burrell answered. "I have come -down from London on purpose to see you." - -"From London, sir," she exclaimed, as if that were rather a remarkable -circumstance. "Will you be pleased to step inside?" So saying, she held -the door open for him to enter. He did so to find himself in a neat -little sitting room, unostentatiously yet comfortably furnished. Three -cases of stuffed birds decorated the walls, together with some pictures -on religious subjects, a bookcase, the latter scantily furnished, and -last, but not least, a Chippendale sofa, and two or three chairs that -would not have disgraced a ducal drawing-room. - -"Kindly take a seat, sir," said Mrs. Raikes, dusting one of the -aforementioned chairs with her apron as she spoke. "If it's apartments -you want I am quite sure I can satisfy you. Of course it's a bad season -of the year, but at the end of the month we shall begin to fill up. -There's some splendid boating on the river, as perhaps you know, and at -night, when the houseboats are all lit up, well, it's quite lively." - -Her desire to impress him with the gaieties of the place was almost -pathetic, and Burrell felt that he was acting meanly in permitting her -to go on, without acquainting her with the real object of his visit. - -"I am sorry to say that I am not in search of lodgings," he said. "My -business is of an altogether different nature. In the first place, I -think I ought to tell you that I am a detective." - -"A detective?" she cried in horror. "Lor', I _do_ hope, sir, there's -nothing wrong?" - -"Not so far as you are concerned, you may be sure," he answered. "I have -come down here to make some inquiries regarding a gentleman who was -known to be staying in your house some time back. His name was Fensden." - -The woman shook her head. - -"I haven't had a gentleman in my house of that name," she answered. "In -fact, the only gentleman I have had since the beginning of the year was -a Mr. Onslow. The name of Fensden I don't remember at all." - -Burrell consulted his pocket-book before he went further. - -"And yet the information I received was most complete," he continued. -"Victor Fensden, Esq., %George Onslow, Laburnum Cottage, -Laleham-on-Thames. There couldn't be anything plainer than that, could -there?" - -"It seems all right, sir," said the woman. "There is only one Laburnum -Cottage, and Mr. Onslow was certainly staying with us. He had his wife -with him, a sweet young thing, which was more than could be said of the -gentleman, I can assure you." - -It was plain from this that she and Mr. Onslow had not been on the best -of terms. Burrell took from his pocket the photograph of Fensden, and -handed it to her. He was beginning to have an inkling of the truth. - -"Is that the likeness of Fensden or of Mr. Onslow?" he inquired. - -"Mr. Onslow, sir, to be sure," she replied, "and a very good one of him -it is too. I hope he's not a friend of yours, because I couldn't abear -him. The way he treated his poor foreign wife of his was enough to make -an honest woman's blood boil." - -"So he had a foreign wife, had he?" said Burrell. "That's interesting. -Tell me all you can about him." - -"There's not much to be told, sir, except about his bullying and nagging -that poor young thing. She was a foreigner, as I have just said, but as -nice a young lady as ever stepped in at my door. When they first came -she told me that Mr. Onslow was an artist, and that they wanted to be -quiet and away from London. They didn't mind putting up with the -roughness of things, she said, so long as they could be quiet. Well, -sir, they had this room and the bedroom above, and for the first few -days everything went as smooth and as nice as could be. Then I noticed -that she took to crying, and that he went away day after day and once -for two days. At last he disappeared altogether, leaving her without a -halfpenny in the world. Oh! I'd have liked to have seen the brute and -have given him a bit of my mind. It would have done him good, I'll -promise him that. I shall never forget that poor young thing in her -trouble. She waited and waited for him to come back, but at last when -there was no sign of him, she came to me in my kitchen there to know -what she should do. 'I know you have not had your money, Mrs. Raikes,' -she said in a kind of piteous foreign way, that went to my heart. 'I can -not stay here any longer, and so, if you'll trust me, I'll go away to -London and try to find my husband. Even if I do not, you shall not lose -by us.' I told her I didn't want the money, and that I was as sorry for -her as a woman could be. Poor dear, I could see that her heart was -nearly broken." - -"And what happened then?" - -"Nothing, sir, except that she went away, and she hadn't been gone a -week before the money that was owing to me was sent in a Post Office -Order. From that day to this I've heard nothing of either of them and -that's the truth. Whether she found her husband I can not say, but if -she'd take my advice she'd never try to." - -"You are quite sure that you'd know the man again?" - -"I am certain I should," the woman replied. "I hope, sir, in telling you -all this, I've been doing no harm?" - -"You have been doing a great deal of good," Burrell replied. "Shortly -after she left you, poor Mrs. Onslow, as you call her, was most brutally -murdered, and I have been commissioned by the friends of the man who is -wrongfully accused of the crime to endeavour to discover the real -criminal." - -"Murdered, sir? you surely don't mean that?" - -"I do! A more abominable crime has not been committed this century." - -The good woman was honestly overcome by the news and during the -remainder of the interview scarcely recovered her composure. Before he -left, Burrell cautioned her most strongly against saying anything about -the case to her neighbours, and this injunction she promised faithfully -to observe. - -"By the way," said the detective, before he left, "do you remember -whether this man Onslow received any letters while he was staying with -you?" - -"Only one, sir, so far as I know," the woman replied. - -"You're quite sure of that?" - -"Quite sure, sir, and why I happen to be so certain is that it caused a -bit of unpleasantness between them. I was brushing the stairs just out -there, when the letter arrived. It was Mrs. Onslow that took it in, and -when she saw the post-mark she asked him who it was that he knew at -Richmond. He snatched the letter from her and told her to mind her own -business. That afternoon he went out and never came back. It's my belief -it was some woman at Richmond as enticed him away." - -"Have you any other reason for supposing that except the post-mark on -the envelope?" - -"Well, sir," returned the woman, "to be candid with you, I have, though -perhaps it's a tale I shouldn't tell. I was so sorry for that poor young -thing that I couldn't get her trouble out of my head, and nothing would -serve but that I must watch him. I saw him sitting down at the head of -the table where you are now, sir, about half-an-hour after he had -spoken so cross to his wife, and she, poor dear, was upstairs crying, -and I noticed that he was writing a telegram. Presently he calls to me. -'Mrs. Raikes,' said he, 'want to send a telegram at once, who can take -it for me?' 'There's Mrs. Hawkins's little boy next door, sir,' says I, -'he's taken messages for gentlemen I've had in the house before now, and -always done it very well. I saw him playing in the field at the back of -the house only this minute.' 'Call him in to me, then,' says he, 'and he -shall have sixpence for his trouble.' I called the lad in, and Mr. -Onslow gave him the message, and then off he went with it, but not so -fast but that I was able to run across to the corner of the field at the -back there, and catch him on the road. 'Tommy,' I said, 'let me have a -look at that telegram.' He was a good little boy, and handed it over to -me without a word. It was addressed to 'Montgomery, 13 Bridgeworth Road, -Richmond.' There was no other name to it, and the only other word was -'yes.' It didn't seem to me that there was anything out of the common -about it, and so I thought no more of it, until you spoke of his having -letters just now." - -"I think I'll make a note of the address in case it should be useful," -said Burrell. "And now I'll be off, thanking you again, Mrs. Raikes, for -the information you have given me." - -On leaving the cottage he walked back to Staines, caught a train to -London, and hastened to his house. Later on he made his way to Euston -Station. Another twenty hours elapsed before he was able to acquire the -information he wanted there--but he had the satisfaction of knowing, -when he had obtained it, that there remained now only one link to be -forged, and then the chain of evidence would be complete. That link was -forged at Richmond, and next day he handed in his report to the -astonished Codey. - -"Good heavens, Burrell," said that astute gentleman, "this is as -marvellous as it is horrible. What do you think?" - -"I think, sir, that we shall be able to prove that Mr. Henderson is -innocent." - - * * * * * - -At last, after all the weary waiting, the great day arrived. The -Sessions had commenced at the Old Bailey. For two or three days prior to -this, Godfrey had been busy with his solicitor and his counsel. It was -not, however, until the afternoon before the commencement that he could -elicit from Codey any information as to Burrell's discoveries. -Immediately he was ushered into the room where Codey was awaiting him, -Godfrey saw from the expression upon the other's face, that there was -something to tell. - -"You--have good news for me," he said, as they shook hands. - -"The very best of news," Codey replied. "My dear sir, you may rest -assured that your innocence is completely established. The whole plot -has come to light, and, when we give the word, the authorities will be -able to lay their hands upon the man who committed the deed." - -"But who is the man?" Godfrey hastened to ask, scarcely able to speak -for excitement. His pulse was beating like a sledge hammer inside his -head, until it seemed as if his brain must burst. - -"Don't ask me that now," said Codey. "Put your trust in me until -to-morrow. Then you shall know everything. Believe me, I have my own -very good reasons for asking this favour of you. Rest assured of one -thing; at latest the day after to-morrow you will be at liberty to go -where and do what you please." - -"But why can not it be settled at once? Why must it be the day after -to-morrow? It is cruel to keep me in suspense!" - -"Don't you understand that we can not bring forward our witnesses until -the proper moment arrives?" said the lawyer. "The English law has its -idiosyncrasies, and even in a case of life and death, the formalities -must be observed. There is one thing, however, I can promise you; that -is, that when the truth comes out, it will be admitted that such a -sensation has not been caused in a Court of Justice before." - -And with this assurance, meagre as it was, Godfrey had perforce to be -content. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -When Godfrey woke on the morning of his trial he lay for some moments -thinking over the strangeness of his position. He had been definitely -assured by Codey that nothing could prevent his being proved innocent, -yet how difficult it was to believe this when he was lying on a prison -bed in a prison cell with all the grim appurtenances of a convict's life -before him. The very books upon the shelf, the spy-hole in the door, -even his bed-clothes, reminded him that he was shut off from his fellow -men. At the usual signal he rose and dressed, and, having done so, -tidied his cell in the customary fashion. After this his breakfast was -served to him, and then he was permitted a short period of exercise in -the prison yard. He had not long returned to his cell before he was -informed that it was time for him to set off to the Court. - -Never, if he lives to be a hundred, will Godfrey Henderson forget the -scene that met his eyes when he entered the Court--the judge and the -sheriffs upon the Bench, the jurymen seated in their box, the rows of -counsel, and the line upon line of eager-eyed spectators. When Godfrey -made his appearance in the dock a sudden silence fell upon the Court. -The Clerk of Arraigns rose and read over the charge preferred against -him, namely, of murdering one Teresina Cardi, and this done he was -called upon in the usual manner to plead. Advancing to the front of the -dock Godfrey looked straight before him and said, in a calm, strong -voice: "Not guilty, my lord." The jury were then sworn, and as soon as -this important business had been completed the counsel for the -prosecution rose and told the story of the crime. He described the -engagement of the dead woman by the prisoner, his employment of her for -some considerable time, and then his hasty departure for the Continent. -It would be shown that he had received a letter from her while in Egypt, -and that almost immediately afterward he had returned to Naples. In the -latter city he had invited her to dine with him, and had taken her to -the Opera afterward. He commented upon the fact that the prisoner had -voluntarily admitted to the police authorities that he had endeavoured -to induce her to return to England. At that time, however, it must be -borne in mind that he had not met the lady he now desired to make his -wife. Whether he had seen anything of the deceased, prior to their -meeting in the Strand, it was as yet impossible to say. The fact, -however, remained that his engagement to the lady in the country was -ultimately announced. Despite that fact, only ten days before the -wedding was to take place, he was known to have met the deceased woman -at midnight, and had taken her to her home in Burford Street, leading -out of the Tottenham Court Road. By the medical evidence he would -presently call, he would prove that less than half-an-hour afterward she -was brutally murdered. Before half-past twelve, that is to say, within -an hour of the cabman picking them up in the Strand, he would prove that -the prisoner returned to his Hotel in Piccadilly, very white and -agitated, and had called for brandy. Since his arrest, an exhaustive -search had been made at his residence, with the result that a -blood-stained knife, which had been identified as having been purchased -by the prisoner in Cairo, had been discovered hidden behind a bookcase -in his studio. As for the motive of the crime he would point out that -the deceased woman wore a wedding ring, that she was known to entertain -a great affection for the prisoner, and that the latter was about to be -married to another lady. What was more probable than that he should wish -to have the other woman out of the way before he could do so? That was -certainly only a conjecture, but it was one that carried a large amount -of probability with it. He would now proceed to call his witnesses. - -The first witness called was the proprietor of the lodging-house, who -had identified the body. He was followed by the German cabinet-maker, -who had made the first and most important discovery. The police officer, -who had been called in when the door had been opened, followed next, -succeeded by the doctor who had made the post-mortem examination. The -question of identity and discovery having been settled, what the counsel -next proposed to do was to connect the prisoner with the crime. The -cabman who had picked them up in the Strand and had driven them to -Burford Street, was called, and the policeman who had seen them talking -together on the pavement there. Victor Fensden next deposed as to the -affection the deceased had entertained for the prisoner, and the efforts -he had made to induce the latter to give her up. He described Godfrey's -receipt of the letter from Teresina when on the Nile, and stated that -the prisoner had said nothing to him concerning his intention to visit -the woman in Naples. His next meeting with the prisoner was at the Mahl -Stick Club, where he had noticed a reluctance on his part to refer to -his association with the woman in the past. This was accentuated on the -following Saturday at the prisoner's residence in Midlandshire. He -recognised the knife produced, and recollected the circumstances under -which it had been purchased by the prisoner. This concluded Fensden's -evidence, and he accordingly sat down. Various other unimportant -witnesses followed, and then the case was adjourned for the day. - -Wrapped in suspense, Godfrey was driven back to the jail to turn the -evidence over and over in his mind all night long. Whatever trust he -might place in Burrell and his discoveries, it was quite certain that -another twenty-four hours would elapse before his deliverance could be -expected. Once more he scarcely slept. The various events connected -with the trial thronged his brain with merciless reiteration. With -phonographic distinctness he could recall almost every word that was -said. He could see the judge upon the Bench making his notes with -pitiless exactness, the various counsel in the well of the Court -whispering together, the importance of the jury, and the -self-sufficiency of the Court servants. Yet he had Codey's assurance -that all was to be put right in the end, and with this knowledge he was -perforce compelled to be content. - -At the same hour as on the previous day he was ordered to prepare -himself for his journey to the Court. The evidence already given against -him was so incriminating that the officials of the jail felt sure that -his condemnation was assured. They already looked upon him as a dead -man, and marvelled among themselves that he could carry himself with so -much assurance. - -Once more the Court was crowded. Fashionable London felt that the end of -one of the most interesting cases of late years was drawing near, and it -was anxious not to lose an opportunity of witnessing the _dnouement_ of -the tragedy. - -"The Court is ready," said the warder, and once more Godfrey ascended -the stairs that had constituted the link between life and death for so -many hundreds of miserable beings before him. He found the judge, stern -and implacable as before, upon the Bench, the various counsel in their -places, and everyone eagerly awaiting his appearance. He bowed to the -judge and took up his position at the rails. He determined that, -whatever else they might think, they should not imagine that he was -afraid. Then, with the customary ceremonial, the case was commenced. - -The counsel for the prosecution having finished his case, Mr. Rolland, -having addressed the Court, prepared to call his witnesses. They were -few in number. The landlord of Godfrey's old studio in London deposed -that his rent had always been paid to the moment, and that he had heard -the deceased talk of the kindness she had received at the prisoner's -hands. "It was always in the language of a dependent," he said, "and in -no way that of a girl who believed her patron to be in love with her." - -When the prosecution had declined to cross-examine this witness, the -counsel for the defence arranged his gown and assumed an even more -important air. It was evident that something was about to happen. A -moment later Victor Fensden was recalled. - -"I am anxious, Mr. Fensden," said the counsel, "to ask you a question -regarding your return from the Continent. You have already told the jury -that you returned on the morning of the murder. Am I to understand that -that was really so?" - -"I arrived on Thursday, the 15th," said Victor, and a close observer -would have noticed that he shifted uneasily on his feet as he gave the -answer. - -"I should be glad also to have your repeated assurance that, from the -moment you saw the prisoner purchase that knife in Cairo, you did not -behold it again until it was handed you at the Magistrate's Court?" - -"That also is quite true," said Victor, who by this time was more at his -ease. - -"That is all I want to ask you. You may sit down," said the counsel. -"Call Simon Updale." - -In response to the summons, a short, stout man, who was the possessor of -a fiery beard and the reddest hair ever seen on a human being, made his -appearance and took up his position in the box. He deposed that his -name was Simon Updale, and that he was an able seaman on a steamer -plying between Dover and Calais. On a certain day, a month before the -murder, he had been made the subject of a complaint to the captain by -the previous witness, Mr. Fensden. He was quite certain of the date and -of the passenger's identity, for the reason that one of his mates had -broken his arm before reaching Dover and he wanted to accompany him to -the hospital. On account of the complaint, however, he was not permitted -to go. - -George Perran, steward on the same boat, was next called. He -corroborated what the previous witness had said, and recognised the -witness Fensden as being the gentleman who had made the complaint. - -"That," said Mr. Rolland, "proves conclusively that the witness in -question has committed wilful and corrupt perjury, inasmuch as that he -was in England a month before he stated in his evidence." - -Every eye in Court was riveted on Victor Fensden, whose face turned as -pale as the paper upon which I am writing. - -"I shall now call James Tidmarsh," said Mr. Rolland, and in response to -the summons a small boy climbed into the witness-box. - -His name, he stated, was James Tidmarsh, and he called himself an errand -boy, though as a rule he spent his time hanging about the vicinity of -Euston Station. He remembered distinctly on the night of Friday, the -16th, meeting a gentleman about eight o'clock outside the station who -carried a small wooden box in his hand. That gentleman stopped him and -asked him if he would care to earn half a sovereign. Upon his eagerly -answering in the affirmative, the stranger gave him the box in question -with the sum of fifteen shillings. "Take it to the station," he said, -"and hand it in at the parcel-office to be despatched to the address -written on the label. It won't cost more than a couple of shillings or -half-a-crown, and you can keep the change for yourself. I'll wait here -until you return to tell me it's all right." - -The boy then declared that he started off, handed the box in at the -parcel-office and paid the money. In taking the money the clerk had -_sauced_ him and he had retaliated to the best of his ability. The -result was that the policeman on the platform gave him a good shaking -and turned him out of the building. He informed the gentleman that he -had sent the parcel off, and he had not seen him since that moment until -he came into Court and had heard the witness Fensden give his evidence. -He, the witness to whom he alluded, was, without a shadow of doubt, the -gentleman who had handed him the box to send to Detwich Hall. - -The excitement in Court by this time may be better imagined than -described. The colour of Fensden's face was a dirty gray, and he seemed -to gasp for breath. The counsel for the prosecution seemed uneasy, and -even the judge leaned farther forward than usual, as if he were afraid -of losing a word of what was said. - -The clerk in the parcel-office was next called, and stated that he -remembered the incident in question. The box was a foreign one, and as -he had placed it on the floor he had remarked, "Another made in -Germany." - -The policeman who had turned the boy out of the station followed him. He -had seen the boy deposit a small box upon the counter and heard him say -something cheeky to the clerk. He thereupon bundled him out of the -station. - -When this witness had finished his tale Mr. Rolland said: "Call Jacob -Burrell." - -On hearing this a stir ran through the Court. The famous detective was -well known to all the officials within the building, and they, in the -light of this new discovery and the knowledge that this individual had -taken up the prisoner's case, began to regard the matter in a somewhat -different light. There was a slight flicker of a smile upon the austere -countenance of the judge when the counsel asked the detective his name. - -"Jacob Burrell," was the reply. - -"I understand," went on the counsel, "that you were instructed by my -friend, the solicitor for the defence, to make an investigation into -this case. In the course of that investigation did you visit Naples?" - -"I did," the other replied. - -"And what did you discover there?" - -"I found that the witness Fensden, although he has denied the matter on -oath, was in Naples three weeks after the prisoner passed through on his -way to England." - -The counsel here informed the jury that five affidavits to this effect -would be produced and read. Addressing the witness once more he said: - -"Are you aware that the witness Fensden spent the greater part of his -time in Naples in the company of the deceased woman?" - -"I found that to be the case. On February 3rd they left Naples together -for Vienna, stayed together at the Hotel National, in the Karntner -Strasse, and were married on the 26th of that month at the Church at -Funfhaus, in the Gurtel Strasse. The wedding-ring, which was still upon -the left hand when it was sent to the prisoner, was purchased at the -shop of Messrs. Radler & Hass, in the Kohlmarkt." - -"The head of that firm is now in Court," said Mr. Rolland, "and will -give his evidence. Call Herr Radler." - -Herr Radler thereupon entered the box which Burrell had vacated, and -stated that he well remembered selling the ring in question to an -Englishman who was accompanied by a beautiful Italian lady. The -gentleman he recognised as the witness Fensden, and from the photograph, -that had been shown to him of the dead woman, he was able to swear that -it was for her the ring was purchased. - -Victor Fensden, at this point, sprang to his feet as if to speak, but -his voice failed him, and he sat down again. - -A sworn copy of the marriage certificate having been produced and read, -and handed up for the inspection of the jury, Jacob Burrell was -recalled. - -"When you had traced the witness and the deceased to Vienna, what did -you do?" - -"I returned to England, _vi_ Paris and Calais," he answered. "On -reaching London I followed up certain clews I had received, and found -that the witness and the deceased lived for a short time together in the -country." - -"At what place?" - -"At the village of Laleham on the River Thames." - -Here the counsel for the prosecution rose to protest. - -"Your lordship," he said, "I must respectfully submit that the question -as to whether Mr. Fensden cohabited with the deceased is not relevant to -the case. We are trying the prisoner at the Bar and not Mr. Fensden." - -His opponent took up the challenge. - -"I respectfully submit that I am in the right," said Rolland. "In -eliciting this information I am leading up to the question of motive, -and I am sure my learned friend will admit that that is an all-important -point. - -"I am afraid I must rule against you," said the judge, addressing the -Prosecuting counsel. "Anything that tends to throw a light upon the -proceedings of the deceased so short a time prior to the murder can -scarcely fail to be relevant." - -Once more readjusting his gown, Mr. Rolland invited Burrell to proceed. - -"How long did witness and the deceased occupy the house at Laleham?" - -"For more than a fortnight. Then Fensden left her in a strange place -without a penny in the world." (Here a murmur of indignation ran through -the Court, which, by the judge's orders, was instantly suppressed.) - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland. "Call Elizabeth Raikes." - -The owner of Laburnum Cottage next entered the box, and, though much -flurried by the novel position in which she found herself, gave evidence -to the effect that the deceased and Fensden had occupied apartments at -her house for the period mentioned by the previous witness. She was -quite sure, from things she had overheard, that they were not happy -together, and she knew that the man treated the woman cruelly. Sometimes -he was away for a couple of days, and one day he disappeared altogether -without paying for anything they had had while in the house, and leaving -his wife totally unprovided for. She had heard the present case talked -about, but had not associated the victim with the Mrs. Onslow who had -occupied rooms at her cottage. - -"I have two more witnesses to call," said Mr. Rolland, when Mrs. Raikes -had stepped down. "Then, my lord, I shall have completed my case. Call -Mrs. Wilhelmina Montgomery." - -A tall, handsome woman, fashionably attired, stepped into the -witness-box and took the oath. In response to the question put her by -the counsel for the defence, she stated that her name was Wilhelmina -Montgomery, and that she was the widow of George Montgomery, late of -Sheffield. "I live at No. 13, Bridgeworth Road, Richmond," she -continued. "I first met the witness, Victor Fensden, at Baden, while -travelling with some friends, in December last. We became very intimate, -and, when he returned to England early in March, he called upon me at -my house. Eventually he asked me to marry him, and after some -hesitation I consented to do so. I have three thousand a year invested -in Consols, and a considerable amount of ready money lying idle at the -bank. This may or may not have been his motive, but I have no knowledge -of that. Mr. Fensden was anxious for an immediate marriage, but to this -I would not consent. I knew that he was in the hands of the Jews, but I -would have paid off his indebtedness after marriage. He stayed at my -house on several occasions, as did others of my friends. One day I went -out to do some shopping, and on my return discovered him in my boudoir. -He held a piece of yellow soap in his hand and a large number of -door-keys were spread out on the table before him. I asked him what he -was doing, and he answered that he was endeavouring to find a key -similar to the one he had lost. My housekeeper had furnished him with -several, and he had at last found one that fitted the imprint in the -soap. On the night of the murder he informed me that it would be -necessary for him to attend an important meeting, and that it was just -possible he would not be back until late. As a matter of fact, it was -considerably after one o'clock, perhaps half-past one, when he -returned. On the Saturday following he left me to go down to -Midlandshire to pay a visit to an old friend, he said, who was about to -be married. Before he went he once more pressed me for an early -marriage, suggesting, knowing that I am fond of travelling, that we -should immediately set off for a long trip round the world." - -The box which had contained the hands was then handed to her, and she -was asked if she recognised it. - -"Yes," she answered immediately. "If you look underneath I think you -will find a large inkstain. (This proved to be the case.) I brought some -things in it from Vienna. How Mr. Fensden obtained possession of it, -however, I do not know." - -The counsel for the prosecution having no questions to ask, the witness -was allowed to stand down. - -"Call Joseph Hodder," said Mr. Rolland, and, to Godfrey's amazement, one -of his own under-gardeners entered the box. Having taken the oath, he -stated, in reply to the counsel's question, that, on the Sunday -following the murder, it was his duty to attend to the stoking of the -fires of the various conservatories at the Hall. He knew that his -master and the ladies had gone to Church, because he had passed them in -the park, and that the strange gentleman had remained at home, because, -when he had passed the drawing-room window on his way to his work, he -saw him sitting before the fire reading. Having attended to the fires in -the vineries and other garden-houses, he returned to the Hall itself to -look after the heat in the new winter garden that Mr. Henderson had -built. From this house in question it is quite possible to see into the -studio, and, to his surprise, he discovered the gentleman visitor was no -longer in the drawing-room, but was kneeling beside the big bookcase -near the fireplace in the studio. It looked as if he were feeling for -something behind it, but what that something was he had no idea. When he -was asked why he had not given information on this matter before, he -replied that he had not attached any importance to it until he had -talked it over with the head gardener on the day following the search by -the police. Then he had gone to Miss Henderson, and had told her. She -had written at once to his master's lawyer, and that was all he knew -about it. - -"The evidence of this man," said Mr. Rolland, "completes my case." - -The words had scarcely left his lips before Victor Fensden was seen to -spring to his feet. Once more he opened his mouth as if to speak, and -once more he failed to utter a word. Then, with a loud cry, he fell -forward in a swoon. Two of the policemen near at hand ran forward to -pick him up. Between them, they carried him out of the Court to an -adjoining room. In the Court itself at that moment, it would have been -possible to have heard a pin drop. Then the judge found his voice. - -"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the jury, "after the astounding -evidence you have just heard, I am thankful to say that, in my opinion, -there is not the least shadow of a reason for continuing the case -against the prisoner at the bar. In this I feel sure you will concur -with me." - -The foreman of the jury entirely agreed with his lordship, and at the -same time desired to express, on behalf of himself and his brother -jurymen, their great regret that a gentleman of Mr. Henderson's position -should, by another man's action, have been placed in such an unhappy -predicament. - -"With that I quite agree," said the counsel for the prosecution. - -This was the signal for general applause in Court, which, somehow, was -not checked by the judge as quickly as is customary in such cases. - -When silence had been restored, the latter addressed Godfrey. - -"Godfrey Henderson," he said, and his voice was very impressive, "by -reason of the false evidence that has been given against you, by a cruel -and vindictive man, you have been brought to the dock of this Court, and -charged with the perpetration of a most cruel and bloodthirsty crime. Of -that crime twelve of your countrymen have declared you to be innocent, -and to their testimony I emphatically add my own. While it is not in my -power to offer you the hope of receiving any return for the anxiety you -have suffered, I can say something that I know you will value much more; -that is, that you leave this Court a free man, and without the shadow of -a stain upon your character." - -"I thank you, my lord," said Godfrey, quietly, and at that moment one of -the ushers of the Court entered and approached the judge. - -"Gentlemen," said the latter, again addressing the Court, "I think it -only right to make it known to you that a Higher Power than that I -represent has intervened, and the wretched man, who has caused all this -misery and suffering, has been suddenly called to appear before a -greater Tribunal. May God have mercy upon his soul!" - -Then the Court was cleared, and Godfrey found himself shaking hands with -Sir Vivian and the men who had worked so hard to prove his innocence. -When he had thanked them from the very bottom of his heart, Sir Vivian -took his arm. - -"Come away now, come away," said the old gentleman. "There are other -people waiting to welcome you." - -Seizing Godfrey by the arm, he hurried him out into the street to a cab -which was waiting there. Ten minutes later he was locked in his mother's -arms. - -"O Godfrey," said Molly, as he embraced her in her turn, "I knew that -God would send you back to me!" - - * * * * * - -A week later Godfrey and Molly were married by special license, and left -England the same day for the South of France. They are now back again at -the Hall, and as happy as two young people could well expect to be. The -clouds that shadowed their lives at one time are now completely -dispersed, but, if Godfrey lives to be a hundred, he will never forget -the agony he suffered in connection with what the newspapers called "The -Mystery of the Clasped Hands." - -THE END - - - - -APPLETONS' TOWN AND COUNTRY LIBRARY. - -PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY. - - - * * * * * - - 1. _The Steel Hammer_. By L. ULBACH. - 2. _Eve_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 3. _For Fifteen Years_. By L. ULBACH. - 4. _A Counsel of Perfection_. By L. MALET. - 5. _The Deemster_. By H. CAINE. - 5-1/2. _The Bondman_. By H. CAINE. - 6. _A Virginia Inheritance_. By E. PENDLETON. - 7. _Ninette_. By the author of Vra. - 8. "_The Right Honourable._" By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 9. _The Silence of Dean Maitland_. By M. GRAY. - 10. _Mrs. Lorimer_. By L. MALET. - 11. _The Elect Lady_. By G. MACDONALD. - 12. _The Mystery of the "Ocean Star."_ By W. C. RUSSELL. - 13. _Aristocracy_. - 14. _A Recoiling Vengeance_. By F. BARRETT. - 15. _The Secret of Fontaine-la-Croix_. By M. FIELD. - 16. _The Master of Rathkelly_. By H. SMART. - 17. _Donovan_. By E. LYALL. - 18. _This Mortal Coil_. By G. ALLEN. - 19. _A Fair Emigrant_. By R. MULHOLLAND. - 20. _The Apostate_. By E. DAUDET. - 21. _Raleigh Westgate_. By H. K. JOHNSON. - 22. _Arius the Libyan_. - 23. _Constance_, and _Calbot's Rival_. By J. HAWTHORNE. - 24. _We Two_. By E. LYALL. - 25. _A Dreamer of Dreams_. By the author of Thoth. - 26. _The Ladies' Gallery_. By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 27. _The Reproach of Annesley_. By M. GRAY. - 28. _Near to Happiness_. - 29. _In the Wire Grass_. By L. PENDLETON. - 30. _Lace_. By P. LINDAU. - 30-1/2. _The Black Poodle_. By F. ANSTEY. - 31. _American Coin_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 32. _Won by Waiting_. By E. LYALL. - 33. _The Story of Helen Davenant_. By V. FANE. - 34. _The Light of Her Countenance_. By H. H. BOYESEN. - 35. _Mistress Beatrice Cope_. By M. E. LE CLERC. - 36. _The Knight-Errant_. By E. LYALL. - 37. _In the Golden Days_. By E. LYALL. - 38. _Giraldi_. By R. G. DERING. - 39. _A Hardy Norseman_. By E. LYALL. - 40. _The Romance of Jenny Harlowe_, and _Sketches of Maritime Life_. - By W. C. RUSSELL. - 41. _Passion's Slave_. By R. ASHE-KING. - 42. _The Awakening of Mary Fenwick_. By B. WHITBY. - 43. _Countess Loreley_. By R. MENGER. - 44. _Blind Love_. By W. COLLINS. - 45. _The Dean's Daughter_. By S. F. F. VEITCH. - 46. _Countess Irene_. By J. FOGERTY. - 47. _Robert Browning's Principal Shorter Poems_. - 48. _Frozen Hearts_. By G. W. APPLETON. - 49. _Djambek the Georgian_. By A. G. VON SUTTNER. - 50. _The Craze of Christian Engelhart_. By H. F. DARNELL. - 51. _Lal_. By W. A. HAMMOND, M. D. - 52. _Aline_. By H. GRVILLE. - 53. _Joost Avelingh_. By M. MAARTENS. - 54. _Katy of Catoctin_. By G. A. TOWNSEND. - 55. _Throckmorton_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 56. _Expatriation_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 57. _Geoffrey Hampstead_. By T. S. JARVIS. - 58. _Dmitri_. By F. W. BAIN, M. A. - 59. _Part of the Property_. By B. WHITBY. - 60. _Bismarck in Private Life_. By a Fellow-Student. - 61. _In Low Relief_. By M. ROBERTS. - 62. _The Canadians of Old_. By P. GASP. - 63. _A Squire of Low Degree_. By L. A. LONG. - 64. _A Fluttered Dovecote_. By G. M. FENN. - 65. _The Nugents of Carriconna_. By T. HOPKINS. - 66. _A Sensitive Plant_. By E. and D. GERARD. - 67. _Doa Luz_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 68. _Pepita Ximenez_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 69. _The Primes and their Neighbors_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 70. _The Iron Game_. By H. F. KEENAN. - 71. _Stories of Old New Spain_. By T. A. JANVIER. - 72. _The Maid of Honor_. By Hon. L. WINGFIELD. - 73. _In the Heart of the Storm_. By M. GRAY. - 74. _Consequences_. By E. CASTLE. - 75. _The Three Miss Kings_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 76. _A Matter of Skill_. By B. WHITBY. - 77. _Maid Marian, and Other Stories_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 78. _One Woman's Way_. By E. PENDLETON. - 79. _A Merciful Divorce_. By F. W. MAUDE. - 80. _Stephen Ellicott's Daughter_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 81. _One Reason Why_. By B. WHITBY. - 82. _The Tragedy of Ida Noble_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 83. _The Johnstown Stage, and Other Stories_. By R. H. FLETCHER. - 84. _A Widower Indeed_. By R. BROUGHTON and E. BISLAND. - 85. _The Flight of a Shadow_. By G. MACDONALD. - 86. _Love or Money_. By K. LEE. - 87. _Not All in Vain_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 88. _It Happened Yesterday_. By F. MARSHALL. - 89. _My Guardian_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 90. _The Story of Philip Methuen_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 91. _Amethyst_. By C. R. COLERIDGE. - 92. _Don Braulio_. By J. VALERA. Translated by C. BELL. - 93. _The Chronicles of Mr. Bill Williams_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 94. _A Queen of Curds and Cream_. By D. GERARD. - 95. "_La Bella" and Others_. By E. CASTLE. - 96. "_December Roses_." By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 97. _Jean de Kerdren_. By J. SCHULTZ. - 98. _Etelka's Vow_. By D. GERARD. - 99. _Cross Currents_. By M. A. DICKENS. - 100. _His life's Magnet_. By T. ELMSLIE. - 101. _Passing the Love of Women_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 102. _In Old St. Stephen's_. By J. DRAKE. - 103. _The Berkeleys and their Neighbors_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 104. _Mono Maclean, Medical Student_. By G. TRAVERS. - 105. _Mrs. Bligh_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 106. _A Stumble on the Threshold_. By J. PAYN. - 107. _Hanging Moss_. By P. LINDAU. - 108. _A Comedy of Elopement_. By C. REID. - 109. _In the Suntime of her Youth_. By B. WHITBY. - 110. _Stories in Black and White_. By T. HARDY and Others. - 110-1/2. _An Englishman in Paris_. - 111. _Commander Mendoza_. By J. VALERA. - 112. _Dr. Paull's Theory_. By Mrs. A. M. DIEHL. - 113. _Children of Destiny_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 114. _A Little Minx_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 115. _Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon_. By H. CAINE. - 116. _The Voice of a Flower_. By E. GERARD. - 117. _Singularly Deluded_. By S. GRAND. - 118. _Suspected_. By L. STRATENUS. - 119. _Lucia, Hugh, and Another_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 120. _The Tutor's Secret_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 121. _From the Five Rivers_. By Mrs. F. A. STEEL. - 122. _An Innocent Impostor, and Other Stories_. By M. GRAY. - 123. _Ideala_. By S. GRAND. - 124. _A Comedy of Masks_. By E. DOWSON and A. MOORE. - 125. _Relics_. By F. MACNAB. - 126. _Dodo: A Detail of the Day_. By E. F. BENSON. - 127. _A Woman of Forty_. By E. STUART. - 128. _Diana Tempest_. By M. CHOLMONDELEY. - 129. _The Recipe for Diamonds_. By C. J. C. HYNE. - 130. _Christina Chard_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 131. _A Gray Eye or So_. By F. F. MOORE. - 132. _Earlscourt_. By A. ALLARDYCE. - 133. _A Marriage Ceremony_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 134. _A Ward in Chancery_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 135. _Lot 13_. By D. GERARD. - 136. _Our Manifold Nature_. By S. GRAND. - 137. _A Costly Freak_. By M. GRAY. - 138. _A Beginner_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 139. _A Yellow Aster_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN ("IOTA"). - 140. _The Rubicon_. By E. F. BENSON. - 141. _The Trespasser_. By G. PARKER. - 142. _The Rich Miss Riddell_. By D. GERARD. - 143. _Mary Fenwick's Daughter_. By B. WHITBY. - 144. _Red Diamonds_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 145. _A Daughter of Music_. By G. COLMORE. - 146. _Outlaw and Lawmaker_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 147. _Dr. Janet of Harley Street_. By A. KENEALY. - 148. _George Mandeville's Husband_. By C. E. RAIMOND. - 149. _Vashti and Esther_. - 150. _Timar's Two Worlds_. By M. JOKAI. - 151. _A Victim of Good Luck_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 152. _The Trail of the Sword_. By G. PARKER. - 153. _A Mild Barbarian_. By E. FAWCETT. - 154. _The God in the Car_. By A. HOPE. - 155. _Children of Circumstance_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN. - 156. _At the Gate of Samaria_. By W. J. LOCKE. - 157. _The Justification of Andrew Lebrun_. By F. BARRETT. - 158. _Dust and Laurels_. By M. L. PENDERED. - 159. _The Good Ship Mohock_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 160. _Nomi_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 161. _The Honour of Savelli_. By S. L. YEATS. - 162. _Kitty's Engagement_. By F. WARDEN. - 163. _The Mermaid_. By L. DOUGALL. - 164. _An Arranged Marriage_. By D. GERARD. - 165. _Eve's Ransom_. By G. GISSING. - 166. _The Marriage of Esther_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 167. _Fidelis_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 168. _Into the Highways and Hedges_. By F. F. MONTRSOR. - 169. _The Vengeance of James Vansittart_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 170. _A Study in Prejudices_. By G. PASTON. - 171. _The Mistress of Quest_. By A. SERGEANT. - 172. _In the Year of Jubilee_. By G. GISSING. - 173. _In Old New England_. By H. BUTTERWORTH. - 174. _Mrs. Musgrave--and Her Husband_. By R. MARSH. - 175. _Not Counting the Cost_. By TASMA. - 176. _Out of Due Season_. By A. SERGEANT. - 177. _Scylla or Charybdis?_ By R. BROUGHTON. - 178. _In Defiance of the King_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 179. _A Bid for Fortune_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 180. _The King of Andaman_. By J. M. COBBAN. - 181. _Mrs. Tregaskiss_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 182. _The Desire of the Moth_. By C. VANE. - 183. _A Self-Denying Ordinance_. By M. HAMILTON. - 184. _Successors to the Title_. By Mrs. L. B. WALFORD. - 185. _The Lost Stradivarius_. By J. M. FALKNER. - 186. _The Wrong Man_. By D. GERARD. - 187. _In the Day of Adversity_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 188. _Mistress Dorothy Marvin_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 189. _A Flash of Summer_. By Mrs. W. K. CLIFFORD. - 190. _The Dancer in Yellow_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 191. _The Chronicles of Martin Hewitt_. By A. MORRISON. - 192. _A Winning Hazard_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 193. _The Picture of Las Cruces_. By C. REID. - 194. _The Madonna of a Day_. By L. DOUGALL. - 195. _The Riddle Ring_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 196. _A Humble Enterprise_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 197. _Dr. Nikola_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 198. _An Outcast of the Islands_. By J. CONRAD. - 199. _The King's Revenge_. By C. BRAY. - 200. _Denounced_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 201. _A Court Intrigue_. By B. THOMPSON. - 202. _The Idol-Maker_. By A. SERGEANT. - 203. _The Intriguers_. By J. D. BARRY. - 204. _Master Ardick, Buccaneer_. By F. H. COSTELLO. - 205. _With Fortune Made_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 206. _Fellow Travellers_. By G. TRAVERS. - 207. _McLeod of the Camerons_. By M. HAMILTON. - 208. _The Career of Candida_. By G. PASTON. - 209. _Arrested_. By E. STUART. - 210. _Tatterley_. By T. GALLON. - 211. _A Pinchbeck Goddess_. By Mrs. J. M. FLEMING (A. M. Kipling). - 212. _Perfection City_. By Mrs. ORPEN. - 213. _A Spotless Reputation_. By D. GERARD. - 214. _A Galahad of the Creeks_. By S. L. YEATS. - 215. _The Beautiful White Devil_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 216. _The Sun of Saratoga_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 217. _Fierceheart, the Soldier_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 218. _Marietta's Marriage_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 219. _Dear Faustina_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 220. _Nlma_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 221. _The Folly of Pen Harrington_. By J. STURGIS. - 222. _A Colonial Free-Lance_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 223. _His Majesty's Greatest Subject_. By S. S. THORBURN. - 224. _Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer_. By A. RAINE. - 225. _A Soldier of Manhattan_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 226. _Fortune's Footballs_. By G. B. BURGIN. - 227. _The Clash of Arms_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 228. _God's Foundling_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 229. _Miss Providence_. By D. GERARD. - 230. _The Freedom of Henry Meredyth_. By M. HAMILTON. - 231. _Sweethearts and Friends_. By M. GRAY. - 232. _Sunset_. By B. WHITBY. - 233. _A Fiery Ordeal_. By TASMA. - 234. _A Prince of Mischance_. By T. GALLON. - 235. _A Passionate Pilgrim_. By P. WHITE. - 236. _This Little World_. By D. C. MURRAY. - 237. _A Forgotten Sin_. By D. GERARD. - 238. _The Incidental Bishop_. By G. ALLEN. - 239. _The Lake of Wine_. By B. CAPES. - 240. _A Trooper of the Empress_. By C. ROSS. - 241. _Torn Sails_. By A. RAINE. - 242. _Materfamilias_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 243. _John of Strathbourne_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 244. _The Millionaires_. By F. F. MOORE. - 245. _The Looms of Time_. By Mrs. H. FRASER. - 246. _The Queen's Cup_. By G. A. HENTY. - 247. _Dicky Monteith_. By T. GALLON. - 248. _The Lust of Hate_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 249. _The Gospel Writ in Steel_. By ARTHUR PATERSON. - 250. _The Widower_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 251. _The Scourge of God_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 252. _Concerning Isabel Carnaby_. By ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER. - 253. _The Impediment_. By D. GERARD. - 254. _Belinda--and Some Others_. By ETHEL MAUDE. - 255. _The Key of the Holy House_. By ALBERT LEE. - 256. _A Writer of Books_. By G. PASTON. - 257. _The Knight of the Golden Chain_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 258. _Ricroft of Withens_. By HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE. - 259. _The Procession of Life_. By HORACE A. VACHELL. - 260. _By Berwen Banks_. By A. RAINE. - 261. _Pharos, the Egyptian_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 262. _Paul Carah, Cornishman_. By CHARLES LEE. - 263. _Pursued by the Law_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - 264. _Madame Izn_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 265. _Fortune's my Foe_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 266. _A Cosmopolitan Comedy_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 267. _The Kingdom of Hate_. By T. GALLON. - 268. _The Game and the Candle_. By RHODA BROUGHTON. - 269. _Dr. Nikola's Experiment_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 270. _The Strange Story of Hester Wynne_. By G. COLMORE. - 271. _Lady Barbarity_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 272. _A Bitter Heritage_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 273. _The Heiress of the Season_. By Sir WILLIAM MAGNAY, Bart. - 274. _A Voyage at Anchor_. By W. CLARK RUSSELL. - 275. _The Idol of the Blind_. By T. GALLON. - 276. _A Corner of the West_. By EDITH HENRIETTA FOWLER. - 277. _The Story of Ronald Kestrel_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 278. _The World's Mercy_. By M. GRAY. - 279. _The Gentleman Pensioner_. By ALBERT LEE. - 280. _A Maker of Nations_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 281. _Mirry-Ann_. By NORMA LORIMER. - 282. _The Immortal Garland_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 283. _Garthowen_. By ALLEN RAINE. - 284. _The Lunatic at Large_. By J. STORER CLOUSTON. - 285. _The Seafarers_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 286. _The Minister's Guest_. By ISABEL SMITH. - 287. _The Last Sentence_. By M. GRAY. - 288. _Brown of Lost River_. By MARY E. STICKNEY. - 289. _The Jay-Hawkers_. By ADELA E. ORPEN. - 290. _The Flower of the Flock_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 291. _A Private Chivalry_. By FRANCIS LYNDE. - 292. _King Stork of the Netherlands_. By ALBERT LEE. - 293. _Path and Goal_. By ADA CAMBRIDGE. - 294. _My Indian Queen_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 295. _A Hero in Homespun_. By WM. E. BARTON. - 296. _A Royal Exchange_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - - * * * * * - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - - - - * * * * * - -FOR NATURE LOVERS AND ANGLERS. - - * * * * * - - -Familiar Fish: Their Habits and Capture. - -A Practical Book on Fresh-Water Game Fish. By EUGENE MCCARTHY. With an -Introduction by Dr. David Starr Jordan, President of Leland Stanford -Junior University, and numerous Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - This informing and practical book describes in a most interesting - fashion the habits and environment of our familiar freshwater game - fish, including anadromous fish like the salmon and sea trout. The - life of a fish is traced in a manner very interesting to Nature - lovers, while the simple and useful explanations of the methods of - angling for different fish will be appreciated by fishermen old and - young. As one of the most experienced of American fishermen, Mr. - McCarthy is able to speak with authority regarding salmon, trout, - ouananiche, bass, pike, and pickerel, and other fish which are the - object of the angler's pursuit. His clear and practical counsel as - to fly-casting, and rods and tackle and their use, and his advice - as to outfits and the various details of camp life, render his book - a most useful companion for all sportsmen and campers. Dr. David - Starr Jordan has read the manuscript, and has lent the weight of - his approval by writing an introduction. The book is profusely - illustrated with pictures and serviceable diagrams. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. - - * * * * * - - -By F. SCHUYLER MATHEWS. - -Familiar Flowers of Field and Garden. - - Illustrated by the Author. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $1.75; - Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $2.25. - -Familiar Trees and their Leaves. - - Illustrated from Nature by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Features of the Roadside. - - With Illustrations by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Life in Field and Forest. - - With many Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - - * * * * * - -The Art of Taxidermy. - - By JOHN ROWLEY. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. - -Insect Life. - - By JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $2.50; - Teachers' and Students' Edition, $1.50. - -The Insect World. - - By CLARENCE M. WEED. 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents. - -Bird-Life. - - A Study of our Common Birds. By FRANK M. CHAPMAN, Assistant Curator - of Mammalogy and Ornithology in the American Museum of Natural - History. Illustrated by Ernest Seton Thompson. 12mo, cloth, $1.75. - With 75 full-page Plates in Colors, 8vo, cloth, $5.00. - -Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. - - By FRANK M. CHAPMAN. With nearly 200 Illustrations. 12mo. Library - Edition, cloth, $3.00; Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $3.50. - - - - - * * * * * - -RECENT FICTION. - - * * * * * - - -The Brass Bottle. - -A Romance. By F. ANSTEY, author of "Vice Versa," etc., With -Frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Not only is the plot of the book novel, like all of Anstey's work, - but he has developed it with rare skill. The rollicking hilarity - and absurdity of the conception are carried off with a gravity and - seriousness that is the very essence of droll fun. The man who - loves to laugh will find 'The Brass Bottle' a fountain of - mirth."--_Brooklyn Eagle_. - -The Eagle's Heart. - -A Story of the West. By HAMLIN GARLAND, author of "A Spoil of Office," -"A Member of the Third House," "Wayside Courtships," etc. 12mo. Cloth, -$1.50. - - "'The Eagle's Heart' is Mr. Garland's best work, considered as a - story of sustained interest, strong characters, and exciting - incidents."--_Cleveland Plain Dealer_. - - "Hamlin Garland may be seen at his best in 'The Eagle's Heart.'... - He has graphically depicted the wild life on the Western plains; - he has added a symmetrical and intensely interesting character - study of the typical plainsman, and through the whole there runs a - dainty love motive. These elements are combined with artistic - skill."--_Chicago Tribune_. - - "Mr. Garland gives us as true a historical novel as any of the - colonial period or the days of the War for Independence. He - presents the dignity of the life and its service to the nation. - 'The Eagle's Heart' is a splendid achievement."--_New York Mail - and Express_. - -The Footsteps of a Throne. - -A Romance. By MAX PEMBERTON. Uniform with "Kronstadt" and "The Phantom -Army." Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "The reader's attention is held breathlessly until the last page - has been turned."--_Boston Journal_. - - "The book trade has all at once had a great revival. Quite ten - thousand copies of Mr. Max Pemberton's new story, 'Footsteps of a - Throne,' have already been issued in this country alone. Of - course, this is generally regarded as by far the best story, as - well as one of the most dramatic, the author has yet - written."--_From a special London cable to the New York Herald_. - - - - - * * * * * - -ADA CAMBRIDGE'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Path and Goal. - -This latest book shows the constant human interest which characterizes -the work of this sympathetic and charming writer. There is an -entertaining plot, and the backgrounds of the varying scenes of action -are sketched most vividly. - -Materfamilias. - -"The story is fragrant with the breath of farms, the aroma of the salt -sea, and the even sweeter essence that exhales from the homely virtues, -practiced amid simple surroundings, where family ties are strong, and -where love, loyal and true, reigns as queen."--_Philadelphia Item_. - -A Humble Enterprise. - -"A restful, sympathetic, domestic story, full of tender pathos, -excellent character drawing, and genuine, lovable human nature--a story -to be read, not once, but again and again."--_London Daily Mail_. - -Fidelis. - -"The original flavor of Ada Cambridge is not lost but enriched by being -ingrafted on a sturdy stock. Her pictures of Australia and of rural -England are as attractive as ever, her story better than ever."--_New -York Evening Post_. - -My Guardian. - -"A story which will, from first to last, enlist the sympathies of the -reader by its simplicity of style and fresh, genuine feeling.... The -author is _au fait_ at the delineation of character."--_Boston -Transcript_. - -The Three Miss Kings. - -"An exceedingly strong novel. It is an Australian story, teeming with a -certain calmness of emotional power that finds expression in a continual -outflow of living thought and feeling."--_Boston Times_. - -Not All in Vain. - -"A worthy companion to the best of the author's former efforts, and in -some respects superior to any of them."--_Detroit Free Press_. - -A Marriage Ceremony. - -"Highly original in conception, its action graceful though rapid, and -its characters sparkling with that life and sprightliness that have made -their author rank as a peer of delineators."--_Baltimore American_. - -A Little Minx. - -"A thoroughly charming novel, which is just the finest bit of work its -author has yet accomplished."--_Baltimore American_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY ALLEN RAINE. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Garthowen: A Welsh Idyl. - -"Wales has long waited for her novelist, but he seems to have come at -last in the person of Mr. Allen Raine, who has at once proved himself a -worthy interpreter and exponent of the romantic spirit of his -country."--_London Daily Mail_. - -By Berwen Banks. - -"Mr. Raine enters into the lives and traditions of the people, and -herein lies the charm of his stories."--_Chicago Tribune_. - -"Interesting from the beginning, and grows more so as it -proceeds."--_San Francisco Bulletin_. - -"It has the same grace of style, strength of description, and dainty -sweetness of its predecessors."--_Boston Saturday Evening Gazette_. - -Torn Sails. - -"It is a little idyl of humble life and enduring love, laid bare before -us, very real and pure, which in its telling shows us some strong points -of Welsh character--the pride, the hasty temper, the quick dying out of -wrath.... We call this a well-written story, interesting alike through -its romance and its glimpses into another life than ours."--_Detroit -Free Press_. - -"Allen Raine's work is in the right direction and worthy of all -honor."--_Boston Budget_. - -Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer. - -"Simple in all its situations, the story is worked up in that touching -and quaint strain which never grows wearisome no matter how often the -lights and shadows of love are introduced. It rings true, and does not -tax the imagination."--_Boston Herald_. - -"One of the most charming tales that has come to us of late."--_Brooklyn -Eagle_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY J. A. ALTSHELER. - - * * * * * - - -In Circling Camps. - -A Romance of the American Civil War. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Mr. Altsheler has an enviable reputation. His method is that of - Fenimore Cooper.... In 'In Circling Camps' he tells a good, strong, - human story for its own sake, and not for the sake of showing off - his talent as a literary story-teller. He gives us some great - battle pieces, notably Shiloh and Gettysburg. His admiration of the - nobler qualities of 'old friends turned foes' is so hearty and so - sincerely dramatic that we love and pity the terrible valor of - both."--_Richard Henry Stoddard, in the New York Mail and Express_. - - "The author seeks to interpret some of the situations of the civil - war, and read to us out of the well-known records the story of - personal bravery, the drama of personal history, and the old story - of love which went on behind the grim scenes of - war."--_Philadelphia Call_. - -A Herald of the West. - -An American Story of 1811-1815. 12mo. Cloth, $ 1.50. - - "A portion of our history that has not before been successfully - embodied in fiction.... Extremely well written, condensed, vivid, - picturesque, and there is continual action.... A rattling good - story, and unrivaled in fiction for its presentation of the - American feeling toward England during our second - conflict."--_Boston Herald_. - -A Soldier of Manhattan. - -And his Adventures at Ticonderoga and Quebec. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, -50 cents. - - "The story is told in such a simple, direct way that it holds the - reader's interest to the end, and gives a most accurate picture of - the times."--_Boston Transcript_. - - "Graphic and intensely interesting.... The book may be warmly - commended as a good specimen of the fiction that makes history - real and living."--_San Francisco Chronicle_. - -The Sun of Saratoga. - -A Romance of Burgoyne's Surrender. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - "Taken altogether, 'The Sun of Saratoga' is the best historical - novel of American origin that has been written for years, if not, - indeed, in a fresh, simple, unpretending, unlabored, manly way, - that we have ever read."--_New York Mail and Express_. - - "A sprightly and spirited romance gracefully written in a crisp, - fresh style that is simply delightful to read."--_Philadelphia - Press_. - - - - - * * * * * - -"AN EPIC OF THE WEST." - - * * * * * - - -The Girl at the Halfway House. - -A Romance of the Plains. By E. HOUGH, author of "The Story of the -Cowboy." 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - The author of "The Girl at the Halfway House," Mr. E. Hough, gained - general recognition by his remarkable book, "The Story of the - Cowboy," published by D. Appleton and Company in this country, and - also published in England. - - "The Girl at the Halfway House" has been called an American epic - by critics who have read the manuscript. The author illustrates - the strange life of the great westward movement which became so - marked in this country after the civil war. A dramatic picture of - a battlefield, which has been compared to scenes in "The Red Badge - of Courage," opens the story. After this "Day of War," in which - the hero and heroine first meet, there comes "The Day of the - Buffalo." The reader follows the course of the hero and his - friend, a picturesque old army veteran, to the frontier, then - found on the Western plains. The author, than whom no one can - speak with fuller knowledge, pictures the cowboy on his native - range, the wild life of the buffalo hunters, the coming of the - white-topped emigrant wagons, and the strange days of the early - land booms. Into this new world comes the heroine, whose family - finally settles near at hand, illustrating the curious phases of - the formation of a prairie home. The third part of the story, - called "The Day of the Cattle," sketches the wild days when the - range cattle covered the plains and the cowboys owned the towns. - The fourth part of the story is called "The Day of the Plow," and - in this we find that the buffalo has passed from the adopted - country of hero and heroine, and the era of towns and land booms - has begun. - - Nothing has been written on the opening of the West to excel this - romance in epic quality, and its historic interest, as well as its - freshness, vividness, and absorbing interest, should appeal to - every American reader. - - - - - * * * * * - -A NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE. - - * * * * * - - -Betsy Ross. - -_A Romance of the Flag_. By CHAUNCEY C. HOTCHKISS, author of "In -Defiance of the King," etc. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Betsy Ross" is a historical romance based upon the story of the - maker of the first official American flag. Mrs. Ross was a charming - young widow of but little more than twenty-three when she was - commissioned to make the flag from a design submitted to her by - Washington. Her husband had been killed by an accident at the - Philadelphia arsenal within a few months after his marriage. - - The romance which the author has woven around the origin of our - flag will quicken the pulse of every reader by the wealth of - striking characters and dramatic incidents, and the absorbing - interest of the plot. History has furnished a motive which has - been curiously neglected in fiction, and the picturesque figures - of the time, sea-rangers and Quakers, redcoats and Continental - soldiers, and even Washington himself, have to do with the - development of a strange and thrilling story wherein Betsy Ross - takes the leading part. The ancient tavern, the home of the - Philadelphia merchant, the flag-maker's little shop, and the - quaint and charming life of the time, are shown as the background - of a series of swift incidents which hold the reader's attention. - "Betsy Ross" is a book to be read, and the reader will recommend - it. - - The Betsy Ross of history was a singularly bright and winsome - woman, and intensely patriotic. Mr. Hotchkiss's story has been - confined to the romantic days of her early womanhood. The house in - which the flag was completed, and in and about which most of the - action of the novel takes place, still stands on Arch Street, - Philadelphia, and the attempt to preserve it as one of the shrines - connected with American history is meeting with deserved success. - Mrs. Ross (afterward Mrs. Claypoole) died at the great age of - ninety-three, and her remains lie in Mount Moriah Cemetery. - - * * * * * - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS*** - - -******* This file should be named 42807-8.txt or 42807-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/8/0/42807 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Mystery of the Clasped Hands</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Guy Boothby</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 25, 2013 [eBook #42807]<br> -[Most recently updated: July 30, 2023]</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Annie McGuire from page images generously made available by - the Google Books Library Project</div> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS ***</div> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42807 ***</div> <h1>THE MYSTERY OF THE<br> @@ -7660,447 +7640,6 @@ ninety-three, and her remains lie in Mount Moriah Cemetery.</p></blockquote> <hr class="full"> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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\ No newline at end of file +</html> diff --git a/42807.txt b/42807.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9719efc..0000000 --- a/42807.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7811 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mystery of the Clasped Hands, by Guy -Boothby - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Mystery of the Clasped Hands - A Novel - - -Author: Guy Boothby - - - -Release Date: May 25, 2013 [eBook #42807] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS*** - - -E-text prepared by Annie McGuire from page images generously made -available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - http://www.google.com/books?id=_qIlAAAAMAAJ - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - - * * * * * - -GUY BOOTHBY'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - The Mystery of the Clasped Hands. - My Indian Queen. - A Maker of Nations. - Dr. Nikola's Experiment. - Pharos, the Egyptian. - The Lust of Hate. - The Beautiful White Devil. - Dr. Nikola. - A Bid for Fortune. - The Marriage of Esther. - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - * * * * * - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - -A Novel - -by - -GUY BOOTHBY - -Author of Dr. Nikola's Experiment -Pharos, The Egyptian -My Indian Queen, etc. - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - -New York -D. Appleton and Company -1901 - -Copyright, 1901, -By D. Appleton and Company. - - - - -CHAPTER I - - -"I never knew such a fellow as you are for ferreting out these low, -foreign eating-houses," said Godfrey Henderson to his friend, Victor -Fensden, as they turned from Oxford Street into one of the narrow -thoroughfares in the neighbourhood of Soho. "Why you should take such -trouble, and at the same time do your digestion such irreparable injury, -I can not imagine. There are any number of places where you can get a -chop or steak, free of garlic, in a decent quarter of the Town, to say -nothing of being waited upon by a man who _does_ look as if he had been -brave enough to face the dangers of washing once or twice within five -years." - -His companion only laughed. - -"Go on, my friend, go on," he said, blowing a cloud of cigarette smoke. -"You pretend to be a cosmopolitan of cosmopolitans, but you will remain -insular to the day of your death. To you, a man who does not happen to -be an Englishman must of necessity be dirty, and be possessed of a -willingness to sever your jugular within the first few minutes of your -acquaintance. With regard to the accusation you bring against me, I am -willing to declare, in self-defence, that I like burrowing about among -the small restaurants in this quarter, for the simple reason that I meet -men who are useful to me in my work, besides affording me food for -reflection." - -The taller man grunted scornfully. - -"Conspirators to a man," he answered. "Nihilists, Anarchists, members of -the Mafia, the Camorristi, and the Carbonari. Some day you will enter -into an argument with one of them and a knife thrust between your ribs -will be the result." - -"It may be so," returned Victor Fensden, with a shrug of his narrow -shoulders. "Better that, however, than a life of stolid British -priggishness. How you manage to paint as you do when you have so little -of the romantic in your temperament, is a thing I can not for the life -of me understand. That a man who rows, plays football and cricket, and -who will walk ten miles to see a wrestling match or a prize fight, -should be gifted with such a sense of colour and touch, is as great a -mystery to me as the habits of the ichthyosaurus." - -And indeed, what Fensden said was certainly true. Godfrey Henderson, one -of the most promising of our younger painters, was as unlike the popular -notion of an artist as could well be found. He had rowed stroke in his -'Varsity boat, had won for himself a fair amount of fame as a good -all-round athlete, and at the same time had painted at least three of -the most beautiful pictures--pictures with a subtle touch of poetry in -them--that the public had seen for many years. His height was fully six -feet one and a half, his shoulders were broad and muscular; he boasted a -pleasant and open countenance, such a one in fact as makes one feel -instinctively that its owner is to be trusted. Taken altogether, a -casual observer would have declared him to be a young country Squire, -and few would have guessed that the greater portion of his life was -spent standing before an easel, palette and brush in hand. - -Victor Fensden, his companion, was of an altogether different stamp. He -was at least three inches shorter, was slimly built, and at first -glance would appear to possess a highly nervous and delicate -constitution. In his dress he also differed from his friend. His taste -betrayed a partiality for velvet coats; his ties were usually startling, -so far as colour went; he wore his hair longer than is customary, and -further adorned his face with a neat little Vandyke beard and mustache. -Like Henderson he was also a votary of the brush. His pictures, however, -were of the impressionist order--pretty enough in their way, but lacking -in form, and a trifle vague as to colouring. On occasions he wrote -poetry. There were some who said he was not sincere, that his pictures -were milk-and-water affairs, suggestive of the works of greater men, and -only intended to advertise himself. If that were so, the success they -achieved was comparative. Sad to relate, there were people in London who -had not heard the name of Victor Fensden; while the walls of the -Academy, which he affected so much to despise, had not so far been -honoured by his patronage. "The whole thing," he would say, adopting the -language of our American cousins, "is controlled by a Business Ring; the -Hanging Committee and the dealers stand in with each other. If you -prefer to do bad work deliberately, or at any rate are content to be -commonplace, then you're safe for admission. But if you prefer to do -something which may, or may not, please the multitude, but which will -last longer than Burlington House, or the National Gallery itself, then -you must be content to remain outside." After this tirade, regardless of -the implied sneer at his work, Godfrey would laugh and turn the matter -off by proposing dinner, luncheon, or some other distraction. He knew -the value of his own work, and was content to estimate it accordingly. - -Having reached the end of the street down which they had been walking, -when the conversation already described occurred, they found themselves -before the entrance to a small eating-house. One glance was sufficient -to show that it was of the foreign order, so derided by Henderson a few -moments ago before. They entered and looked about them. The room was -long and narrow, and contained some ten or a dozen small tables, three -or four of which were already occupied. Pictures of the German school, -apparently painted by the yard, and interspersed with gaudy portraits of -King Humbert with his mustache, Victor Emmanuel with his wealth of -orders, the latter cheek by jowl with Mr. Garibaldi in his felt hat, -decorated the walls. The proprietor, a small, tubby individual, with the -blackest of black hair and eyes, and an olive skin that glistened like -the marble tops of the tables, came forward to welcome them. At his -request they seated themselves and gave their orders. - -"What enjoyment you can find in this sort of thing I can not imagine," -repeated Henderson, almost irritably, as he looked about him. "If you -take a pleasure in macaroni and tomato, and find poetry in garlic and -_sauer-kraut_, the divine instinct must be even more highly developed in -you than your warmest admirers believe. We might have gone to the club -and have had a decent meal there." - -"And have had to listen to a lot of supercilious young idiots chattering -about what they are pleased to call 'their work,'" the other replied. -"No, no, we are better off here. Set your imagination to work, my dear -fellow, and try to believe yourself in Florence, with the moonlight -streaming down on the Ponte Vecchio; or in Naples, and that you can hear -the waves breaking up on the rock under the Castello del Ovo. You might -even be listening to _Funiculi-Finicula_ for the first time." - -"Confound you! I never know whether you are serious or not," replied -Godfrey. "Is it a joke you're bringing me here to-night, or have you -some definite object in view?" - -He looked across the table at his companion as if he were anxious to -assure himself upon this point before he said anything further. - -"What if I _had_ an object?" the other answered. "What if I wanted to do -you a good turn, and by asking you to come here to-night were able to -help you in your work?" - -"In that case," Henderson replied, "I should say that it was very kind -of you, but that you have chosen a curious way of showing it. How a low -Italian restaurant in Soho can help me in the work I have on hand I can -not for the life of me understand. Is it possible for you to be more -explicit?" - -"If the critics are to be believed you ask too much of me," Fensden -returned, with one of his quiet laughs. "Are they not always declaring -that my principal fault lies in my being too vague? Seriously, however, -I will confess that I had an object in bringing you here. Have I not -heard you grumbling morning, noon, and night, that the model for your -new picture is about as difficult to find as, well, shall we say, an -honest dealer? Now, I believe that the humble mouse was once able to -assist the lion--forgive the implied compliment--in other words, I think -I have achieved the impossible. It will take too long to tell you how I -managed it, but the fact remains that I have discovered the girl you -want, and what is more, she will be here to-night. If, when you have -seen her, you come to the conclusion that she will not answer your -purpose, then I shall be quite willing to confess that my knowledge of a -beautiful woman is only equal to your appreciation of an Italian dinner -in a cheap Soho restaurant. I have spoken!" - -"And so you have really brought me here to eat this villainous -concoction," Henderson answered, contemptuously regarding the mess -before him, "in order to show me a face that you think may be useful to -me in my work? My dear fellow, you know as well as I do that we think -differently upon such matters. What you have repeatedly declared to be -the loveliest face you have ever seen, I would not sketch upon a canvas; -while another, that haunts me by day and night, does not raise a shadow -of enthusiasm in you. I am afraid you have had your trouble in vain. But -what abominable stuff this is to be sure! Order some wine, for pity's -sake." - -A flask of chianti was brought them, and later some goat's milk cheese. -Upon the latter, bad as it was, Henderson elected to dine. He had barely -finished what was placed before him when an exclamation from his -companion caused him to turn his head in the direction of the door. Two -women were entering the restaurant at the moment, and were approaching -the table at which the young men sat. The elder was a stout and matronly -party, dark of eye, swarthy of skin, and gorgeous in her colouring, so -much so, indeed, that not the slightest doubt could have existed as to -her nationality. She was a daughter of Italy from the top of her head to -the soles of her ample feet. Her companion, however, was modelled on -altogether different lines. She was tall, graceful, and so beautiful, in -a statuesque way, that Henderson felt his heart thrill with pleasure at -the sight of her. Here was the very woman he had been so anxious to -discover. If he had hunted the Continent of Europe through, he could not -have found any one better suited to the requirements of the work he had -in hand. Since it was plain that it was she for whom Fensden was -waiting, it looked as if their tastes, for once, were likely to be the -same. - -"What a perfect face!" exclaimed Godfrey, more to himself than to his -companion. "At any hazard, I must induce her to sit to me." - -Fensden looked at his friend's face, made a note of the admiration he -saw there, and smiled to himself. - -"What did I tell you?" he inquired with a note of triumph in his voice. -"You pooh-poohed the notion that I should ever be able to find you a -model. What do you say now?" - -"She is perfect," Henderson replied. "Just look at the eyes, the -beautiful contour of the face, the shapely neck and the hands! Great -Scott! what is a woman of her class doing with such hands? Where did you -meet her?" - -"In another of my contemptible restaurants," Fensden answered. "Directly -I saw her, I said to myself: 'This is the model for Godfrey!' I made -inquiries about her, and, finding that she was willing to sit, made an -appointment to meet her here this evening." - -By this time Godfrey's antagonism had entirely left him. His only desire -now was to secure this woman, and, with her assistance, to complete his -masterpiece. As soon as the doors of Burlington House were thrown open, -that face should look down upon the picture-lovers of England, or he'd -never touch a brush again. - -The two women, by this time, had seated themselves at another table; and -it was almost with a sense of disappointment that Godfrey observed his -ideal commence her meal. To watch her filling her pretty mouth to -overflowing with steaming macaroni was not a pleasing sight. It was too -human and too suggestive of a healthy appetite to harmonize with the -poetic framework in which his imagination had already placed her. - -When the ladies had finished their meal, the two young men left their -own table and crossed the room to that at which they were seated. -Fensden said something in Italian, which elicited a beaming smile from -the elder lady, and a gesture of approval from her companion. It was not -the first time in his life that Godfrey Henderson had had occasion to -wish he had taken advantage of the opportunities he had had of acquiring -a knowledge of that melodious language. - -"The signora declares that there is no occasion for us to speak Italian, -since she is an accomplished English scholar," said Fensden, with a -sarcastic touch that was not lost upon Henderson. - -"The signorina also speaks our villainous tongue as well as if she had -been born and bred within the sound of Bow Bells." - -At this supposed compliment, the elder lady smiled effusively, while her -daughter looked gravely from one man to the other as if she were not -quite sure of the value to be placed upon what Fensden had said. Having -received permission, the two men seated themselves at the table, and -Henderson ordered another flask of wine. Under its influence their -acquaintance ripened rapidly. It was not, however, until they had been -talking some little time, that the all-important subject was broached. - -"And it is Teresina's portrait that your friend would paint, signor?" -said the elder lady, turning to Fensden. "And why not? 'Tis a beautiful -face, though I, her mother, say it. If the signor will make the--what -you call it--'rangements, it shall be as he wishes." - -Less than a minute was sufficient to place the matter on a satisfactory -basis, and it was thereupon settled that the Signorina Cardi should -attend at the studio at a certain hour every week-day until the picture -was finished. Matters having been arranged in this eminently friendly -fashion, the meeting broke up, and with many bows and compliments on -Fensden's and the signora's parts, they bade each other adieu. A few -minutes later, the two young men found themselves once more in the -street. - -"My dear fellow, I don't know how to thank you," said Henderson. "I've -been worrying myself more than I can say at not being able to find the -face I wanted. I owe you ten thousand apologies." - -But Fensden would not hear of such a thing as an apology. His only -desire was that the picture should be successful, he said. - -"I had no idea that he was so fond of me," Henderson remarked to himself -that night when he was alone in his bedroom. "Fancy his hunting through -London for a model for me. He is the last man I should have thought -would have taken the trouble." - -Next morning Teresina entered upon her duties, and Godfrey set to work -with more than his usual enthusiasm. The picture was to be his _magnum -opus_, the greatest effort he had yet given to the world. The beautiful -Italian proved to be a good sitter, and her delight as the picture grew -upon the canvas was not to be concealed. Meanwhile Fensden smoked -innumerable cigarettes, composed _fin-de-siecle_ poems in her honour, -and made a number of impressionist studies of her head that his friends -declared would eventually astonish artistic London. At last the picture -was finished and sent in. Then followed that interval of anxious -waiting, so well known to those who have striven for such honours as the -Academy has to bestow. When it was announced that it had passed the -first and second rejections great was the rejoicing in the studio. - -"It is your face that has done it, Teresina," cried Godfrey. "I knew -they wouldn't be able to resist that." - -"Nay, nay," said the signora, who was present, "such compliments will -turn the child's head. Her face would not be there but for the signor's -cleverness. Well do I remember that when Luigi Maffoni painted the -portrait of Monsignore----" - -No one heeded her, so she continued the narrative in an undertone to the -cat on her lap. The day, however, was not destined to end as happily as -it had begun. That evening, when they were alone together in the studio, -Fensden took Godfrey to task. - -"Dear boy," he said, as he helped himself to a cigarette from a box on -the table beside him, "I have come to the conclusion that you must go -warily. There are rocks ahead, and, from what I see, you are running -straight for them." - -"What on earth is the matter now?" Godfrey asked, stretching himself out -in an easy chair as he spoke. "I know the poise of that head is not -quite what it might be, but haven't I promised you that I'll alter it -to-morrow? Teresina is the very best model in the world, and as patient -as she's beautiful." - -"That's exactly what I am complaining of," Victor answered, quietly. "If -she were not, I should not bother my head about her. I feel, in a -measure, responsible, don't you see? If it hadn't been for me, she would -not be here." - -The happiness vanished from Godfrey's face as a breath first blurs and -then leaves the surface of a razor. - -"I am afraid I don't quite grasp the situation," he said. "You surely -don't suppose that I am falling in love with Teresina--with my model?" - -"I am quite aware that you're not," the other answered. "There is my -trouble. If you _were_ in love with her, there might be some hope for -her. But as it is there is none." - -Henderson stared at him in complete surprise. - -"Have you gone mad?" he asked. - -"No one was ever saner," Fensden replied. "Look here, Godfrey, can't you -see the position for yourself? Here is this beautiful Italian girl, whom -you engaged through my agency. You take her from beggary, and put her in -a position of comparative luxury. She has sat to you day after day, -smiled at your compliments, and--well, to put it bluntly, has had every -opportunity and encouragement given her to fall head over ears in love -with you. Is it quite fair, do you think, to let it go on?" - -Godfrey was completely taken aback. - -"Great Scott! You don't mean to say you think I'm such a beast as to -encourage her?" he cried. "You know as well as I do that I have behaved -toward her only as I have done to all the other models before her. -Surely you would wish me to be civil to the girl, and try to make her -work as pleasant as possible for her? If you think I've been a -blackguard, say so outright!" - -"My dear Godfrey, nothing could be further from my thoughts," answered -Fensden in his usual quiet voice, that one of his friends once compared -to the purring of a cat. "I should be a poor friend, however, if I were -to allow you to go on as you are going without an expostulation. Can not -you look at it in the same light as I do? Are you so blind that you can -not see that this girl is falling every day more deeply in love with -you? The love-light gleams in her eyes whenever she looks at you; she -sees an implied caress even in the gentle pats you give her drapery, -when you arrange it on the stage there; a tender solicitude for her -welfare when you tell her to hurry home before it rains. What is the end -of it all to be? I suppose you do not intend making her your wife?" - -"My wife?" said Godfrey, blankly, as if the idea were too preposterous -to have ever occurred to him. "Surely you must be jesting to talk like -this?" - -"I am not jesting with you, if you are not jesting with her," the other -replied. "You must see for yourself that the girl worships the very -ground you walk upon. However, there is still time for matters to be put -right. She has so far only looked at the affair from her own standpoint; -what is more, I do not want her to lose her employment with you, since -it means so much to her. What I do want is, that you should take hold of -yourself in time and prevent her from being made unhappy while you have -the opportunity." - -"You may be quite sure that I will do so," Henderson replied, more -stiffly than he had yet spoken. "I am more sorry than I can say that -this should have occurred. Teresina is a good girl, and I would no more -think of causing her pain than I would of striking my own sister. And -now I'm off to bed. Good-night." - -True to his promise, his behaviour next day, so far as Teresina was -concerned, was so different that she regarded him with surprise, quite -unable to understand the reason of the change. She thought she must have -offended him in some way, and endeavoured by all the means in her power -to win herself back into his good graces. But the more she tried to -conciliate him, the further he withdrew into his shell. Victor Fensden, -smoking his inevitable cigarette, waited to see what the result would -be. There was a certain amount of pathos in the situation, and a close -observer might have noticed that the strain was telling upon both of the -actors in it, the girl in particular. For the next fortnight or so, the -moral temperature of the studio was not as equable as of old. Godfrey, -who was of too honest a nature to make a good conspirator, chafed at the -part he was being called upon to play, while Teresina, who only knew -that she loved, and that her love was not returned, was divided between -her affections for the man and a feeling of wounded dignity for herself. - -"I wish to goodness I could raise sufficient money to get out of London -for six months," said Godfrey, one evening, as they sat together in the -studio. "I'd be off like a shot." - -Fensden knew why he said this. - -"I am sorry I can't help you," he replied. "I am about as badly off as -yourself. But surely the great picture sold well?" - -"Very well; for me, that is to say," Godfrey replied. "But I had to part -with most of it next day." - -He did not add that he had sent most of it to his widowed sister, who -was very badly off and wanted help to send her boy to college. - -A short silence followed; then Fensden said: "If you had money what -would you do?" - -"Go abroad," said Godfrey quickly. "The strain of this business is more -than I can stand. If I had a few hundreds to spare we'd go together and -not come back for six months. By that time everything would have settled -down to its old normal condition." - -How little did he guess that the very thing that seemed so impossible -was destined to come to pass! - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -One morning a week or so after the conversation described at the end of -the previous chapter, Godfrey Henderson found lying on the table in the -studio a long, blue envelope, the writing upon which was of a neat and -legal character. He did not own a halfpenny in the world, so what this -could mean he was not able to imagine. Animated by a feeling of -curiosity he opened the envelope and withdrew the contents. He read the -letter through the first time without altogether realizing its meaning; -then, with a vague feeling of surprise, he read it again. He had just -finished his second perusal of it when Fensden entered the room. He -glanced at Godfrey's face, and said, as if in inquiry: - -"Anything the matter? You look scared!" - -"A most extraordinary thing," returned Godfrey. "You have heard me talk -of old Henderson of Detwich?" - -"Your father's brother? The old chap who sends you a brace of grouse -every season, and asks when you are going to give up being a starving -painter and turn your attention to business? What of him?" - -"He is dead and buried," answered Godfrey. "This letter is from his -lawyer to say that I am his heir, in other words that Detwich passes to -me, with fifteen thousand a year on which to keep it up, and that they -are awaiting my instructions." - -There was a pause which lasted for upward of a quarter of a minute. Then -Fensden held out his hand. - -"My dear fellow, I am sure I congratulate you most heartily," he said. -"I wish you luck with all my heart. The struggling days are over now. -For the future you will be able to follow your art as you please. You -will also be able to patronize those who are not quite so fortunate. -Fifteen thousand a year and a big country place! Whatever will you do -with yourself?" - -"That is for the Future to decide," Godfrey replied. - -That afternoon he paid a visit to the office of the firm of solicitors -who had written to him. They corroborated the news contained in their -letter, and were both assiduous in their attentions and sincere in -their desire to serve him. - -Four days later it was arranged that Godfrey and Fensden should start -for the Continent. Before doing so, however, the former purchased a neat -little gold watch and chain which he presented to Teresina, accompanied -by a cheque equivalent to six months' salary, calculated at the rate she -had been receiving. - -"Don't forget me, Teresina," he said, as he looked round the now -dismantled studio. "Let me know how you get on, and remember if ever you -want a friend I shall be only too glad to serve you." - -At that moment Fensden hailed him from the cab outside, bidding him -hurry, or he feared they would miss their train. Godfrey accordingly -held out his hand. - -"Good-bye," he said, and though he would have given worlds to have -prevented it, a lump rose in his throat as he said it, and his voice was -so shaky that he felt sure she must notice it. - -Then, bidding her give the key to the landlord when she left the studio, -he went out into the street, and jumped into a cab, which next moment -started off for the station. How was he to know that Teresina was lying -in a dead faint upon the studio floor? - -When they left England for the Continent Godfrey had only the vaguest -notion of what they were going to do after they left Paris. Having spent -a fortnight in the French capital they journeyed on to Switzerland, put -in a month at Lucerne, three weeks in Rome, and found themselves, in the -middle of November, at Luxor, looking upon the rolling waters of the -Nile. Their sketch books were surfeited with impressions, and they -themselves were filled with a great content. They had both visited the -Continent on numerous occasions before, but this was the first time that -they had made the acquaintance of the "Land of the Pharaohs." Godfrey -was delighted with everything he saw, and already he had the ideas for a -dozen new pictures in his head. - -"I had no notion that any sunset could be so gorgeous," he said one day, -when they sat together watching the ball of fire descend to his rest on -the western horizon of the desert. "The colours have not yet been -discovered that could possibly do it justice. For the future I shall -come out here every year." - -"Don't be too sure, my friend," said Fensden. "There was a time when -such a thing might have been possible, but circumstances have changed -with you. You are no longer the erratic Bohemian artist, remember, but a -man with a stake in the country, and a county magnate." - -"But what has the county magnate to do with the question at issue?" -Godfrey inquired. - -"Everything in the world," retorted his companion. "In virtue of your -new position you will have to marry. The future Mrs. Henderson, in all -probability, will also have a stake in the country. She will have great -ideas, moreover, connected with what she will term the improvement of -the land, and, beyond a trip to the Italian lakes at long intervals, -will not permit you to leave the country of her forefathers." - -"What a strange fellow you are, to be sure!" replied Godfrey. "To hear -you talk one would think that the possession of money--and, by Jove, -it's a very decent thing to have when you come to consider it--must -necessarily relegate a man to the region of the commonplace. Why -shouldn't I marry a girl who is fond of travelling?" - -"Because, as a rule, Fate ordains otherwise," Fensden replied. "I think -I can describe the sort of girl you will marry." - -"Then do so, by all means," said Godfrey, "I'll smoke another cigar -while you are arranging it." - -"In the first place she will be tall. Your idea of the ludicrous would -not let you marry a small woman. She will have large hands and feet, and -the latter will be heavily shod. That is how in London I always pick out -the girls who live in the country. She will be handsome rather than -pretty, for the reason that your taste lies in that direction. She will -not flirt, because she will be in love with you. She will be an -admirable housewife of the solid order, and while I should be prepared -to trust to her judgment in the matter of dogs and horses, roots, crops, -and the dairy farm, finer susceptibilities she will have none. Do you -like the picture?" - -"Scarcely," said Henderson; "and yet, when all is said and done a man -might do worse." - -There was a pause, during which each man knew what the other was -thinking about. Godfrey was recalling Teresina's beautiful face, and -Fensden knew that he was doing so. - -"By the way," said Fensden, very quietly, "I noticed this morning that -you received a letter bearing an Italian post-mark. Would it be -indiscreet if I inquired your correspondent's name?" - -"I don't see why there should be any mystery about it," Henderson -replied. "It was from Teresina." - -"From Teresina?" said the other, with a look of surprise. - -"Yes, from Teresina," his friend answered. "I made her promise before we -left home that should she leave England she would let me have her -address, and, if she were in need of anything, she would communicate -with me. You can see the letter if you like. Here it is." - -He took the letter in question from his pocket and handed it to his -companion. It consisted of only a few lines and gave the writer's -address with the hope that the time might soon come when she would again -be allowed to sit to "her kind patron." - -Victor, having perused it, handed it back to Godfrey, who replaced it in -his pocket without a word. - -Two days later they returned by steamer to Cairo, where they took up -their abode at the Mena House Hotel. Godfrey preferred it, because it -was some distance from the dust of the city, and Fensden because he -averred that the sneer on the face of the Sphinx soothed him more than -all the luxuries of Cairo. As it was, he sat in the veranda of the hotel -and made impressionist sketches of dragomen, camels, and the -backsheesh-begging Bedouins of the Pyramids. Godfrey found it impossible -to work. - -"I am absorbing ideas," he said. "The work will come later on." - -In the meantime he played polo in the Ghezireh, shot jackals in the -desert, flirted with the charming tourists in the verandas of the hotel, -and enjoyed himself immensely in his own fashion. Then one day he -received a telegram from England announcing the fact that his mother was -seriously ill, and asking him to return without delay. - -"I am sincerely sorry," said Fensden, politely. Then he added, -regretfully: "I suppose our tour must now, like all good things, come to -an end. When do you leave?" - -"By to-morrow morning's train," he answered. "I shall pick up the mail -boat at Ismailia and travel in her to Naples. If all goes well I shall -be in England to-morrow week. But look here, Victor, when you come to -think of it there's not the least necessity for you to come, too. It -would be no end of a shame to rob you of your holiday. Why should you -not go on and finish the tour by yourself? Why not come with me as far -as Port Said, and catch the steamer for Jaffa there?" - -"It's very good of you, my dear Godfrey," said Fensden, "but----" - -"Let there be no 'buts,'" the other returned. "It's all arranged. When -you come home you shall describe your adventures to me." - -Needless to say, in the end Fensden agreed to the proposal, and next day -they accordingly bade each other good-bye on the promenade deck of the -mail steamer that was to take Henderson as far as Naples. Fensden was -beginning to realize that it was by no means unpleasant to have a rich -and generous friend. Poverty was doubtless romantic and artistic, but a -well-filled pocket-book meant good hotels and the best of wines and -living. - -While the boat ploughed her way across the Mediterranean, an idea -occurred to Godfrey, and he resolved to act upon it. It was neither more -nor less than to utilize what little time was given him in Naples in -seeking out Teresina and assuring himself of her comfort in her old -home. He had quite convinced himself by this time that any affection he -might once have felt for her was now dead and buried. For this reason he -saw no possible danger in paying her a visit. "Victor made more of it," -he argued, "than the circumstances had really warranted. Had he not said -anything about it, there would have been no trouble, and in that case -Teresina would still be in London, and sitting to me." - -As soon as the vessel was in harbour, he collected his luggage and made -his way ashore. A cab conveyed him to an hotel he had patronized before; -and when he was safely installed there, and realized that he could not -proceed on his journey until the next morning, he resolved to set out in -search of Teresina. Producing her letter from his pocket-book he made a -note of the address, and then started upon his errand, to discover that -the signorina Cardi's home took some little finding. At last, however, -he succeeded, only to be informed by an intelligent neighbour that the -signora was not at home, while the signorina had gone out some fifteen -minutes before. Considerably disappointed, he turned to descend the -steps to find himself face to face with Teresina herself as he stepped -into the street. She uttered a little exclamation of astonishment and -delight at seeing him. - -"How is it that you are here, signor?" she inquired, when they had -greeted each other. "I did not know that you were in Naples." - -"I only arrived this afternoon," he answered. "I am on my way to -England." - -"To England?" she said, and then uttered a little sigh as if the very -name of that country conjured up sad memories. "It is cold and wet in -England now; and do you remember how the studio chimney smoked?" - -This apparently irrelevant remark caused them both to laugh, but their -mirth had not altogether a happy sound. - -"I am going to give up the studio," he answered. "I expect that for the -future I shall do my work in the country. But you are not looking well, -Teresina!" - -"I am quite well," she answered, hurriedly. How was he to know that for -many weeks past she had been eating her heart out for love of him? If -the whole world seemed dark to her now it was because he, her sun, no -longer shone upon her. - -"And your mother, the signora, how wrong of me not to have inquired -after her. I trust she is well?" - -"Quite well, signor," she replied. "She often talks of you. She is at -Sorrento to-day, but she may be back at any minute. She would have liked -to have seen you, signor, to have thanked you for your great goodness to -us." - -"Nonsense," said Henderson, hurriedly. "It is the other way round. My -thanks are due to you. Had it not been for your face, Teresina, my -picture would never have been such a success. Do you know that several -ladies, great ladies in England, said that they would give anything to -be so beautiful? I don't think I shall ever do a better piece of work -than that." - -He had just said this when he noticed that a young man, tall, slim, and -very dark, had approached them unperceived, and was now glaring angrily -at him. Teresina had also become aware of his presence, and was visibly -affected by it. Whereas only a moment before she had been all sunshine -and delight at seeing Henderson once more, now she was quite the -reverse. - -"Is this man a friend of yours?" Godfrey asked, in English. "He seems -to be put out about something." - -"It is only Tomasso Dardini," she answered, as if the explanation were -sufficient. "He is quick-tempered, but he means no harm." - -"Then I wish to goodness he'd go away; he glares as if he would like to -eat me. If I may hazard a guess, Teresina, I should say that he is in -love with you." - -"He is very foolish," she answered, and a flush spread over her face. -"Some day, if he is not very careful, he will get into trouble." - -"I should not be at all surprised to hear it," Godfrey replied. - -Then, turning to the man in question, he signed to him to be off about -his business. For a moment the youth seemed inclined to refuse, but -presently he thought better of it, and marched off down the street, -looking back now and again as if to see whether the Englishman and the -girl were still conversing together. - -"And now, Teresina, I have a little plan to propose to you," said -Godfrey, when the other had turned the corner. "As I told you just now, -I am on my way to England, and therefore, shall only be able to spend -to-night in Naples. From the announcements I see they are playing -'Faust' at the Opera-House. Why should not you and your mother dine with -me, and go there afterward? It would be a pleasant way of spending the -evening, and we could talk of old days." - -Teresina clapped her hands with delight. In her love of the Opera she -was a genuine Neapolitan. - -"It would be lovely," she cried. "My mother will come, I feel sure. It -is kind of you, signor." - -It was thereupon arranged that they should meet at a certain place, -dine, and then go on to the Opera together. Having settled this, -Henderson returned to his hotel, whiled away the time as best he could, -and when the hour arrived, set off to the rendezvous. - -Punctual to the moment he put in an appearance at the place. It was a -restaurant not unlike that in which he had first met Teresina and her -mother. He could not help recalling that memorable evening as he waited -on the pavement outside, and his one wish was that Fensden could have -been there to have shared the entertainment with him. When the signora -and her daughter arrived, it was plain that they regarded the occasion -an important one. They were both attired in their best, and, so far as -colour went, the signora herself was not unlike a bird of Paradise. -Teresina was more soberly clad, but Henderson noticed that a necklace -with which he had once presented her, as a memento of a certain piece of -extra work she had done for him, encircled her slender throat. As he -looked at it, he thought of the day on which he had given it to her, and -as the remembrance occurred to him, he wondered whether it was wise on -his part to play with fire for a second time. The signora greeted him -with southern volubility, and, as soon as he could get in a word, -Henderson suggested that they should enter the restaurant. Having done -so, they seated themselves at one of the small tables, and he gave his -orders. It was a banquet that was destined to be remembered with -pleasure by two of the party, and also by a third, for another and less -romantic reason. - -"And so you are returning to England, signor?" said the signora, when -the first pangs of her hunger had been assuaged. Then, remembering the -circumstances connected with the latter portion of their stay in London, -she added, pathetically: "I think if it were possible, I should not be -sorry to return--even though the winter is so cold and it rains so -often." - -"If you feel as if you would like to return, why do you not do so?" -asked Godfrey, with a quickness that caused Teresina to look up at him -in surprise, and then to look down again with equal celerity. "I am sure -Teresina could get plenty of employment. I would do all I could to help -her. For my own part, I never could understand why you left so quickly." - -If he had reflected for a moment, he would probably have been able to -arrive at an understanding of the reason that had prompted her -departure. He was too modest a man, however, to think of such a thing. -Nevertheless, he changed the conversation by making inquiries as to -their present life in Naples, and then went on to talk of Fensden, who -at that moment, could they have seen him, was fast asleep in a railway -carriage, on his way from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The signora had never been -partial to the impressionist artist and poet, and she had a vague idea -that it was to that gentleman's agency that they owed the flight of the -owner, and the consequent cessation of Teresina's employment at the -studio. She was too prudent, however, to say anything on that score to -Godfrey. She knew the friendship that existed between the two men; and -she was also aware that her daughter, who was the possessor of a quick -temper, and a tongue that she could use when she liked, would brook no -disparagement of either Mr. Henderson or his friend. - -"As to returning to England, we must think it over," she said, -complacently, when Godfrey had filled her glass with champagne for the -fourth or fifth time. "It would make another great change in our -affairs, but Teresina is young, and there is nothing for us to do in -Naples. I could wish that she should marry, signor, but she will not -hear of it. I tell her the time may come when it will be too late. But -girls do not listen to their elders nowadays." - -Godfrey glanced at Teresina's face to find that it had suddenly become -very pale. He hastened to render her assistance without delay by -twitting her mother as to the number of sweethearts she herself had had, -much to that lady's delight. This crisis having been smoothed over, he -paid the bill and they left the restaurant. - -Darkness had fallen by this time, a fact which may have accounted for -the young man's uncertainty as to whether he did or did not recognise -the figure of a man who was watching the doorway from the other side of -the street. It certainly looked as if it belonged to Tomasso Dardini; -but he said nothing on this point to either of his guests. He would be -leaving Naples in the morning, he argued, and no necessity existed for -making a fuss about it. If the silly young man were jealous, the morrow -would remove the cause; and after that it would not matter very much -whether he were aware of their visit to the Opera or not. With Teresina -beside him and the signora on the other side, they entered the theatre -and took their seats. The house was crowded, and the Opera itself was -received with that critical appreciation so characteristic of the -Neapolitan theatre-goer. Whether Godfrey enjoyed it as much as his -neighbours is a question that admits of some doubt. He certainly found -pleasure in studying the expressions that flitted across Teresina's face -as she watched what went on upon the stage; but I scarcely think it -went further. When it was over, he escorted them back to their dwelling, -and bade them good-bye upon the threshold. - -"Good-bye, Teresina," he said. "It may not be very long before we meet -in London. Do you remember the little place where I first saw you? I -think, when I get back, I must dine there once more, if only for old -association's sake." - -"Good-bye, signor," she said, giving him her hand after the English -fashion. "It was kind of you to think of us, and to give us such -pleasure as you have done to-night." - -"I have enjoyed it," he replied, and then, bidding her return soon to -London, he left her, and made his way down the narrow, evil-smelling -street toward the quarter in which his hotel was situated. He was still -fifty yards from the corner when a figure emerged from a doorway and -hurried quickly after him, keeping on the dark side of the street. -Leaving the thoroughfare in which Teresina's house was located, he -employed a short cut with which he had become acquainted that afternoon. -He had scarcely entered this, however, before he became aware of a light -footstep behind him. Turning quickly, he found a man, whom he -immediately recognised, within a few feet of him. Muttering something in -Italian, he raised his arm, and Godfrey saw that he held a poniard in -his hand. With the quickness of a practised athlete, he seized the -uplifted wrist with his left hand, while with his right he delivered a -blow that took the would-be assassin beneath the chin and sent him -sprawling upon his back in the road. Picking up the dagger that the -other had let fall, he placed it in his pocket, saying, as he did so: "I -will keep this, my friend, as a memento." Then, having made sure that -the other had no intention of following him, he continued his walk, -little dreaming how strangely that incident was to affect his future -life. - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -If I were given my choice of all the charming residences in the county -of Midlandshire, I fancy I should decide in favour of Detwich Hall. To -my thinking it is, in every respect, an ideal residence. While -sufficiently old to have a history (one of the Charleses spent some days -in hiding there), it has proved itself capable of being adapted to -modern ideas of comfort. The main portion was built, I believe, toward -the close of the reign of the Virgin Queen; a wing was added by the -owner who occupied it in the time of the early Georges; while the father -of the man who had bequeathed the property to Godfrey, was responsible -for the stables, and a somewhat obscure wing on the southern front. It -was admirably situated in the centre of a park of some three hundred -acres, and was approached by a picturesque drive, about half a mile -long, which ran for some distance along the banks of an ornamental -lake. On this lake, by the way, some of the finest duck shooting in the -county is to be obtained. In his boyhood Godfrey had spent many happy -days there, little dreaming that some day it would become his own -property. Indeed, it is quite certain it would not have done so had his -cousin Wilfred not been killed in India in the performance of a piece of -desperate heroism that will be remembered as long as a certain native -regiment exists. As for Godfrey, the old man had always liked the boy, -but had been bitterly disappointed when he had resolved to embark upon -an artistic career instead of playing the part of a country gentleman, -as so many of his ancestors had done before him. To have proved himself -a capable Master of Hounds would have been in the old bachelor's eyes a -greater distinction than to have painted the finest picture that ever -graced the walls of Burlington House. Yet in his heart he knew the power -of the young man, and honoured him for the dogged persistence with which -he had fought the uphill fight of a painter's life. - -"Well, well, I suppose he'll come out of it all right in the end," he -was wont to say to himself when he thought of the matter. "He'll be -none the worse for having known a little poverty. I like the boy and he -likes me, and, please God, he'll do his best by the dear old place when -he comes into it. I should like to see him in it." - -This, unfortunately, he was not able to do; but could he have heard the -universal expression of approbation so lavishly bestowed upon the young -master of Detwich when he had been six months in possession he would -have felt that his generosity had been rewarded. Indeed, there could be -no sort of doubt as to Godfrey's popularity. He was received by the -county with open arms, and by his tenantry with a quiet appreciation -that showed they knew how to value the blood that ran in his veins -without making a fuss about it. Owing to the short time that had elapsed -since his uncle's death it was necessarily impossible for him to see -very much society, but those who partook of his hospitality returned -home not only delighted with their host, but also with the quality of -their entertainment. - -"An acquisition, a decided acquisition," said old Sir Vivian Devereux, -the magnate of the district. "His idea of game preservation is -excellent, and he is prepared to support the hunt with the utmost -liberality. All he wants to make him perfect is a wife." - -On hearing this Lady Devereux looked at her lord and her lord looked at -her. Between them they had a very shrewd idea that they knew where to -look for the future mistress of Detwich Hall. Mistress Margaret, their -daughter, called by her friends Molly, who had that season made her bow -before her Majesty, said nothing, but maybe that was because she did not -think there was anything to be said. She had her own ideas on the -subject. She had seen the young squire of Detwich, though he had not -been aware of the fact, and, being an unaffected, straightforward -English girl, without prudery or conceit of any sort, had come to the -conclusion that she liked the look of him. Eligible young men were -scarce in the neighbourhood, and if she dreamt dreams of her own who -shall blame her? Not I, for one. - -Three months had passed since Godfrey had escorted Teresina and her -mother to the Opera. The summons which had brought him home so hurriedly -had, fortunately, proved to be a false alarm. Though his mother had been -seriously ill, there had not been so much danger as they had led him to -suppose. A month at Torquay had completely restored her to health, and -now she was back at Detwich once more, as hale and hearty an old lady as -any to be found in the kingdom. Assisted by her youngest daughter, -Kitty, she welcomed the wanderer home with every sign of delight. - -Godfrey, unlike so many other people, had the good fortune to be as -popular in his own family circle as he was out of it, and he and his -youngest sister had been on the best of terms from the days when they -had gone bird's-nesting together, until the time when she had assisted -him in packing his first picture for the Academy. Since then, however, -she had not seen so much of him. - -"Kit's no end of a brick," he had been heard to say, "and the fellow who -marries her may consider himself lucky." - -It was scarcely to be wondered at, therefore, if Miss Devereux and -Kitty, living as they did within two miles of each other, should soon -have become intimate. They were in the habit of seeing each other -several times a week, a fact which Godfrey, from a distance, had felt -somewhat inclined to resent. - -"When I get home I shall find this girl continually in the house," he -said to himself; and when he _did_ arrive and the many charming -qualities of her friend had been explained to him he did not feel any -the more disposed to be cordial. - -"I can see what it will be," he said to his sister, "I shall not catch a -glimpse of you now." - -"Perhaps you won't want to when you meet Molly," was the arch rejoinder. -"You have no idea what a pretty girl she is. They say she created a -tremendous sensation when she was presented this year. Folks raved about -her." - -"The bigger duffers they," was the uncompromising reply. "You have one -fault, my dear girl. Ever since I have known you your swans have -invariably turned out to be geese. I fancy I can realize what Miss -Devereux will be like." - -"In that case pray describe her," was the saucy rejoinder, and Miss -Kitty made a very pretty losing hazard (they were playing billiards at -the time), after which she failed to score and chalked her cue. - -Now it seems scarcely fair to say so, but Godfrey, being taken at a -disadvantage, fell back on what can be only considered by all honest -people a mean device. In describing Miss Devereux he used the almost -identical terms used by Fensden when he had attempted to draw a picture -of his friend's future wife. - -"You are quite at sea," said Miss Kitty, patting her dainty shoe with -the end of her cue as she spoke. "Some day, if you are not very careful, -I will tell Miss Devereux what you have said about her. She would never -forgive you the large feet and thick boots." - -"As you are strong be merciful," said Godfrey, potting the red into the -right-hand pocket and going into the left himself. "I don't mind -admitting without prejudice that I am getting anxious to see this -paragon. When do you think she will next honour you with her society?" - -"On Friday," Kitty replied. "We have taken up wood-carving together, and -she is coming to see some patterns I bought in town last week." - -"In that case we will defer consideration of her merits and -demerits--for I suppose she has some--until then," Godfrey replied, and -then once more going into the pocket off the red he announced the game -as standing at one hundred to ninety-five. - -On the following afternoon he had occasion to drive to the market town. -It was a bright, clear day, with a promise of frost in the air, and as -his dog-cart rolled along the high road, drawn by a tandem team he had -purchased the previous week, he felt as well satisfied with himself and -his position in the world as it was possible for a young man to be. His -business transacted in the town he turned his horses' heads homeward -once more. The handsome animals, knowing that they were on their way to -their stables, stepped out bravely, and many an approving glance was -thrown at the good-looking young squire of Detwich by folk upon the -road. He had completed upward of half his journey when he became aware -that a young lady, who had appeared from a by-road, was making her way -in the same direction as himself. - -"Whoever she is she certainly sits her horse well," he said to himself, -as he watched her swinging along at a slow canter on the soft side of -the road. "I wonder who she can be?" - -As soon as the turf gave place to hard metal she pulled her hack up and -proceeded at a walk. This very soon brought Godfrey alongside, and as -he passed he managed to steal a glance at a very pretty face and as neat -a figure as he ever remembered to have seen. - -"I wonder who she can be?" he repeated. And as he continued his drive he -meditated on the subject. - -On the Friday following he was unexpectedly called to town. His -solicitors desired an interview with him respecting the purchase of a -farm, and he had no option but to comply with their request. As luck -would have it, however, he was able to return by a somewhat earlier -train than he expected, and was just in time to hear from his butler -that afternoon tea had been carried into the drawing-room. - -"Are there any visitors?" he inquired. - -"Miss Devereux, sir," said the man; "she came to lunch." - -"I had forgotten that she was to be here to-day," he said to himself as -he crossed the hall in the direction of the drawing-room. "I wonder what -she will be like?" - -As every one who has visited Detwich is aware, the drawing-room is an -exceedingly handsome room. It is long and lofty, if possible a little -_too_ long for cosiness. This fault, if fault it be, is amply atoned -for, however, by a capitally constructed ingle-nook, in which it was the -custom for the ladies to take afternoon tea. Godfrey strolled across the -floor to this charming contrivance, little guessing what was in store -for him. A lady was sitting with her back to him holding a cup of tea in -her hand. - -"I don't think you have met Miss Devereux, Godfrey," said his sister. - -"I have not yet had that pleasure," he replied. Then to himself he -added: "Good gracious! It's the fair equestrienne." Then aloud: "I've -heard a good deal of you from Kitty, Miss Devereux." - -"And I of you," she answered. "You seem to have been everywhere, and to -have seen everything. Doubtless you find this part of the world very -dull." - -"Not at all," he answered. "I am extremely fond of the country, and -particularly of that about here." - -If the truth were told I fancy he had never thought much about it until -that moment. For the future, however, under a certain magic influence, -he was to view it with very different eyes. - -"In spite of what some people say," he continued, "I consider English -country scenery charming." - -"And yet it must be very beautiful abroad. Kitty read me one or two of -your letters, and from the description you gave of the various places -you had visited, I gathered that you thought nothing could be so -beautiful on earth." - -"No doubt they are very beautiful," he answered. "But for my part give -me the old-world peace of England. There is certainly nothing like that -to be found elsewhere. I would rather stand on the hill yonder and look -down the valley in summer-time, than gaze upon the Rhine at Heidelberg, -or Naples harbour at daybreak, or visit ancient Philae by moonlight." - -What further heresies this young man would have pledged himself to in -his enthusiasm I can not say. Fortunately for him, however, the vicar -and his wife were announced at that moment, and a distraction was thus -caused. Until that moment Miss Kitty had been regarding him with -steadfast eyes. Clever beyond all other men, as she considered her -brother, she had never seen him come out of his shell like this before. -Hitherto he had been rather given to pooh-poohing the country, and had -once been known even to assert that "London and Paris were the only two -places in which it was possible for a civilized man to live." What was -the reason of this sudden change? - -The vicar was a tall man with a pompous air, who looked forward some day -to being a bishop, and had already assumed the appearance and manners of -one. His wife, on the other hand, was small, and of a somewhat peevish -disposition. It was currently reported that the husband and wife spent -the greater portion of their time in squabbling, while it was certain -that they contradicted each other in public with an openness and -frequency that at times was apt to be a little embarrassing. - -"Possibly I may have been wrong," said the vicar, when he had seated -himself and had taken a cup of tea from his hostess's hands, "but did I -not hear you extolling the beauties of a country life as I entered the -room, Mr. Henderson?" - -He put the question as if it were one of world-wide importance, which, -answered carelessly, might involve great international complications. -Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued: "For my part, while -admitting that a country life is possessed of many charms, with which -the Metropolis can not compare, I must go on to say that there is a -breadth, if I may so express it, in London life that is quite lacking -outside." - -His wife saw her opportunity, and, as was her habit, was quick to take -advantage of it. - -"You have never had any experience of London life, William, so how can -you possibly tell?" she said, sharply. - -"My dear, I venture to say that it is a generally admitted fact," her -husband replied. - -"Generally admitted facts are as often as not rubbish," retorted the -lady with some asperity. "What I say is, let a man do his duty wherever -he is, and make the best of what he's got, without grumbling." - -There was an unmistakable innuendo in this speech, and for a moment an -awkward silence ensued. - -"I hear you have built a new conservatory, Mr. Henderson?" said Miss -Devereux, as if to change the subject. - -"It is just completed," said Godfrey. "Would you care to see it?" - -A general desire to inspect this new wonder having been expressed, -Godfrey led the way from the room, contriving, when all had passed out, -to take up his position beside their youngest visitor. - -"Will you take pity upon a stranger in the land?" he said, "and give me -some information?" - -"What can I tell you?" she asked. - -He glanced at the vicar and his wife, who were some little distance in -front. - -"Do they always squabble like this?" he inquired. - -"Yes, invariably," she replied. "We are used to it, but strangers are -apt to find it embarrassing. I really believe the habit of squabbling -has grown upon them until they have become so accustomed to it that they -do not notice it. By the way, Mr. Henderson, there is one question of -vital importance I must decide with you. Are you going to hunt?" - -As a matter of fact Godfrey had made up his mind to do so occasionally, -but now, remembering that Miss Devereux possessed the reputation of a -second Diana, he spoke as if it were the hunting that had mainly induced -him to live in Midlandshire. He registered a vow that he would purchase -a stud immediately, and that he would look upon missing a run as a sin -that could only be expurgated by religiously attending the next. - -By this time they had reached the new conservatory, which adjoined the -studio Godfrey had built for himself. It was a handsome building, and -gave a distinction to that side of the house which it certainly had -lacked before. - -"Admirable, admirable," said the vicar, complacently. "It reminds me of -the palm-house at Kew." - -"It is twenty years since you were at Kew, William; how can you possibly -remember what the palm-house is like?" retorted his wife. - -"My dear, I have always been noted for the excellence of my memory," the -vicar replied. "I assure you I have the most vivid recollection of the -house in question." - -"You mislaid your spectacles this morning, and if I hadn't seen you put -them in your pocket you would never have thought of looking for them -there," said his wife, to whom this fact appeared to be relative to the -matter at issue. - -From the conservatory to the studio was a natural transition, and the -latest work upon the easel was duly inspected and admired. - -"I remember your picture in the Academy last year, Mr. Henderson," said -Miss Devereux. "I can assure you that it brought the tears into my -eyes." - -"It is very kind of you to say so," he said, feeling that no compliment -that had ever been paid him was so much worth having. - -Then a luminous idea occurred to him. - -"I wonder if, some day, you would let me paint you a little picture?" he -asked, almost timidly. - -"I really could not think of such a thing," his companion replied. "Your -time is too valuable to be wasted in that way." - -"I shall paint one, nevertheless," he replied. "In return, perhaps, you -will instruct me in the ways of the Midlandshire hunt?" - -"I shall be delighted," she answered. "You must make Kitty come too." - -Godfrey promised to do so, but for once in his life he was ungallant -enough to think that he could dispense with his sister's society. -Presently Miss Devereux's cart was announced and Kitty and Godfrey -accompanied her to the front door. She kissed Kitty and then held out -her hand to Godfrey. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Henderson," she said. "Remember that the hounds meet at -Spinkley Grove on Thursday, at eleven o'clock, when you will be -permitted an opportunity of making the acquaintance of the Master and -the Hunt." - -"I shall be there without fail," he answered, as he helped her into the -cart and arranged her rug for her. She thereupon nodded to the groom, -who left the ponies' heads and jumped on to the step behind as the cart -passed him, with an adroitness that was the outcome of long practice. A -moment later the vehicle had turned the corner of the drive and was lost -to view. - -"Well?" said Kitty as they turned to go in. - -"Well," Godfrey replied. - -"You like her?" - -"Very much indeed," he answered, and as they passed down the hall -together he made an important decision to himself. "Provided she will -have me," he said, "I think I have found my wife." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -More than a month had elapsed since Godfrey had made his debut as a -recognised member of the Midlandshire Hunt. It is also necessary to -state that during that period he had seen a good deal of pretty Miss -Molly Devereux, who, faithful to the promise she had given him, had -shown him a large amount of the country, with the fences, hedges, and -ditches thereof. She was also the person who was mainly responsible for -the large sum of money he had spent on horseflesh during that time. As a -matter of fact, this impressionable young man was head over ears in -love, and to prove it, he neglected his work, imperilled his neck, and, -as his mother remarked, ran an almost daily risk of coming to an early -grave through waiting about on the outskirts of damp coverts, to say -nothing of the long, wet rides home on wintry evenings. - -"I can not understand why you do it," said the old lady, who, by the -way, was not nearly so obtuse as she pretended to be. "When you first -came home from abroad, you declared that the hunting would never possess -sufficient attraction to take you out on a damp day. Now you are never -happy unless you are in the saddle." - -"It's a good healthy exercise, mother," said Kitty, with the suspicion -of a twinkle in her eyes. "Besides, Godfrey has taken such a liking to -Sir George Penistone, the Master, that he is never happy when he is -parted from him." - -Now if there was one person in the country for whom Godfrey entertained -a profound distaste, it was for the gentleman in question. Sir George -was known to have been desperately in love with Miss Devereux ever since -he had left the 'Varsity; but, while he was plucky enough in the saddle, -and would ride his horse at anything that an animal could be expected to -jump, and at a good many that it could not, he had never been able to -screw up his courage sufficiently to broach the subject to her. Finding -that he had a rival in the field, however, had given him a fillip, and, -in consequence, relations between the two young men were as strained as -it was possible for them to be, and yet to allow them to remain on -speaking terms. Whether the young lady herself was aware of this is more -than I can say; if she were she gave no sign of it, but treated them -both with the same impartiality. Certain other ladies of the hunt vowed -that she was a heartless flirt, and that she was playing one man off -against the other. Such uncharitable sentiments, however, could only be -expected from people who would have acted in the same fashion had they -been placed in a similar position. - -It has been said by a well-known writer, who, for all we know to the -contrary, was a crusty old bachelor, and therefore well qualified to -speak upon the matter, "that the very uncertainty of love is one of its -greatest charms." I fancy that Godfrey Henderson, at that particular -time, would not have agreed with the sage in question. The uncertainty -of knowing whether he was loved or not, was making a different man of -him. In days that seemed as far removed from the present as if a gulf of -centuries lay between, he had been a happy-go-lucky, easy-going fellow, -taking the world as he found it, and never allowing himself to be much -troubled by anything. Now, however, he had grown preternaturally solemn, -was much given to silent communings with himself, and only brightened -up when he was in the presence of the person who was the object of his -adoration. Naturally this could not continue for long. - -"I'll speak to her the very first opportunity I get," he said to -himself; "and if she won't have me, I'll cut the whole show and go -abroad. I could pick up Fensden in Dresden, and we'll go off to Japan -together." - -But when he was given a favourable opportunity of speaking, he found he -was unable to bring his courage to the sticking-point, and for the next -day or two he called himself by a variety of names that, had they been -addressed to him by any one else, he would have considered most -objectionable. Regarded dispassionately, in the silent watches of the -night, it seemed a small thing to do. He had only to get her alone, to -take her hand, if he could manage to obtain possession of it, and then -to make his passion known, and ask her to be his wife. Any one could do -that, and he had the best of reasons, when he looked round the circle of -his married acquaintances, for knowing that it had been carried out -successfully on numerous occasions before. Yet when it became necessary -to put it into practice he discovered that it demanded a heroism to -which the charge of the Light Brigade and the storming of the Redan were -as nothing. - -"I see that the hounds meet at Churley cross roads on Monday," said his -sister, one morning at breakfast. "Molly wants me to go, but I fear it -will be impossible. I suppose it is not necessary to ask if you will be -there?" - -"I suppose I shall," Godfrey replied, as if he had not thought very much -about the matter. - -In his heart, however, he knew that it would require an extraordinary -force to keep him away. On Friday he did not go, for the reason that he -had incidentally learned that a certain lady would be in town at her -dressmaker's. The same day he discovered that his old friend and -schoolfellow, James Bradford, to wit, had returned from America, en -route to the Continent, and the inference was that if they did not lunch -together, they would be scarcely likely to meet again for some -considerable time. What, therefore, was more fitting than that he should -catch the 10.18 train at Detwich, and set off for the Metropolis? His -mother and sister said nothing, except to wish him a pleasant journey. -When they were alone together afterward, however, Mrs. Henderson turned -to her daughter. - -"Poor boy," she said, "I never thought he would take it as seriously as -he is doing. I have never seen a harder case." - -To which her daughter replied somewhat enigmatically: - -"I wish I knew what she intends doing." - -Despite the eagerness Godfrey had shown to renew his acquaintance with -his friend, Mr. James Bradford, he did not appear to derive such a vast -amount of satisfaction from their meeting as the trouble he had taken to -bring it about would have implied. - -"I never saw such a change in a man in my life," said Mr. James Bradford -afterward, when Godfrey had left the club. "He fidgeted about all the -time we were at lunch, and examined his watch at least twice in every -five minutes. Coming into money doesn't appear to agree with him. It's a -pity, for he used to be such a good chap." - -On leaving Pall Mall Godfrey took a cab to Bond Street, and for upward -of an hour paced religiously up and down that fashionable thoroughfare. -Then, taking another cab, he drove to Euston, where he spent at least -three-quarters of an hour inspecting the various trains that passed in -and out of the station, pottering about the bookstalls, and glaring at -the travellers who approached him. As every one is aware who lives in -the neighbourhood, there is only one good train in the afternoon that -stops at Detwich, hence his reason for going to the station at that -hour. As the time approached for that train to leave, he grew more and -more nervous, and when the train itself at length backed into the -station to take up its passengers, his anxiety became almost pitiable to -watch. Placing himself near the bookstall, he scrutinized every -passenger who approached him. At last he became aware of two figures, -who were making their way leisurely along the platform in search of an -empty carriage. One was Lady Devereux, tall, gray-haired, and eminently -dignified; her companion there is no need to describe. It struck -Godfrey, as he watched her, that never in his life had he seen so pretty -a face or figure. Nerving himself to carry out the operation he had in -mind, he strolled down the platform, then turning, walked back along the -train, glancing into the various carriages as he passed, until he -reached that in which the two ladies were seated. Then, as if he were -more than surprised at seeing them, he lifted his hat. - -"How do you do, Lady Devereux?" he said. "This is an altogether -unexpected meeting!" Then, having saluted the younger lady, he inquired -whether they would permit him to travel down with them. - -"Do so, by all means," Lady Devereux replied. "Molly and I have been -obliged to put up with each other's company since the early morning. But -how is it that you are not hunting to-day, Mr. Henderson?" - -"An old friend has just returned from America," Godfrey remarked, "and -he invited me to lunch with him. Otherwise I should have been out, of -course." - -Whether Miss Molly believed this statement or not I can not say, but I -do not think it probable. One thing was plain; on this particular -occasion she had made up her mind not to be gracious to the poor young -man, and when he endeavoured to draw her into conversation, she answered -him shortly, and then retired into the seclusion of her newspaper. - -Why she should have treated him so it is impossible to say, but there -could be no sort of doubt that she was offended at something. In -consequence the poor fellow was about as miserable a specimen of the -human race as could have been found in England that day. When Detwich -was reached, he saw the two ladies to their carriage, and bade them -good-bye. Then, mounting to the box of his own dog-cart, he sent the -horse flying down the street at a pace that, had he not been well known, -would in all probability have secured him an interview with a -magistrate. - -"And what sort of journey did you have?" inquired his mother, as she -gave him a cup of tea on his arrival at the house. - -"Very pleasant," he answered, though his looks belied his assertion. - -"And would you care, as you said the other day, to go back to live in -London?" asked mischievous Miss Kitty. - -"I think London is one of the most detestable places on earth," he -replied, stirring his tea as though he were sweeping the Metropolis into -the sea. - -"And did you see any one you knew while you were in town?" inquired his -mother. - -"A lot of people I don't care a scrap about," he answered. - -Feeling that he was not in a fit humour for society, he took himself off -to his studio, where he threw himself into an easy chair, and lit the -largest pipe in his possession. This he smoked as savagely as if it were -responsible for his troubles. By the time the dressing-bell rang, he was -more than ever determined to set off for Japan. So strong, however, was -the chain which bound him, that, on second thoughts, he came to the -conclusion that he would postpone his departure until after the meet at -the Churley cross roads on the following Monday. In consequence he spent -a miserable Saturday, and it was not until he came out of church on -Sunday morning that he was anything like his old self. All through the -service he had been paying a greater amount of attention to a neat -little toque, and the back of a very shapely head, a few seats in front -of him, than was altogether proper in a place of worship. According to -custom, the two families united in the porch. - -"Good-morning, Mr. Henderson," said Molly, as they shook hands, and -then, after they had passed outside and the usual commonplaces had been -exchanged, she continued: "What do you think of the state of the -weather?" - -There was more in her speech than met the eye. What she really meant -was: "Do you think we shall be able to hunt to-morrow? If so, I am -prepared to be kind to you once more." - -Godfrey replied that there had been signs of frost early in the morning, -but he rejoiced to see that they were going off. - -"We shall see you to-morrow, I suppose?" she said, as they passed -through the lych-gate out into the high road. - -"Of course," he answered. "Provided old Benbow doesn't break his neck in -the meantime, I shall be there." - -"I am so glad," she answered, and then, as though she felt that she had -said too much, she devoted her conversation during the rest of the walk -to Kitty, leaving Godfrey to discuss parish affairs with her father. - -She had said enough, however, in that short time to transport Godfrey -into the seventh heaven of delight; and I venture to think that if any -one had been foolish enough to suggest a trip to Japan to him at that -moment, it would have been at the peril of his or her life. - -I must leave you to imagine with what attention he studied the -appearance of the sky during the next eighteen hours. The barometer in -the hall was tapped with a regularity that was sufficient to -disorganize its internal economy forever and a day. Before he retired to -rest, he took careful stock of the heavens, and was relieved to find -that there was no sign of frost in the air. Next morning he was up -betimes, took his tub with the air of a man from whom great things are -expected, and made a heartier breakfast than he had done for some weeks -past. He looked a handsome figure in pink as his mother was careful to -inform him. - -The distance to Churley cross roads from the Hall is little more than a -mile, so that the half-hour he had allowed himself to get there, enabled -him to jog along without hurrying his horse. It was what might be -described as a perfect hunting morning. A slight mist hung in places -upon the fields; it was, however, being quickly dispersed by the -sunshine. A pleasant breeze was driving the clouds across the sky, -throwing delightful shadows upon the meadows, and crisping the surface -of the river as he passed over the old stone bridge. When he reached the -cross roads he had still some ten minutes in hand; but as there were -several others as early as himself, this fact did not weigh heavily upon -his mind. Meanwhile he kept a sharp eye on the road down which he had -come, and when he espied the stout figure of the old baronet on his -famous hunter, with his daughter beside him, mounted on a somewhat -vicious-looking chestnut, he rode forward to receive them. - -"A capital day," said the old gentleman, when they had exchanged the -usual salutations. "We could scarcely have a better. Strangely enough, -as I was saying to Molly just now, in fifty years I've never known a wet -Churley Cross Meet." - -"What do you think of my new horse, Mr. Henderson?" inquired his -daughter, when the latter had remarked upon the strangeness of the -coincidence. "Papa bought him for me on Saturday." - -"He must be very nearly thoroughbred," Godfrey replied, not caring to -add that he did not altogether like the look of the animal in question. -There was a nasty flicker in the horse's eyes, of which, to Godfrey's -thinking, he showed a great deal too much white. There could be no -denying his make and shape, however. "You'll be showing us a clean pair -of heels to-day." - -"I'll be bound she will," said the old baronet, upon whom the horse had -evidently made a favourable impression. "They tell me he won a decent -steeplechase last season; and Seth Warton, of whom I got him, says he is -the best he has had in his stable for many a long day. That says -something." - -"I sincerely hope he may prove to be all you could wish," said Godfrey; -and at that moment the Master came forward to bid them good-morning. - -"I think we'll try the Spinney first, Sir Vivian," he said. "I hear good -reports in that direction. A new horse, Miss Devereux, and I should say -a fast one. Have pity on us all!" - -As if to prove that his manners were not so good as his looks, the -animal in question made as if he would rear, and for a moment Godfrey's -heart seemed to stand still. - -"I don't like the look of him," he said to himself. "Heaven send he does -her no mischief." - -But he was not permitted much time to think of such a thing, for the -Master had given the signal, and already a general move was being made -in the direction of the Spinney. Godfrey settled himself down by Miss -Devereux's side, leaving the old gentleman free to discuss the -prospects of the day with the local doctor, a sportsman of some -celebrity in the neighbourhood. - -"Miss Devereux," said Godfrey, as they approached the wood, "at the risk -of offending you, I must say that I don't altogether care about the look -of that horse. I should say, from his appearance, handsome as it is, -that he possesses more than a touch of temper. I do hope you will be -careful what you do with him to-day." - -"You needn't be afraid," she answered, as she flashed a sharp glance at -him. "I think we understand each other perfectly. He hasn't been with -hounds for some time, and he's naturally a little excited. It will wear -off, however, before the day is done." - -"I sincerely hope it may," Godfrey continued. "In the meantime I can not -help wishing that we could exchange mounts." - -"You think that you could manage him better than I?" she said. "If that -is a challenge we will see. Now, let us watch what goes on, for I want -to be well away." - -At that moment three blasts of the horn were heard from the right, and, -before Godfrey could have counted twenty, the hounds were out of cover -and streaming away in the direction of the village--only to change -their course after the first quarter of a mile. - -"It looks as if we were in for a fast thing," said Miss Devereux; and -the words had scarcely left her lips when the chestnut gave a violent -plunge in the air and was off at a racing pace. - -"If he goes on like that, the brute will pull her arms out, if he -doesn't do anything worse," Godfrey muttered to himself. - -But so far the girl had got him well in hand. Sitting back in the -saddle, she let him have his head, taking a gradual pull at him as they -neared the first hedge. Whatever his other faults may have been, he was -certainly a jumper, for he cleared the obstacle in unmistakable style. -As she had said a few moments before, there could be no doubt that they -were in for a fast thing. The hounds were racing as if their one desire -was to run Master Reynard to earth before he could get into the next -field. Godfrey's own horse, to use a phrase that his mother could never -understand, "was going strong," but he could not live in the same county -with the chestnut. In spite of Miss Devereux's undoubted skill in the -saddle, the horse was gradually becoming the master. At the third fence, -an ugly-looking post and rail, with a bad approach, he took off too -soon, giving his rider the chance of an extremely nasty fall. She saved -the situation, however, by a miracle. They had reached the top of the -hill, and were descending into the valley on the other side, when -Godfrey, whose horse was doing its best, realized that something very -serious was the matter ahead. The chestnut had undeniably got out of -hand, and, scared by some sheep, was edging toward the left. - -"It is just what I expected," he said to himself as he rode along some -half-a-dozen lengths behind the other. "She is losing control over him. -I must follow at all costs." - -Digging his spurs into the horse's side, he endeavoured to race up to -the animal in front of him. He was too late, however. The chestnut had -got the bit in his teeth, and, swerving to the left, was galloping in -the direction of a small wood. Observing this, Godfrey turned his -horse's head and made after him. Fortunately, the paddock over which -they were galloping was a large one; but the chestnut was going at such -a pace that he very soon crossed it. Skirting the wood, he began to -descend the hill on the other side. Then he disappeared altogether from -view. When Godfrey reached the top of the rise, he scarcely dared to -look about him; but when he did so, he saw that the horse had altered -his original course, and was making his way again across the angle, as -if he desired to reach the line the hounds were still following. In a -flash Godfrey realized the situation and took in the fact that the -animal was unconsciously making direct for a large chalk pit, and that -unless something were done at once to prevent him, nothing could save -both horse and rider from a terrible death. - -"God help me to save her!" he cried. "God help me to save her!" - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -For a moment after he realized the true state of affairs Godfrey was -spellbound with terror. Was it just possible that he would be able to -head the horse off from the pit? If he could not, then it would be the -end of all things as far as Miss Devereux was concerned. With the cold -sweat of terror on his brow he watched the girl he loved racing down the -slope on the maddened horse. He saw that she was making a brave fight to -bring him to a standstill; but even at that distance he could tell that -her effort was in vain. A moment later the animal had once more changed -his course and had dashed toward a hedge. He scarcely rose at it; as a -natural consequence he struck it, toppled over, and then both horse and -rider disappeared together. Fearful at what he might find, Godfrey -galloped toward the spot, jumped the gate that separated it from the -neighbouring field, and looked about him for what he should see. The -horse was lying stretched out upon the ground, and one glance was -sufficient to show him that its neck was broken. In the dry ditch below -the hedge he could catch a glimpse of a black figure. He sprang from his -horse and approached it. Lifting her head he supported her in his arms, -and as he did so a little sigh escaped from her lips. - -"God be thanked, she is still alive!" he muttered to himself, and then -he replaced her head upon the bank. - -Taking off his coat he made it into a ball. He placed it beneath her -head, and then set off in search of water. When he had procured a little -in his hat he returned and bathed her forehead and temples with it. -After a while she opened her eyes and looked up at him. - -"I feel better now," she answered, in reply to his inquiries. "Where is -the horse?" - -"Close beside you," he said, and then going to his own animal he took -his flask from the holster and filled the little cup with sherry. - -"Drink this," he said. "It will do you good." - -The wine revived her, and in a few minutes she was so far recovered as -to be able to sit up and discuss matters with him. - -"I am quite well now," she said. "But how am I to get home? Poor papa! -What a state he will be in when he hears! Since my horse is dead I -suppose I must try to walk." - -"You will do nothing of the kind," Godfrey replied, firmly. "I will lift -you into the saddle and you must try and ride my horse. If we can find a -village near here, you can remain there until a carriage is sent from -the Court to fetch you." - -"As I have proved myself incompetent I suppose I must obey you," she -answered, with a touch of her old spirit. "But what is to be done with -my own poor beast?" - -"I will arrange about him when I have attended to your comfort," he -said, and then assisted her to rise and lifted her into the saddle. For -the first hundred yards or so they walked almost in silence. She was the -first to speak. - -"Mr. Henderson," she said, looking down at him, "I owe you an apology. I -was rude to you the other day, and I laughed at you when you told me -this morning that you did not like my new horse. Events have proved that -you were right. Will you forgive me?" - -"I have nothing to forgive," he answered; "but you can have no idea how -nervous I was this morning when I saw how that brute behaved." - -"Why should you have bothered yourself about me?" she asked, not, -however, with quite her usual confidence. - -Here was the very opportunity he had been looking for so long. He felt -that he must take possession of it at once. - -"Because I love you," he answered. "You must have known that I have been -in love with you ever since I first saw you, Molly. Don't you believe -me?" - -"Yes, I know it," she replied, looking at him with the love-light -shining in her own eyes. - -"And your answer, Molly? What can you say to me?" - -"Only that I love you too," she murmured. - -I do not know what my spinster readers will think, but the fact remains -that the paddock they were crossing was a large one, some twenty acres -in extent. It was almost in the centre of this open space that he -proposed to her, and she, brazen creature, at his suggestion, I will -admit, stooped from her saddle and permitted him to kiss her where all -the world might see. - -It was between three and four o'clock that afternoon when Godfrey -reached home. He had waited at the little village inn until the -carriage, which he had sent for to convey her home, arrived from the -Court. Then, when he had promised to ride over in the morning in order -to interview her father, he watched her drive off and had afterward -departed himself to his own abode. - -"Well, Godfrey, and what sort of a day have you had?" asked Miss Kitty, -as they stood in the drawing-room before the fire. - -"Splendid," he answered. "I was awfully cut up at one time, but on the -whole it has been one of the best days in my life." - -"You seem to have enjoyed it. Where did you find?" - -"At Churley Spinney," he answered. - -"And you killed at----?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," was the reply. - -"How long did you run?" - -"I don't know that either." - -"You don't seem to have been very observant. What _do_ you know?" - -"I only know that I am engaged to Molly Devereux. For the present that -seems to me to be quite sufficient." - -In a moment her arms were round his neck. - -"You dear boy, I can not tell you how thankful I am." - -Nor was Mrs. Henderson's pleasure the less sincere. - -To say that Godfrey Henderson was a happy man after his acceptance by -Miss Molly would be too mild an expression altogether. It is my opinion -that for the next few days he could not have been said to be properly -responsible for his actions. He behaved like an amiable lunatic, spent -the greater part of his time, when he was not with his _fiancee_, -planning alterations to a house which was already perfect, and vowed -many times a day that he was not nearly good enough for one so angelic. -Every one, with the exception of Sir George Penistone, perhaps, was -delighted with the match. The worthy old baronet gave his consent -immediately almost before it was asked in point of fact, and vowed that -the two properties would run splendidly together. A county dinner was -given to celebrate the engagement. There were folks who prophesied that -the wedding festivities would be on a scale seldom witnessed even by -Midlandshire, which as all the world knows, or should know, is the most -hospitable county in the three kingdoms. The engagement was to be a very -short one, and the happy couple were to leave directly after the -marriage ceremony for the South of France. - -"You are quite sure that you are not anxious to change your mind?" said -Molly to her lover one evening, when they were riding home from hunting. -"Remember, there is still time." - -"If it were not so light, and I had not the best of reasons for knowing -that old Farmer Giles is behind us, and has his eyes glued upon our -backs, I would find a means of making you repent of that speech." Then -he added more seriously: "Darling, whatever may happen in the future, -whatever troubles may be in store for us, you will always believe that I -love you, will you not?" - -"Always," she answered. "Happen what may, I shall never doubt that. But -what makes you suddenly so solemn?" - -"I don't know," he replied. "Somebody walking over my grave, I suppose." - -She gave a little cry of pain. - -"For pity's sake don't talk like that!" she cried. "You have no idea how -it hurts me." - -"In that case I will never do so again," he said. "Forgive me and forget -that I said it, dear." Then to change the conversation, he added: "I -expect this will be our last day's hunting together before we are -married. We shall both be too busy to be able to spare the time." - -"I have no idea how I am going to get through all I have to do," she -said. "I shall practically live in shops for the next month, and I do -detest shopping. Mamma, on the other hand, seems to revel in it. I fancy -she would like to have a wedding to arrange every month in the year. By -the way, Godfrey, have you decided who is going to be your best man?" - -"Yes," he replied. "Victor Fensden. He is my oldest friend, and I heard -from him only this morning that he will be delighted to officiate in -that capacity. He is in Paris just now, but returns to England at the -end of the week, when I have invited him to come down here for a few -days. I hope you will like him." - -"I am certain to like any friend of yours," she replied. "I shall be -very interested in Mr. Fensden. I came across a volume of his poems the -other day. It was very strangely bound and illustrated in an -extraordinary manner by himself." - -"That's his own idea. And did you like the poetry?" - -"Well, if I must be candid, and I'm sure you won't mind, I must confess -that I did not understand much of it. It seems so confused. Not a bit -like Tennyson, or Keats, or Shelley." - -"I quite agree with you," said Godfrey. "Fensden is very clever, too -clever for me, I'm afraid. One or two literary people rave about his -work, I know, but for my part I like less words and a little more human -nature. Give me 'Gunga Din,' or the 'Charge of the Light Brigade,' for -my money, and anybody else can have all the nymphs and satyrs, and odes -to Bacchus and Pan that were ever crammed into the realms of poetry." - -Loath as I am to say it, such was the infatuation of this girl that she -positively agreed with him. Fate, with that characteristic kindness for -which it is celebrated, had been good enough to endow them with minds of -similar calibre, which, of course, was very desirable, and just as it -should be. - -On the Wednesday morning following the conversation I have just -described Molly and her mother departed for London, where the former -was to be handed over to the tender care of Madame Delamaine and her -assistants. They were to be away for three days, returning home on the -Friday evening, and, as a little compensation for their absence, it was -agreed that Godfrey should meet them in town on the Thursday and take -them to a theatre. - -Accordingly the morning train conveyed him to the Metropolis. He had the -pleasure of the vicar's society on the way up, and the latter, not being -restrained by his wife, was able to give him his opinion on matters in -general and the immediate stress on politics in particular. In -consequence, as Godfrey admitted afterward, he spent two such hours of -boredom as he hopes never to experience again. On his arrival in London -he drove to his tailors and ordered his wedding garments, going on -afterward to a well-known firm of jewellers in Regent Street, from whom -he bought a wedding-ring with as much care as he would have given to the -purchase of Crown jewels, and a diamond necklace with little more -concern than if it had been a pair of gloves. From Regent Street he -drove to his club for luncheon. He was late, but that did not matter, -for he felt that the morning had been well spent. On entering the -dining-room he looked about him for a vacant table. He had chosen one, -and was proceeding toward it when a well-known voice behind him said: - -"Come and sit here, Godfrey." - -He turned round to find himself face to face with no less a person than -Victor Fensden. - -"My dear old fellow, this is indeed a surprise," he said as he shook -hands. "I thought you were still in Paris. How long have you been in -London?" - -"I crossed this morning," Victor replied. "I am tired of travelling and -want to settle down." - -"And you have enjoyed yourself?" - -"Fairly well," Victor replied. "I have met a lot of people whom I hope -never to see again, and have tasted, I should say, every example of -villainous cookery in Europe. I am thinking of bringing out a new guide -book, which I shall name 'The Tourist's Vade Mecum'; or, 'Where _not_ to -go in Europe.'" - -Considering that it was to Godfrey's generosity that he owed the long -holiday he had been able to take, this was scarcely a grateful speech, -but the latter did not comment on it. He was too happy himself and too -glad to see his friend once more to take offence. He noticed that in his -dress Victor was even more artistic than before. His hair was a shade -longer, his tie a trifle larger (he wore it tied in a bow with ends -flying loose), and the general tone of his costume a little more -pronounced. - -"And the future Mrs. Henderson?" he said, airily. "How is she? As you -may suppose, I am all anxiety to make her acquaintance." - -"You will do so on Saturday," Godfrey replied, "for I presume you are -coming down to me then?" - -"I shall be delighted," said Fensden. "An English country house will be -soothing after the caravansaries I have been domiciled in lately. I -never knew how much I detested my brother Briton until I met him in a -foreign hotel." - -The sneer on his face as he said this was not pretty to watch. - -"And now that you are at home once more, I presume you will resume your -old habit of searching the slums for foreign eating houses?" said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "Do you remember how and where we met Teresina?" - -"Perfectly," Victor replied shortly, and then changed the conversation -by inquiring how long Godfrey intended remaining in town. - -"I go back to-morrow morning," was the other's reply. "And now that I -come to think of it, why shouldn't you come down with me? It would be -just the thing for you. We shall be very pleased to see you if you care -to come." - -"Impossible," the other answered. "I have such a lot to do. I could not -possibly manage it before Saturday." - -"Let it be Saturday then," said Godfrey, with an imperturbable good -humour that contrasted very strongly with the other's peevishness. -"There's a first-rate train which gets you down in time for afternoon -tea. I'll meet you at the station." - -When Godfrey had finished his lunch he paid a visit to his saddler and -his bootmaker, and then to fill in the time, inspected the stables of a -well-known horse-dealer. He would have liked to go round to Eaton Square -where Molly and her mother were staying with an old maiden aunt, but he -thought better of it, and contented himself by strolling down Bond -Street on the off-chance that he might meet them. He was not successful, -however, so he returned to his hotel to dress and dine. - -At ten minutes to eight he was to be seen standing in the vestibule of -the Lyceum, waiting for the ladies to put in an appearance. When their -carriage drove up he hastened forward to greet them, and conducted them -forthwith to the box he had engaged. Nothing that could tend to their -comfort had been omitted by this extravagant young man, and he found his -reward in the tender little squeeze Molly gave his hand when he removed -her cloak. During the evening he did not concern himself very much with -the play; he watched his future wife's pretty face and the expressions -that played upon it. As soon as they were married he was determined to -paint a life-size portrait of her, which he prophesied to himself would -be the best piece of work he had ever accomplished. But even the -happiest evenings must come to an end, and this particular one was no -exception to the rule. When the curtain fell on the last act, he -re-cloaked his two charges, and escorted them downstairs once more. -Then, bidding them wait in the vestibule, he himself went out in search -of their carriage. When he had placed them in it, he bade them -good-night, and came very near being knocked over by a hansom as he -watched them disappear in the traffic. - -The night was bitterly cold, and snow was falling. Reflecting that it -would be wiser not to stand still, he turned up the collar of his coat, -and wondered what he should do next. Should he go back to his hotel and -to bed, or should he stroll on to his club and see who was there? He -eventually decided in favour of the hotel, and accordingly set off along -the Strand in the hope that he might presently be able to pick up a cab. - -He had reached Exeter Hall, when, with a cry of astonishment, he found -himself standing face to face with the one person of all others he had -least expected to see in England. It was Teresina! - -"Teresina!" he ejaculated, in surprise. "What on earth does this mean? -How long have you been in England?" - -"Nearly a month," she answered, looking away as if she desired to avoid -his eyes. - -"And why did you not let me know that you were coming?" he asked, -reproachfully. "You must surely remember that you promised to do so?" - -"I did not like to trouble you," she replied, still in the same -curiously hard voice. "You were not in London, and I thought you would -be too busy to have time to spare for me." - -"You know that is not true," he answered. "I should be a mean brute if I -did not find time to look after my friends. Where are you living? In the -old house?" - -She paused for a moment before she replied. He noticed her -embarrassment, but did not put the right construction upon it. - -"Near the Tottenham Court Road," she said at last. "I don't think you -would know the street if I told you." - -"And your mother, how is she?" - -He saw the look of pain which spread over her face, and noticed that her -eyes filled with tears. - -"My mother is dead!" she answered, very quietly. "She died in Naples two -months ago." - -"And you are alone in the world? My poor child! This will never do. You -must let me help you if I can." - -"No, no!" she cried, this time almost fiercely. "I do not require any -help. I can support myself quite well." - -"I shall have to be convinced of that before I let you go," he answered. -"London is not the sort of place for a young girl to be alone in, -particularly when one is a foreigner and poor." - -"You were always kind to me," she replied, "but I can not let you do -more. Besides you are going to be married. Is that not so?" - -"It is quite true," he answered; "but how did you hear of it?" - -She looked confused for a moment. - -"I can not tell you," she replied. "Perhaps I saw it in the newspapers. -You are famous, and they write about you. Now I must be getting home." - -An empty cab happened to pass at that moment, and Godfrey hailed it. - -"Get in," he said, when the vehicle had drawn up beside the pavement. "I -am going to see you home. This is not the hour for you to be alone in -the streets." - -"No, no," she protested, even more vehemently than before. "I can not -let you do this. I can walk quite well. It is not far, and I have often -done it." - -"Teresina, you must do as I tell you," said Godfrey, firmly. "I insist -that you get in and that you give me your address." - -She hesitated for a moment before she replied. Then she said: - -"No. 16, Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road." - -Having given the address to the driver, Godfrey took his place beside -the girl. He was thankful, indeed, that he had met her, but the -circumstances under which he had found her distressed him more than he -was able to say. As they drove along he endeavoured to elicit some -information from her concerning her present life. She was not -communicative, however. That there was some mystery at the back of it -all, he could see, and the more he thought of it, the more unhappy he -became. Poor little Teresina! He remembered her as she was when she had -first sat to him for the picture which had made his name; and as he -looked out upon the falling snow and the miserable streets with the dark -figures scurrying along the pavement on either hand, and thought of her -future, his heart sank within him. He wondered whether he could persuade -her to accept a sufficient sum of money from him to enable her to return -to her own country and to live in comfort there? He was rich, and after -all it was not only his duty but his pleasure to help an old friend. As -she seemed so distressed at meeting him, he resolved to say nothing on -the subject then, however; nevertheless, he was determined in his own -mind that he would write to her on the morrow and make the offer, -whether she accepted it or not. At last they came to a part of the -Strand which was more brilliantly illuminated than elsewhere. As they -came within the circle of the light, Teresina put up her hand to push -back her hair, and Godfrey noticed that she wore a wedding-ring upon her -third finger. This gave him food for reflection. - -"Teresina," he said, "why did you not tell me that you were married? I -thought you said you were alone in the world." - -"My husband is dead," she answered, with what was almost a note of -despair in her voice. - -"Your husband dead, and your mother dead too?" he repeated, almost -incredulously. "Teresina, my dear child, are you telling me the truth?" - -"Why should you doubt me?" she cried. "You have no reason for doing so." - -"Because I feel that you are hiding something from me," he said. "Is it -any use my imploring you to confide in me? You know that I am your -friend, and that I would help you to the best of my ability." - -"I know you would," she answered. "You were always a good and kind -friend to me. All I ask of you now, however, is to leave me alone. I am -unhappy enough as it is. Do not seek to add to my misery." - -"Heaven knows I have no desire to do that," said Godfrey. "But if you -think I am going to leave you, as you are now, you are much mistaken. If -you would only be brave and tell me everything, it might simplify -matters." - -"Impossible," she cried. "Have I not told you there is nothing to tell? -Oh, why did I not go another way home!" - -"Because it was to be," he answered. "You were in trouble, Providence -sent me to help you. Believe me, that is the explanation." - -A few moments later the cab turned from the Tottenham Court Road into a -narrower and darker street. Half--way down this dingy thoroughfare it -came to a standstill--before a house on the right-hand side. It was by -no means a cheerful dwelling, and at that hour it was wrapped in -complete darkness. They descended from the cab, and Godfrey, who had no -desire that the cabman should overhear his conversation with Teresina, -paid him off with a liberal _largesse_, and allowed him to go on his way -rejoicing. - -"Is it any use my again asking you to tell me your trouble?" he said to -the girl beside him, when the vehicle had disappeared and a policeman -had passed, after taking a long survey of them. - -"Not in the least," she answered. "Please do not ask me." - -"In that case, will you make me a promise, Teresina? If you will do so, -I will ask no further questions for the present." - -"What is it I am to promise?" - -"That you will not leave this house without first letting me know -whither you are going?" - -"I will do that," she answered. "I will let you know when I leave this -house." - -"Here is my card then. You had better take care of it. A letter or -telegram will always find me. And now good-night, my poor girl. -Remember, I am your friend." - -"Good-night, and may God bless _you_." - -So saying, she disappeared into the house, while he, in his turn, after -taking the bearing of the house, in case he should want to find it -again, set off in the opposite direction to that by which he had entered -the street. - -Meanwhile Teresina, choking down her sobs, climbed the stairs to the -room she occupied in that ramshackle tenement. Unlocking the door, she -entered and started to cross the floor in search of a box of matches she -remembered having left upon the chimney-piece. She had not advanced more -than three steps, however, before she was seized by the throat from -behind, while at the same time a keen-bladed knife was driven, as far as -the handle, between her shoulders, only to be withdrawn and thrust in -again and again, until she fell with a little gasp upon the floor. - -When her assassin had made sure that she was dead, he lit the gas and -knelt beside her for a few minutes. Then he rose, placed something in a -box upon the table, turned off the gas once more, picked up the box, and -went out, relocking the door behind him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - -After leaving Teresina, Godfrey made his way back to his hotel. As he -strode along he meditated as to what he should do to help her. That the -girl was in serious trouble, he had not the least doubt; but since she -would not allow him to assist her in any form, what could he do? - -He had been through a good deal that day, and by the time he reached his -hotel he was quite worn out. The night porter who admitted him noticed -his haggard appearance. - -"You don't look very well, sir," he said, sympathetically; "is there -anything I can do for you?" - -"If you could manage to get me a brandy and soda, I should be very much -obliged," Godfrey said, as he dropped into one of the seats in the hall. - -"I will do so with pleasure, sir," the man replied, and disappeared at -once in search of the refreshment, which he very soon brought back. -Godfrey drank it off, and then announced his intention of proceeding at -once to bed. - -"Poor little Teresina!" he said to himself as he wound up his watch; -"poor little girl, it seems a shame that she should suffer so!" - -Little did he guess that at that moment Teresina's troubles were over, -that she would never know sorrow or poverty again. - -Next morning he returned to Detwich by an early train. Though he had -only been absent from it a little more than twenty-four hours, it seemed -to him that he had been away for years. - -"You look tired out, Godfrey," said his mother, as they stood together -in the hall. - -"I did not have a very good night last night," he said, "and I had a -hard day's running about yesterday. That is all. You needn't worry about -me, mother; I'm as strong as a horse." - -He went on to tell his mother of his meeting with Fensden, and informed -her that the latter intended coming to stay with them next day. - -"That will be very nice," she said. "You will enjoy having him. I shall -put him up in the south wing in order that he may be near you. The -wall-papers are more subdued there. I know, of old, how he notices these -things." - -"I don't think he will bother himself very much about wall-papers," said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "He declares that he is so tired of travelling -that the quiet of an English country house will brace him up again." - -"I have no doubt it will," said the old lady: "I remember when your -father took me to Paris for our honeymoon, the mere sound of the French -language gave me a headache. I never hear it now without thinking of -that time. And now tell me about Molly. Did she enjoy the play you took -her to see?" - -"Immensely," he replied. "She sent her love to you, and bade me tell you -that she would be very pleased to come over to meet Fensden on Saturday. -I only hope that she won't be knocked up by all this shopping." - -His mother shook her head. - -"I don't think you need have any fear on that score," she said. "When a -girl is about to be married to the man of her heart, the collection of -her _trousseau_ becomes a labour of love. She will make a beautiful -bride, worthy of my boy. I can't say more than that." - -"You shouldn't say so much," said Godfrey. "If your boy were to believe -all the compliments you pay him, he would become insufferably conceited. -And now I must go round and see how things have been progressing in my -absence." - -The following morning witnessed Molly's arrival at the Hall. It was the -first time she had stayed there since her engagement, and in consequence -she was received with rapturous delight by her lover. Though they had -only been parted for a day, they seemed to have a hundred things to tell -each other. There were, moreover, certain important matters to be -discussed connected with the internal arrangements of the house of which -she was so soon to be mistress. I believe, so infatuated was the young -man that, had she expressed a desire to have the whole fabric pulled -down, and rebuilt in another fashion, he would have set about the work -at once. - -"You are quite sure there is nothing else you would like to have done?" -he asked, when they had made the tour of inspection, and were -approaching to the drawing-room once more. - -"You have done too much already," she replied, looking affectionately at -her lover. "I very much doubt if ever there was a girl so spoilt as I. -You will have to make up for it by ruling me with a rod of iron -afterward." - -"God forbid that I should ever do that," he said seriously. "I hope I -shall always be an indulgent husband to you." - -"Not too indulgent," she said. "For my own sake, you must not be. I -don't want to be like a spoilt child." - -"You will never be that," he said. "To me you will always be the -most----" - -"Hush!" she said, holding up her finger in warning. "I think we must -make it a rule to avoid every sort of compliment. I have had more than -is good for me already." - -"I shall find it difficult to obey you, but I will try," he returned. -"And now come with me to the studio; I have one thing left to show you." - -"What is that?" - -"You must wait and see for yourself," he replied, and led the way -through the conservatory to the room of which he had spoken. They found -the easel covered with a cloth. This he drew aside. - -"It is my present to you," he said, referring to the picture he had -revealed, "to be hung in your own room." - -"Oh, Godfrey, how good of you! What a splendid likeness!" - -It was, in fact, a portrait of himself upon which he had been working -hard ever since his engagement had been announced. He had intended it as -a surprise, and in the pleasure he gave her, he felt that he had been -amply repaid for the labour it had cost him. - -"I shall treasure it all my life long," she said, and rewarded him in a -manner that would have turned many folks green with envy. - -"And now," she said, when she had gazed her full upon it, "I want you to -show me a photograph of your friend, Mr. Fensden, if you have one. -Remember I have no idea what he is like." - -"That can very easily be remedied," he said. "I have a photo which was -taken in Rome, and a small portrait that I painted myself." - -So saying, he crossed the room to his writing-table, and, having opened -a drawer, took from it a packet of cabinet photographs. They were, for -the most part, likenesses of old friends, and when he had selected one -of Victor from the number, he placed it before her. - -"So that is Mr. Fensden?" she said, seating herself in what he called -his business chair. - -For some moments she studied it attentively. Then she replaced it on the -writing-table. - -"Well, now that you have seen the portrait, what do you think of him?" -Godfrey asked, as he turned over some canvases on the other side of the -room. - -"I scarcely know what to say," she replied, slowly. "It is a refined -face, a clever one, if you like; but, if I may be allowed to say what I -think, there is something in it, I can not tell what, that I do not care -about. I fancy the eyes are set a little too close together." Then she -added more quickly: "I hope I have not offended you, dear. I should not -have spoken so candidly." - -"Why shouldn't you?" he inquired. "Perhaps, now you speak of it, the -eyes are a little too close together. But you must wait until you have -seen the man himself before you judge him. I assure you he can be a -charming companion." - -"I gathered as much from his photograph," she answered, taking it up and -looking at it again, "At what time does he arrive to-day?" - -"In time for afternoon tea," said Godfrey. "I am going to drive in to -meet him." - -Molly made a little _moue_; with the selfishness of love, she did not -approve of Godfrey leaving her, if only for so short a time. And, if the -truth be confessed, I fear she was a little jealous of the man who was -to be responsible for his absence. It is not always that a sweetheart is -any too well disposed toward her lover's bachelor friends. For some -reason, Fensden's photograph had prejudiced her against him. She was -resolved to be just; but she felt convinced in her own mind that she -would never be able to say that she really liked or trusted the man. She -did not tell Godfrey this. - -In accordance with the arrangements he had made, that afternoon, at -about three o'clock, Godfrey drove off to the station to meet his -friend. He was looking forward to seeing him, if only that he might show -him how great was the difference between the sketch the other had drawn -of his future wife that night in the desert, and the reality. I fancy if -England had been searched through that day, a happier young man than the -master of Detwich would have been difficult to find. Yet, though he -could not guess it, the climax of his life was only a few hours' -distant. - -As he drove along, he thought of Molly and the happiness that was to be -his portion in the future. Then his thoughts turned to Teresina. While -he had prospered in the world, she had lost what little happiness she -had ever possessed. He determined to discuss her affairs with Fensden on -the first available opportunity, when doubtless the latter would be able -to suggest a way in which he might assist her. By the time he had -arrived at this reflection, he had reached the station, and the groom -was standing at the horse's head. Having placed the reins under the -patent clip, he descended from the cart and went on to the platform. The -station-master saluted him respectfully, and informed him that the train -had already been signalled. Indeed, the words had scarcely left that -functionary's lips before a whistle was heard in the cutting, and a -moment later it came into view. As the train swept past him Godfrey -caught a glimpse of the man he had come to meet, gathering together his -travelling things, in a first-class carriage. - -"How are you, my dear old fellow?" he cried, as he turned the handle of -the door. "You don't know how glad I am to see you! I am afraid you have -had a cold journey. Let me take some of your things." - -Victor graciously permitted the other to assist him with his luggage, -and then he himself descended from the carriage. They shook hands and -afterward strolled in the direction of the gate. Victor was attired in a -magnificent travelling ulster, and a neat deer-stalker's hat. An -orange-coloured tie peeped from the opening under his beard, and his -hands were as daintily gloved as a lady's. Altogether, as he walked down -the platform, he presented as artistic a figure as Detwich had seen for -a very long time. - -"What have you been doing since I saw you?" Godfrey inquired as they -took their places in the dog-cart. - -"Repairing the ravages of time and Continental travel," Victor replied, -somewhat ambiguously. Then he added politely: "I hope Miss Devereux is -well?" - -"Very well, indeed," said Godfrey, "and most anxious to see you. She has -read your poems and has seen your portrait; all she requires now is to -be introduced to the original." - -"In that case I fear she will be disappointed," said Victor, with what -was almost a sneer in his voice. "Since she is with you, I presume your -mother and sister are at the Hall. Do they look forward to the idea of -turning out?" - -"They are a pair of foolish women who would do anything, or give up -anything in order to make me happy," the other replied. "As a matter of -fact, I don't know that they altogether mind. They both prefer London, -and when they return from their travels, I believe it is their intention -to take a flat and settle down somewhere in the neighbourhood of -Kensington." - -"While you are assimilating the bucolic virtues. Well, it's a pretty -picture, and if I had fifteen thousand a year and a fine estate I might -be tempted to do the same. As I haven't the money or the property I -remain what I am." - -"And that is?" - -"A trifler," Victor replied, with unusual bitterness. "One who might -have done and who did not--who dropped the substance in an attempt to -grasp the shadow." - -"Nonsense," said Godfrey, who did not like to hear his friend abuse -himself in this fashion. "If you are going to talk like that I shall -have to prescribe a long dose of country air." - -Then, in an attempt to change the other's thoughts, he talked of their -travels together, and of the curious characters they had met, which -lasted until they had passed through the lodge gates and were well on -their way across the park. Even in the sombreness of winter the place -looked very beautiful, and Victor expressed himself delighted with it. - -"I had no idea it was so fine," he said, as they swept round the drive -and came into view of the house. "I can very well understand your liking -for a country life when you possess an estate like this. Your uncle did -you a kind action when he made you his heir." - -"Nobody is more sensible of that fact than I am," Godfrey replied. "I -only wish I could let the old fellow know how grateful I am. I often -think that during his lifetime he was disappointed in me because I took -to painting instead of becoming a country gentleman. I wonder what he -would say if he could see me now? I don't know what you may think, but -to my mind there are times when one likes to imagine that the dead are -near us." - -Victor gave a violent start, followed by a shiver. - -"Good Heavens! What an idea!" he cried. Then, dropping back into his old -cynical tone, he continued: "I am afraid that if your idea were possible -our human affairs would become somewhat complicated. For my own part I -am quite content that the matter should stand as it is." - -As he finished speaking they drew up before the steps and the two men -descended from the cart. The ladies were waiting in the hall to receive -them. - -"How do you do, Mr. Fensden?" said Mrs. Henderson, coming forward to -meet him. "It is a long time since we have met, and you have been a -great traveller in the meantime." - -"Thanks to your son," said Victor as he took her hand. "How do you do, -Miss Kitty? Events advance too quickly with all of us, but they seem to -have taken giant strides with you." - -"You mean that when last we met I was still on the other side of that -line which is only crossed by a girl when she performs the mysterious -operation called 'putting her hair up,'" answered that sharp-tongued -young lady. - -"Now, Victor," said Godfrey, when Kitty had been annihilated, "let me -have the pleasure of introducing you to Miss Devereux." - -The couple bowed to each other, and Victor offered her his -congratulations. - -"And now you must come and have your tea," said Mrs. Henderson, -hospitably. "You must need it, I am sure, after your long journey." - -"Or perhaps you would prefer something more substantial," put in -Godfrey. "I noticed that you shivered as we came up the drive." - -"I really think I should," said Victor. "After the warmth of the East -our English winters are not to be trifled with." - -Godfrey led the way to the dining-room and placed the spirit-stand -before his friend. - -"I don't think I have ever been so cold in my life before," said Victor, -as he poured out an amount of brandy for himself that made Godfrey open -his eyes in astonishment, for he had always looked upon the other as an -exceedingly temperate man. - -"Now, tell me, would you prefer to see your room first?" Godfrey -inquired, when the other had tossed off his refreshment, "or shall we -join the ladies?" - -"Perhaps I had better make myself presentable first," Victor answered, -glancing complacently at himself in the mirror above the chimney-piece. - -Godfrey accordingly led the way to the room which had been set apart for -his friend's use, and to which the latter's luggage had been conveyed. -It was a pleasant apartment, looking out on what was called the Ladies' -Garden, and thence across the park to a high and wooded hill. Victor -went to the window and studied the prospect. - -"You have a charming home," he said, with what was almost a sigh; "you -are about to marry a beautiful girl; you have wealth, success, and -everything else that can make life worth living, Godfrey. You should be -a happy man." - -"I am happy," Godfrey replied, "and, please God, I'll do my best to make -others so. And that reminds me, Victor, I want to have a talk with you. -Do you know that on Thursday night I met Teresina in the Strand?" - -Victor had turned from the window, and was brushing his hair at the -time. As he heard what Godfrey said, the brush fell from his hand upon -the floor. As he picked it up and continued his toilet, he said in -surprise: - -"Teresina in London? Surely you must have been mistaken. I thought she -was still in Naples?" - -"She is in London," Godfrey repeated. "I could not have been mistaken, -for I spoke to her." - -"At what time did you see her?" - -"Just about midnight," his friend replied. - -"Are you aware that the signora is dead and that Teresina is married?" - -"How should I be likely to?" said Victor. "You know that I have not seen -her since I bade her good-bye in your studio before we went abroad. And -so the pretty model is married? Well, I suppose the proper thing to say -is that one hopes that she will be happy." - -"But she is not happy, far from it. Her husband as well as her mother is -dead." - -"I believe there are some wives who would consider that fact to be not -altogether a matter for sorrow. But what makes you think that Teresina -is unhappy?" - -"Because she told me so, though she would not tell me anything further. -The poor girl seemed in terrible distress." - -"And you gave her money, I suppose?" said Victor. "That is usually the -way one soothes trouble of her kind. I hope she was grateful." - -"I wish to goodness you wouldn't be so cynical," said Godfrey, almost -losing his temper. "I wanted to help her, but she would not let me. -Every time I offered my assistance she implored me to leave her. She -broke down altogether when we reached her house." - -"Then you took her home?" said the other. "Do you think that was wise?" - -"Why should I not have done so?" - -"Well, you see," said Victor, putting his brushes back into their case, -"circumstances have somewhat changed with you. Miss Devereux might not -altogether approve." - -"Miss Devereux is too good and kind a girl to object to my doing what I -could to comfort an old friend in trouble." - -"But when that old friend in trouble happens to be an extremely -beautiful girl the situation becomes slightly changed. However, don't -think that I am endeavouring to interfere. And now shall we go -downstairs?" - -"But, confound it, Victor, you don't mean to say that you take no more -interest in Teresina's fate than this? I thought you liked her as much -as I did." - -"_Mon cher ami_," said Victor, rearranging his tie before the glass, -"that is scarcely fair, either to yourself or to me. Have you forgotten -a little discussion we had together, and which eventually resulted in -our leaving England for a time? Had you not taken such an interest in -Teresina then, I doubt very much whether I should have seen Cairo or -Jerusalem, or a lot of other places. But still, my dear fellow, if there -is anything I can do to help your old model you may be sure I shall be -only too glad to do it." - -"I knew you would," said Godfrey, placing his hand affectionately on the -other's shoulder. "We must talk it over some time and see what can be -done. It will never do to let her go on as she is now." - -"You have no idea, I suppose, of the origin of the trouble?" - -"Not the least. She would tell me nothing. She tried to make me believe -that she had plenty of work, and that she did not stand in need of any -assistance. I knew better, however." - -"And where is she living?" - -"In Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road. It is a miserable -place, mainly occupied by foreigners. The house is on the right-hand -side." - -"Very well," said Victor. "When I go back to town I will look her up. It -will be hard if we can't arrange something." - -Then they descended the stairs together and entered the drawing-room. - -"My dear Godfrey, are you aware that you will have one wife in a -hundred?" said Kitty, pointing to a table on which some twenty packages -of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions were arranged. - -"How so?" said Godfrey. "What new virtue have you discovered in her?" - -"I have found that she can subordinate curiosity to a sense of duty," -said the young lady. "These presents arrived for you just after you left -for the station, and yet she would not open them herself or allow me to -do so until you returned. I have been consumed with a mad desire to -explore them, particularly that foreign-looking box at the end." - -"Well, your curiosity shall very soon be satisfied," he said. "But we -must begin with the most important-looking packages." - -"Let us pray that there are no more Apostle spoons, serviette-rings, or -silver sweet-dishes," said Molly. "We have already some two dozen of -each." - -Package after package was opened in its turn and the contents displayed. -As they were for the most part presents to the bridegroom individually, -they were mainly of a nature suited to his tastes: hunting flasks, -silver sandwich cases, cigar and cigarette holders, and articles of a -similar description. At last they came to the curious-looking box to -which Kitty had referred. It was oblong in shape, and bore the name of a -Vienna firm stamped on the end. It was tied with cord, and the label was -addressed in an uneducated handwriting to "Mr. Godfrey Henderson, -Detwich Hall, Detwich, Midlandshire." - -In his own mind he had no doubt that it emanated from Teresina, who, as -he was aware, had been informed as to his approaching marriage. Having -untied the cord, he prized the lid, which was nailed down, with a dagger -paper-knife, which he took from a table close at hand. An unpleasant -odour immediately permeated the room. A folded sheet of newspaper -covered the contents, whatever they were, and this Godfrey removed, -only to spring back with a cry of horror. In the box, _the fingers -tightly interlaced, were two tiny hands_, which had been severed from -the body, to which they had once belonged, at the wrist. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - -It would be impossible to picture, with any hope of success, the horror -which accompanied the ghastly discovery described at the end of the -previous chapter. Save for the cries of the ladies, who shrank from the -box and covered their faces with their hands, and a muttered ejaculation -from Godfrey, some seconds elapsed before any one spoke. Fensden was the -first to recover his presence of mind. Picking up the sheet of paper -which had fallen to the ground, he covered the box with it, thus -shutting out all sight of the dreadful things it contained. - -"Perhaps it would be as well, ladies, if you were to leave the room," he -said. "Godfrey and I must talk this matter over, and consider how we are -to act." - -"Come, mother," said Kitty, and she led the old lady in a semi-fainting -condition from the room, closely followed by Molly. - -When the door had closed behind them, Godfrey spoke for the first time. - -"Good Heavens, Victor!" he said. "What does this mean? Am I mad or -dreaming?" - -"I fear it is no dream," replied the other. "Who could have done it? Is -it a case of murder, or what? Did you recognise the--the hands?" - -Godfrey crossed to the chimney-piece and covered his face. A suspicion, -so terrible that he dared not put it into words, was fast taking -possession of him. - -"Come, come," said Victor, crossing to him, and placing his hands upon -his shoulder, "we must look this matter squarely in the face. Be a man, -and help me. The upshot may be even more serious than we suppose. Once -more I ask you, did you recognise what you saw?" - -"I fear so," said Godfrey, very slowly, as if he were trying to force -himself to speak. "There was a little scar, the result of a burn, -half-an-inch or so above the knuckle of the second finger of the right -hand." - -He had painted those beautiful hands too often not to remember that -scar. Without a word, he crossed to the table in the middle of the room -upon which the box stood, surrounded by the cases containing the other -wedding presents, and once more removing the lid and the paper, -carefully examined what he saw there. No, God help him! there could be -no sort of doubt about it; the hands were those of Teresina Cardi, his -model and friend. When he had satisfied himself as to their identity, he -closed the box and turned to Fensden once more. - -"It is too horrible," he said; "but what does it mean? Why should the -murderer have sent the hands to me in this dreadful way?" - -"That is what I have been asking myself," Fensden replied. "The man, -whoever he was, must have borne you a fiendish grudge to have done such -a thing. Is there anything about the box that will afford a clew as to -the identity of the sender? Let us look." - -He examined the box carefully, but, beyond the printed name of the firm -who had originally used it, there was nothing that could serve as a -clew. It had come by train from Euston, and had been sent off on the -previous evening. That for the present was all there was to know about -it. - -"Once more, what are we to do?" inquired Fensden. - -"Communicate with the police," said Godfrey. "In the meantime, I think I -will send a note to my future father-in-law, asking him to come over. I -should like to have his help and support in the matter." - -"A very proper course," said his companion. "I don't think you could do -better. I should send a man away at once." - -Accordingly Godfrey went to a writing-table in the corner of the room, -and wrote the letter, then rang the bell, and bade the servant who -answered it see that the note was despatched without delay. When the man -had disappeared, he turned to Fensden once more. "And now," he said, "I -think it would be better if we removed the box to the studio." - -They did so, by way of the new conservatory, of which mention has been -made elsewhere. Then, in something less than an hour, Godfrey's future -father-in-law arrived. Godfrey received him in his studio, and -introduced Fensden to him as an old friend. - -"It is very good of you to come so quickly, Sir Vivian," he said, -motioning him to a chair. "I took the liberty of sending for you because -I want your advice in a very serious matter. How serious it is you will -understand when you have heard what we have to tell you. We have had a -terrible experience, and I am not quite sure that I am capable of -looking at the matter in a temperate light at present." - -"You alarm me, my dear boy," said the old gentleman. "What can have -happened? Tell me everything, and let me see if I can help you." - -"If I am to do that, I must tell you a story. It will simplify matters, -and it won't take very long. As you are aware, before my uncle's death, -I might have been described as a struggling artist. I was painting my -biggest work at that time, and was most anxious to find a model for the -central figure. I had hunted London over, but without success, when Mr. -Fensden here happened to discover an Italian model whom he thought might -be of use to me. I saw her, and immediately secured her services. In -company with her mother, she had been in England for some little time, -and was glad to accept my offer of employment. When the picture was -finished and hung, I still retained her services, because I liked the -girl and found her useful to me in some other work I had on hand. Then -my uncle died, and I came into the estate. Mr. Fensden and I immediately -agreed to travel, and we accordingly set off together for Egypt and the -East, intending to be away about a year. At the same time, it must be -borne in mind, the girl and her mother had returned to Italy. While we -were at Luxor, I received a letter from her, forwarding me her address -in Naples, in case I might desire to communicate with her concerning -future work. Some three weeks later my mother was taken ill, and I was -telegraphed for to come home at once. I left Port Said in a mail -steamer, intending to take the overland express from Naples to England. -Having some hours to spend in the latter city, I thought there could be -no harm in my discovering the mother and daughter. I did so, we dined -together at a small restaurant, and went on to the Opera afterward." - -"You did not tell me that," said Fensden, quickly. - -"I did not deem it necessary," said Godfrey. "I should have done so when -we came to discuss the matter at greater length. But to continue my -story. After the Opera I escorted them back to their dwelling, but I did -not enter. On my way to my hotel afterward, I was nearly stabbed by a -lover of my former model, a man, so she had informed me, who was -extremely jealous of any one who spoke to her. Fortunately for me, he -did not succeed in his attempt. I knocked him down, and took his dagger -from him." - -As he said this, he took the small poniard, with which the Italian had -attempted his life, from a drawer, and handed it to the old gentleman. - -"Next morning I left Naples, to find, on reaching England, that my -mother was decidedly better, and I need not have abandoned my tour. Then -I met your daughter, fell in love with her, and in due course our -engagement was announced. From the moment I said good-bye to her in -Naples, until last Thursday night, I had neither seen nor heard anything -of or from my former model." - -"You saw her on Thursday night?" repeated the old gentleman. "In that -case she must have returned to England?" - -"Yes," Godfrey replied. "It was after the theatre, and when I had seen -Lady Devereux and Molly to their carriage. I was walking down the Strand -in search of a cab to take me back to my hotel, when I met her. She -recognised me at once, and informed me that her mother was dead, that -she had married, she did not say whom, and that her husband was also -dead. Though she seemed in great distress, for reasons of her own she -would not let me help her. Feeling that she ought not to be in the -streets at such an hour, I took a cab and drove her to her home, which -was a house in a narrow street leading out of the Tottenham Court Road. -I bade her good-bye on the pavement, and having once more vainly -endeavoured to induce her to let me help her, walked back to my hotel." - -As he said this, he crossed to the table on which the box had been -placed, and once more removed the lid and paper. - -"A number of wedding presents have arrived to-day," he continued, "and -this box came with them. We opened it, and you may see for yourself what -it contained." - -Sir Vivian approached the table and looked into the box, only to start -back with an exclamation of horror. His usually rubicund face turned -ashen gray. - -"My dear boy, this is more terrible than I supposed!" he gasped. "What -does it mean?" - -"I am afraid that it means murder," said Godfrey, very quietly. "My poor -little Italian friend has been brutally murdered, by whom we have yet to -discover. But why these hands of hers should have been sent to me, I can -not for the life of me understand." - -"Are you sure they are her hands?" - -"Quite sure. There can be no doubt about it. Both Fensden and I -recognised them at once." - -"One thing is certain: the man who committed this dreadful deed must -have been jealous of you, and have heard of your kindness to the girl. -Is there any one you suspect?" - -"I have it," said Fensden, suddenly, before Godfrey could answer. "The -man in Naples, the lover who tried to assassinate you. He is the man, or -I am much mistaken. We have the best of reasons for knowing that he was -in love with her, and that he would not be likely to stop at murder. If -he would have killed you, why should he not have killed her? You told me -upstairs, when we were speaking of her distress, that the street was -occupied by foreigners; what is more likely, therefore, than that he -should have lived there too? Possibly, and very probably, he was her -husband." - -"But she told me her husband was dead," Godfrey asserted. - -"She may have had some reason for saying so," Fensden replied. "There -are a hundred theories to account for her words. It is as likely as not -that she did not want you to see him. He is a Neapolitan. For all we -know to the contrary he may be an Anarchist, and in hiding. She might -have been afraid that if you saw him it would lead to his arrest." - -"There certainly seems a good deal of probability in Mr. Fensden's -theory," said Sir Vivian; "but the best course for you to adopt appears -clear to me. You must at once communicate with the police and cause -inquiries to be made. I have seen no mention in the papers of a woman's -body having been found under such circumstances. The discovery of a body -so mutilated would have been certain to have attracted a considerable -amount of public attention." - -"I think you are right," said Godfrey, after a moment's hesitation. "In -the meantime what are we to do with these poor relics?" - -"They must be handed over to the police," said Sir Vivian. "It is only -through them that we can hope to unravel the mystery. If I were you I -should send for the head constable at once and give them into his -charge." Then he added kindly: "I can not tell you how sorry I am, -Godfrey, for your trouble. It must be a terrible blow to you." - -"No one can tell what a blow it is, Sir Vivian," said Godfrey in a husky -voice. "A more cruel murder has never stained the annals of crime. The -girl was an honest, kindly creature, and that she should have met her -death in this manner shocks me inexpressibly. If any reward can secure -the arrest of the murderer I will gladly pay it. No effort on my part -shall be wanting to bring him to justice." - -"You may be sure that he is a cunning fellow," said Fensden, "and that -his plans were deeply laid. For my own part, if I were you I should -place it in the hands of Scotland Yard and patiently await the result. -You may be quite sure that they will do all in their power, and if they -can not bring about his arrest, nobody else will be able to do so." - -"Even if they do not succeed in capturing him I should not abandon the -search," said Godfrey. "Poor little Teresina shall not go unavenged. -There must be several private detectives in London who know their -business almost as well as the officials of Scotland Yard. I will find -the cleverest of them and put them on the trail without delay. If a -promise of a thousand pounds can stimulate him to greater exertions it -shall be paid." - -"You will be only throwing your money away," said Fensden. "He will be -paid by the hour, with expenses, and he will fool you with bogus clews -from first to last." - -"I must risk that," Godfrey replied. - -A message was thereupon despatched to the head of the local -constabulary, who very soon put in an appearance at the Hall. He was a -little man, with a pompous manner and a great idea of his own -importance. It appeared to be his opinion that Detwich was the centre of -civilization, and he the custodian of its peace and safety. On his -arrival he was shown into the studio, where he found the three gentlemen -waiting for him. He saluted Sir Vivian with the deepest servility, -Godfrey respectfully, and Victor Fensden good-naturedly, as if the -latter, not being a landowner in the district, was not entitled to -anything more than a nod. - -"We have sent for you, Griffin," said Sir Vivian, "in order to inform -you that a serious crime has been committed, not in this neighbourhood, -but in London." - -"A good many serious crimes happen there every day, Sir Vivian," -remarked the official. "May I ask the nature of this particular one?" - -"Nothing short of murder!" Sir Vivian replied; "and as Mr. Henderson -here has been brought into it we have adopted the course of sending for -you at once in order that you may acquaint the proper authorities." - -"A very proper proceeding, sir, I have no doubt," said the officer, -diving his hand into his pocket and producing a pencil and an enormous -pocket-book. "I shall be glad, sir, if you will give me the -particulars." - -For the third time that afternoon Godfrey told his story, while the -officer made notes. By the time the contents of the box were shown to -him the man's interest was thoroughly aroused. It had always been his -ambition to be mixed up in some big affair, and now his chance had come. -That being so, he was resolved to make the most of it. - -"There can be no doubt, sir," he said, addressing Sir Vivian, "that it -is likely to be a very serious matter. So far as I can understand, the -disappearance of the woman has not been noticed, nor has her body been -discovered. I will report the facts of the case to Scotland Yard at -once, and in the meantime I will take possession of this box and its -contents. So far as I can see at present it doesn't look as if it should -be very difficult to lay our hands upon the murderer." - -"In that case, I suppose your opinion tallies with ours," said Fensden, -who had just started another cigarette. "You suspect the Neapolitan -lover." - -"I do, sir," the man replied with dignity, as if his suspicions were not -things to be treated lightly. "I only wish I had the conducting of this -case throughout. But, there, I suppose it will go elsewhere and others -will get the credit of the job. There is nothing else you wish to see me -about, I suppose, gentlemen?" - -"I think not," said Godfrey. "But I should be glad if you would let us -know all that goes on. As I have told you, the poor girl was an old -friend, and her cruel death is naturally a great blow to me." - -"I will let you know as soon as I hear anything," the man replied. "I -shall telegraph to Scotland Yard as soon as I get back to the station, -and I expect they will be on the move within the hour. Let me see that I -have got the name and address right, sir. Teresina Cardi, No. 16, -Burford Street, Tottenham Court Road. That is correct, I suppose?" - -"Quite correct," said Godfrey. "It is a tall house and there is a -lamp-post exactly opposite the door." - -These additional facts having been duly noted, the officer was about to -withdraw, when the butler entered with the evening papers. He handed -them to his master, who made as though he would place them on one side, -as being irrelevant to the matter at issue, when Sir Vivian stopped him. - -"One moment," he said. "Before you go, Griffin, let us make sure that -there is no reference in the evening papers to the crime. Will you look, -or shall I?" - -In answer Godfrey opened the first paper. It was as well that he did so, -for on the middle page was this announcement in large type: - - TERRIBLE MURDER OF A GIRL! - - REVOLTING DETAILS! - -"I thought as much," said the police officer in a tone of bitter -disappointment. "Just my luck again. I was in hopes of being able to put -them on the scent, but it seems that they have found it out without me. -Might I be so bold, sir, as to ask what it says?" - -"I will read the account," said Godfrey. - -"At an early hour this morning it was reported to the authorities at -Scotland Yard that a murder of an unusual nature had been committed in -the vicinity of the Tottenham Court Road. The victim is an Italian -woman, known as Teresina Cardi, an artist's model, who, it is stated, -has been living in the house in Burford Street, in which her body was -discovered, for upward of a fortnight. It might be mentioned that the -house is let out in flats, the occupants being in the main of foreign -nationality. The girl herself was of a reserved disposition, and did not -associate with the other tenants of the building. She was last seen -alive at seven o'clock on the evening of Thursday, when she was observed -descending the stairs dressed for going out. The hour of her return is -not known, nor was her absence remarked on Friday. Early on Saturday -morning, however, the occupant of a neighbouring room, a German -cabinet-maker, named Otto Grunther, noticed a small stream of dark-red -fluid under the door. His suspicions being aroused, he informed the -owner of the house of what he had seen, who called in the assistance of -the policeman on the beat. Together they ascended to the room in -question to find that the door was securely locked. Their knocks having -elicited no response, a key was obtained and the door opened. On -entering the room it was discovered that the woman was lying dead upon -the floor between the table and the door. Her throat was cut and she -had been stabbed in several places. More horrible still, her hands had -been severed at the wrists and were missing. Though the police are -naturally reticent as to the matter, we are led to believe that they -have not succeeded in finding a clew. Needless to say the revolting -crime has caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood." - -"Later News.--Up to the moment of going to press, the most diligent -inquiries have been made by our own representatives as to the identity -of the murdered woman. Teresina Cardi, it would appear, sat as a model -for the central figure in Mr. Godfrey Henderson's famous picture 'A -Woman of the People,' which attracted so much attention in the Royal -Academy Exhibition of last year. She was a Neapolitan by birth, but has -spent a considerable time in this country. It has also come to light -that on the evening in question she returned home shortly after midnight -and was seen talking to a gentleman in evening dress on the pavement in -front of the house. - -"The police hope very shortly to be able to discover the identity of -this mysterious individual, when doubtless further light will be thrown -upon the tragedy." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey. "They surely don't think that I know -anything more about it than I have said?" - -"You must set the matter right without delay," said Sir Vivian. "Does it -say when the inquest will be held?" - -"On Monday," Godfrey replied, after he had once more consulted the -paper. - -"Then you had better communicate with the coroner at once, telling him -that you are the person referred to, and offering him all the -information it is in your power to give. You owe it to yourself, as well -as the community at large, to do this at once." - -"I will do so to-night," Godfrey replied. "In the meantime, Griffin, you -will communicate with Scotland Yard yourself and tell them what we have -discovered. The man who murdered her must have seen us together that -night, and in the madness of his jealousy have sent the evidence of his -crime on to me." - -When he had wrapped up the horrible box the police officer took his -departure, leaving the others to discuss the matter and to endeavour to -come to some understanding about it. At last, when there was nothing -further to be said, Godfrey proposed that they should go in search of -the ladies. He had scarcely opened the door of the studio, however, when -there was the sound of a heavy fall. Turning round, he discovered that -Victor Fensden had fallen in a dead faint upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - -In the previous chapter I described to you how Victor Fensden had fallen -in a dead faint just at the moment when the gentlemen were about to go -in search of the ladies, in order to reassure them after the terrible -shock they had received. Immediately on hearing his friend fall, Godfrey -hurried to his assistance, asking Sir Vivian meanwhile to go in search -of brandy. The latter had scarcely left the room, however, before Victor -opened his eyes. - -"My dear old fellow," said Godfrey, "I am indeed thankful to see that -you are better. I knew very well that this terrible business had upset -you more than you were willing to admit. Never mind, it will all be put -right in the end. How do you feel now?" - -"Much better," Victor replied. "I can not think what it was that caused -me to make such an idiot of myself." - -At this moment Sir Vivian returned with a glass of brandy and water. -Victor sipped a little. - -He had not been feeling well of late, he explained, and this shock, -coming on the top of certain other worries, had unmanned him altogether. - -"This has been a terrible day," said Godfrey, "and a poor welcome for -you to Detwich. Now, perhaps, you would rather rest a little before -joining the others." - -"I think I should prefer to do so," said Victor, and he accordingly -retired to his room, while Sir Vivian and Godfrey went on to explain -matters as best they could to the ladies, who were in the dining-room, -awaiting their return with such patience as they could command. - -"My dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, hastening forward to greet Godfrey -as he entered the room, "you must know how we all feel for you. This has -been a terrible experience. Have you been able to arrive at any -understanding of it?" - -"I think I can," said Godfrey, who dreaded another explanation. "It will -be time enough, however, for me to explain later on. It is sufficient at -present to say that a terrible murder has been committed in London, and -that the assassin, knowing that I had endeavoured to be a good friend to -his victim, has played a ghastly practical joke upon me. As you may -suppose, the circumstance has upset me terribly; and when I tell you -that you will make me happier if you will spare me further conversation -upon the subject for the present, I am sure you will do so." - -"I think it would be better," said Sir Vivian. "We have placed the -matter in the hands of the police, and I am sure that Griffin will do -all that lies in his power to prevent Godfrey from being unduly worried -by the affair." - -Godfrey felt a small hand steal into his. - -"I am so sorry for you," whispered Molly. - -The touch of her soft warm hand was infinitely soothing to him. It did -him more good than any amount of verbal sympathy. - -"But where is Mr. Fensden?" inquired Mrs. Henderson. - -"The shock has proved too much for him," Sir Vivian explained. "He -informed Godfrey that he would prefer to go to his room to rest for a -while. I have never met your friend before, Godfrey, but I should say -that he is not very strong." - -"I am afraid he is not," the other replied, and the subject dropped. - -A quarter of an hour later Sir Vivian announced his intention of -returning home, and when his carriage had come round, took Godfrey on -one side. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my boy," he said. "The man who committed the -crime will certainly be captured before very long, and then the poor -girl will be avenged." - -Then the kindly old gentleman drove away. When he had seen him depart, -Godfrey went into the house and made his way upstairs to inquire after -Fensden's welfare. Somewhat to his surprise, he found him apparently -quite himself once more. - -"I can not think what made me behave in that foolish fashion," said -Victor, as he rose from the sofa on which he had been lying. "I am not -given to fainting fits. Forgive me, old fellow, won't you?" - -"There is nothing to forgive," said Godfrey. - -As he spoke the dressing gong sounded, and after having asked Fensden -whether he would prefer to come down, or to have his meal sent to him, -and having received an answer to the first in the affirmative, Godfrey -left him, and proceeded along the passage to his own room. When he -reached it he passed to the further end and stood before the original -sketch of his famous picture, "A Woman of the People." It was only a -mere study, roughly worked out; but whatever else it may have been, it -was at least a good likeness of the hapless Teresina. - -"And to think that that beautiful face is now cold in death," he said to -himself, "and that the brute who murdered her is still at large. God -grant that it may be in my power to bring him to justice!" - -Before he dressed, he sat down at his writing-table and composed a -letter to the coroner, informing him of all he knew of the case, and -promising him that he would be present at the inquest in order to give -any evidence that might be in his power to supply. It was only when he -had finished the letter and sealed it that he felt that he had done a -small portion of his duty toward the dead. He also wrote to his -solicitor giving him an account of the affair, and telling him that he -would call upon him on Monday, prior to the inquest, in order to discuss -the matter with him. - -Then he rang for his valet and gave instructions that the letters should -be posted without fail that evening. Then he began to dress with a heart -as heavy as lead. He remembered how much he had been looking forward to -this dinner ever since the idea had first occurred to him. In his own -mind he had endeavoured to picture the first meal that Victor and his -betrothed should take together. He had imagined his friend doing his -best to amuse Molly with his half-cynical, half-burlesque conversation, -with Kitty chiming in at intervals with her sharp rejoinders, while he -and his mother listened in quiet enjoyment of their raillery. How -different the meal was likely to prove! - -His dressing completed, he descended to the drawing-room, where he had -the good fortune to find Molly alone. It was plain that she had been -there long enough to read the evening paper, for there was a look of -horror upon her face as she came forward to meet her lover. - -"Godfrey, darling," she said, "I see by this paper that a terrible -murder has been committed in the neighbourhood of the Tottenham Court -Road, and that the victim was once your model. I can now understand why -it has affected you so much. Those hands were hers, were they not? I see -also that it says that some one, a gentleman in evening dress, was seen -talking to her about midnight on the pavement outside her house. Do you -think that that man had anything to do with the crime?" - -"I am quite sure he had not," Godfrey answered. "For the simple reason -that that man happened to be myself." - -"Yourself? You, Godfrey?" she inquired, looking up at him with startled -eyes. "But that was the night on which we were at the theatre together?" - -"Yes, dear, the same night," he answered. "Perhaps it would be better if -I were to tell you the whole story." - -"Tell me nothing more than you wish," she said. "I am content to trust -you in everything. If I did not, my love would scarcely be worth having, -would it?" - -And then he told her of his association with the unhappy woman; told her -of Teresina's sorrow, and of his own desire to assist her. Molly's heart -was touched as she listened. - -"You were right," she said, "to try and help her, poor girl! If I had -known, I would have endeavoured to have done something for her for your -sake. Now, unhappily, it is too late. But you must not think too much of -it, Godfrey dear. Try to put it away from you, if only for a time." - -At this moment Victor Fensden entered the room. It was plain that he had -recovered his former spirits. He apologized in an easy fashion for his -weakness of the afternoon, and ascribed it to his recent travels, which, -he said, had proved too much for his enfeebled constitution. - -"I am not like Godfrey, Miss Devereux," he said. "He seems capable of -bearing any amount of fatigue, plays cricket and football, tennis and -golf, while on a summer's day I sometimes find it impossible even to -lift my head." - -It was a sad little party that sat down to dinner that evening. Godfrey -was in the lowest spirits, and Molly was quiet in consequence. Fensden -was accepted, on his own showing, for an invalid, Mrs. Henderson was -naturally of a silent disposition, while Kitty, finding that her efforts -were unappreciated, lapsed into silence after a time, and thus added to -the general gloom. After dinner there were music and polite conversation -in the drawing-room until ten o'clock, followed by a retirement to the -billiard-room for a game at pool. It did not prove a success, however. -No one had any heart for the game, and before the first three lives had -been lost it was voted failure, and the cues were accordingly replaced -in the rack. The memory of two white hands, tightly clinched in despair, -rose continually before every eye, and when, at half-past ten, Mrs. -Henderson proposed that they should retire for the night, every one -accepted the situation with a feeling that was very near akin to relief. - -The next day was scarcely better. For the first time since he had been -master of the house Godfrey rose early on a Sunday morning, and, having -ordered his dog-cart, drove into the village. It was scarcely seven -o'clock when he reached the police-station to discover that the head -constable had not yet risen from his bed. He waited in the small office -while the other dressed, finding what consolation he could in a case -above the chimney-piece in which several sets of manacles were -displayed. The constable in charge was plainly overwhelmed by the -squire's presence, and to cover his confusion poked the fire almost -continuously. At last, after what seemed like an hour, Griffin put in an -appearance, and with many apologies invited Godfrey to accompany him to -his own private sanctum where breakfast was being laid. - -"It's the first time for many a long day that I have overslept myself, -sir," he hastened to remark; "but I have been so thinking of this 'ere -case that I did not get to sleep until this morning, and I am mortal -sorry, sir, that I should have kept you waiting." - -"You have communicated with Scotland Yard, of course?" said Godfrey, -after the other had finished his apology. - -"I telegraphed to them last night, sir, and forwarded my written report -at the same time. The post isn't in yet, sir, but I expect I shall get -some instructions when it comes." - -He visibly swelled with importance as he made this remark. He felt that -in having the Squire of Detwich for his ally he could scarcely fail to -be noticed, particularly when the most valuable evidence in the case -would be given by the gentleman in question. - -Finding that the man had no further news to give him, Godfrey drove -sorrowfully home again, feeling that both his early rising and his visit -to the village were alike of no avail. All through the service in the -little church afterward, despite the fact that Molly worshipped beside -him for the first time, he was ill at ease. Victor had excused himself -from attending the service on the plea of a bad headache, saying he -would go for a walk instead. When they emerged from the sacred edifice -afterward Sir Vivian took his place by Godfrey's side. - -"You have heard nothing more, I suppose?" he asked. "Griffin promised to -communicate with you at once on receipt of any intelligence, did he -not?" - -"He did," said Godfrey. "But when I saw him at the station this morning -there was nothing to tell. In any case I go up to town to-morrow -morning, when I shall first call upon my own solicitor, to whom I have -already written, and afterward attend the inquest as I have promised. -Fensden says he's coming up, too, in order that any evidence he may have -to give may be accepted." - -"One moment, Godfrey," said the old gentleman, stopping him and allowing -the others to go on ahead. "I am going to put a question to you which -may probably offend you. But whether it does or does not, it must be -asked." - -"Anything you ask me, sir, you may be sure will not offend me," said -Godfrey. "What is this particular question?" - -"I want to know how long you have known your friend?" the old man -inquired. "You see I am going to be perfectly candid with you. You may -think me absurd when I say so, but I have come to the conclusion that -Mr. Fensden does not like you." - -"In that case, sir, I am sure you are mistaken," said Godfrey. "Victor -and I were at school together, and we have been companions ever since. -He may be a little cynical in his humour, and inclined to be affected in -his dress and speech, but, believe me, in his inmost heart he is a -thoroughly good fellow." - -Sir Vivian was silent for a moment. - -"If that is so," he went on, "then I am wrong in my conclusions. I must -confess, however, that I was not favourably impressed with Mr. Fensden -yesterday. I noticed that when he was looking at you and you were not -watching him, there was a curious expression upon his face that was -either one of malice or something very like it. If I were asked my -opinion about this affair I should say that he knew more about it than -you and I put together, and more than he either cares, or is going, to -tell." - -"I can not help disagreeing with you, sir," said Godfrey, warming in -defence of his friend. "I happen to know that Victor has not seen -Teresina since the day we left England. It was he who induced me to get -rid of her because he was afraid that she, being a pretty woman, might -possibly induce me to fall in love with her. You see, I am quite candid -with you." - -"I am glad that you are," the other rejoined. "Nevertheless obstinacy is -proverbially an old man's failing, and I still adhere to my opinion -concerning the gentleman in question. Whether I am right or wrong time -will prove. In the meantime you say that you go up to town to-morrow -morning." - -"Yes, to-morrow morning, first thing," said Godfrey. "We shall leave -Detwich by the 10.18." - -"In that case I am going to ask a favour of you," said the other. "Will -you allow me to accompany you? Remember that, as you are going to marry -my daughter, your interests are, and must be, as my own." - -"I shall be only too glad if you will come, sir," said Godfrey, -gratefully. "It is a kindness I did not like to ask of you. I am sure it -will make Molly happier to know that you are with me, while it will -prove to the world, if such a proof is needed, that you believe my -interest in this miserable affair to be only what I have stated it to -be." - -"We all believe that, Godfrey, of course," Sir Vivian replied. "The man -who thinks otherwise would be insane. And now we turn off here. It is -agreed, therefore, that we meet at the railway station to-morrow morning -and go up to town together?" - -"With all my heart, sir," Godfrey replied, and then the kindly old -gentleman turned off with his wife at the path that led across the -fields to the court. When they were out of sight Godfrey informed Molly -of her father's decision. - -"With father and Mr. Fensden beside you, the newspapers will not dare to -hint at anything more." - -Then for the first time in his life Godfrey felt a vague distrust of -Victor Fensden. - -He put the suspicion from him, however, as being not only dishonourable -to his friend, but also to himself. - -"I have known Victor for a good many years," he muttered, "and I should -surely be familiar with his character by this time." - -Yet, despite his resolve to think no ill of the man, he felt that the -idea was gaining ground with him. - -When they reached the house they found Fensden in the drawing-room, -comfortably ensconced in a large chair before a roaring fire. He had -changed his mind, he asserted, and had not gone for a walk after all. He -certainly did not look well. His face was paler than usual, while he was -hollow-eyed, as if from want of sleep. As the party, radiant after their -walk through the sharp air, entered the room, he looked up at them. - -"How nice it must be to be so energetic," he said, languidly. "Godfrey -looks disgustingly fit, and more like the ideal country squire than -ever. You should paint your own portrait in that capacity." - -This time there was no mistaking the sneer. It may have been the -thoughts that had occupied his brain as he walked home, but even _he_ -could not help coming to the conclusion that the man he had known for so -long, whom he had trusted so implicitly, and for whom he had done so -much, was no longer well disposed toward himself. He said nothing, -however, for Victor was not only his guest, but he had troubles enough -of his own just then to look after, without adding to the number. Molly -had noticed it also, and commented on it when she and her lover were -alone together. - -"Never mind, dear," said Godfrey. "It doesn't matter very much if he -has taken a dislike to me. I think the truth of the matter is he is not -quite himself. Though he will not show it, I have an idea he is as much -cut up by this terrible business as I am myself. He is very highly -strung, and the shock has doubtless proved too much for his nerves. You -won't see very much more of him, for he will bring his visit to a close -to-morrow morning, as he has decided to go abroad again immediately -after the inquest." - -"But I thought he was tired of travelling, and that he had stated his -desire never to see a foreign hotel again?" - -"I thought so too, but it appears we were mistaken. However, do not let -us talk about him just now. Can you realize, dearest, that in ten days' -time we are to be married?" - -"I am beginning to realize it," she answered. "But this terrible affair -has thrown such a shadow over our happiness for the last twenty-four -hours that I have thought of little else." - -"The shadow will soon pass," he answered. "Then we will go to the sunny -South and try to forget all about it." - -In his own heart he knew that this was likely to be easier said than -done. Ever since he had seen it on that memorable Thursday night, -Teresina's piteous face had been before him, and now with the -recollection of what had followed so close upon their interview to -deepen the impression, it was more than likely that some time would -elapse before he would be able to forget it. - -That night, when he went to bed, he found it difficult to get to sleep. -It was as if the events of the morrow were casting their shadows before, -and when he did sleep he was assailed with the most villainous dreams. -He saw himself in a garret room with Teresina kneeling before him -holding up her hands in piteous entreaty; then he saw her lying dead -upon the floor, her glassy eyes looking up at him as if in mute -reproach. A moment later he was sitting up in bed staring at Victor -Fensden, who was standing beside him, holding a candle in his hand, and -with a look upon his face that showed he was almost beside himself with -terror. - -"Good Heavens, man, what is the matter?" cried Godfrey, for the other's -face frightened him. It was as white as paper, while in his eyes there -shone a light that was scarcely that of reason. - -"Let me stay with you, let me stay with you!" he cried. "If I am left -alone I don't know what I shall do. I have had such dreams to-night that -I dare not even close my eyes. For God's sake give me brandy! I must -have something to bring back my courage. Look, look! Can't you see, man, -how badly I need it?" - -Needless to say, Godfrey saw this. Accordingly bidding him remain where -he was, he went off to procure some. When he returned he found Victor -seated on the settee at the foot of the bed. Apparently he had recovered -his self-command. - -"I am afraid you must think me an awful fool, Godfrey," he said. "But I -have really had a deuce of a fright. You don't know what awful dreams I -had. I could not have stayed alone in that room another minute." - -It must indeed have been a fright, for Godfrey noticed that, though he -pretended to have recovered, he was still trembling. - -"Well, I am glad to see that you are feeling better," he said. "Drink -some of this, it will make a new man of you." - -"If it could do that I'd drink a hogshead," he said bitterly. "If -there's one man in this world of whose society I am heartily sick, it is -Victor Fensden. Now I'll go back to my own room. Forgive me for -disturbing you, won't you, but I could not help myself." - -So saying, he took up his candle once more and returned to his own room, -leaving Godfrey to put what construction he thought best upon the -incident. - -"I am beginning to think that poor Victor is not quite right in his -head," said the latter to himself as he blew out his candle and composed -himself for slumber once more. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - -The first train that left Detwich for London next morning had for its -passengers Sir Vivian Devereux, Godfrey Henderson, and Victor Fensden. -Inspector Griffin was also travelling by it, not a little elated by the -importance of his errand. On reaching Euston, after promising to meet -them at the inquest, Fensden drove off to his club, while Sir Vivian and -Godfrey made their way to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where they were to have -an interview with Mr. Cornelius Bensleigh, of the firm of Bensleigh and -Bensleigh, solicitors. That gentleman had already received a letter from -Godfrey, written on the Saturday night, giving him an outline of the -affair, and acquainting him of the part the latter had played in the -mystery. - -"I am afraid this will be calculated to put you to a considerable amount -of inconvenience, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, after they had -discussed the matter for a few moments. "From what I can gather, you -were the last person to see the poor woman alive, and as Sir Vivian -Devereux says, for that reason we must be particularly careful that no -breath of scandal attaches itself to your name. Now, as cases like this -are somewhat foreign to our experience, I have made up my mind, always, -of course, with your permission, that I will introduce you to a -gentleman who makes them his particular study. Of course, should you -desire it, I will put precedent on one side, and do all I can for you; -but, if you will be guided by me, you will place your case in the hands -of Mr. Codey, the gentleman to whom I refer, and whose name is doubtless -familiar to you. His office is not far from here, and if you will -accompany me, I shall be only too pleased to escort you to it, and to -introduce you to him." - -This course having been agreed upon, they accompanied him to the office -of the lawyer in question, and, after a few moments' delay, were -conducted to his presence. He looked more like a trainer of racehorses -than a criminal lawyer. He was the possessor of a sharp, keen face, a -pair of restless eyes, a clean-shaven mouth and chin, while the whiskers -on his cheeks were clipped to a nicety. The elderly lawyer introduced -Sir Vivian and Godfrey to him, and explained the nature of their visit. - -"Ah, the Burford Street murder," said Mr. Codey, as soon as he heard the -name of the case. "I was wondering how long it would be before I was -drawn into it. And so, Mr. Henderson, you have the misfortune to be -connected with it? As a matter of fact, I suppose you are the gentleman -in evening dress who was seen speaking to the girl on the pavement -outside the house." - -"I am; but how do you know it?" Godfrey asked, in considerable surprise. - -"I merely guessed it," said the lawyer. "I see from the papers that the -deceased was once your model. Now you come to me for help. I simply put -two and two together, with the result aforesaid. Perhaps you will be -kind enough to tell me all you know about it. Be very sure you keep -nothing back; after that I shall know how to act." - -Thus encouraged, Godfrey set to work, and told the tale with which by -this time my readers are so familiar. The lawyer listened patiently, -made a few notes on a sheet of paper as the story progressed, and when -he had finished asked one or two more or less pertinent questions. - -"You say that you returned to your hotel immediately after your -interview with the deceased?" - -"Immediately," Godfrey answered. - -"Did you take a cab?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "it was a cold night, and I thought the walk would -do me good." - -"But you drove to the house in a cab?" - -"I did, and dismissed it at once." - -"That was unfortunate. Do you think the driver would know you again?" - -"I should think it very probable," said Godfrey. - -"You were standing under the lamp-post, of course, when you paid him, -with the light shining full upon your face?" - -"I suppose so, as the lamp is exactly opposite the door; but I did not -think of that." - -"No; but, you see, I must think of these things," said the lawyer. "And -when you returned to your hotel?" - -"I called for a brandy and soda, and, having drunk it, went to bed." - -When he had learned all he desired to know, it was arranged that Mr. -Codey should attend the coroner's court, and watch the case on Godfrey's -behalf; after which they left the office. On reaching the club where Sir -Vivian and Godfrey had elected to lunch, they found that the murder was -the one absorbing topic of the day. This was more than Godfrey had -bargained for; for, when it was remembered that the deceased woman had -been his model, he was cross-questioned concerning her on every hand. So -unbearable did this at last become, that he proposed to Sir Vivian that -they should take a stroll in the park until it should be time for them -to set off to the business of the afternoon. - -When they reached the building in which the inquest was to be held, they -discovered that a large crowd had collected; indeed, it was only with -difficulty, and after they had explained their errand, that they could -gain admittance to the building. Fensden was awaiting them there, still -looking pale and worried; also Mr. Codey, the lawyer, appearing even -keener than he had done at his office. - -"Public curiosity is a strange thing," said the latter, as he looked -round the packed court. "Probably not more than five persons now in this -room ever saw the dead girl, and yet they crowd here as though their -lives depended upon their not losing a word of what is said about her." - -At this moment an official came forward, and said something to Godfrey -in a low voice. The latter immediately followed him from the room. When -he returned he was very white, and he seemed visibly upset. - -Then the coroner entered, a portly, dignified gentleman, and took his -seat, after which the proceedings were opened in due form. - -The landlord of the house, in which the deceased had resided, was the -first witness called. He deposed as to the name she was known by in the -house, stated that she was supposed to be an artist's model, and that, -to the best of his belief, she had been a quiet and respectable girl. At -any rate, her rent had invariably been paid on the day on which it had -become due. He had identified the body as being that of his lodger. -During the time she had been with him he had never known her to receive -a visitor; as a matter of fact, she had kept to herself; scarcely -speaking to any one save when she returned their salutations on the -stairs. He was not aware that she had received a letter, and, as far as -he knew, she had not a friend in London. - -The next witness was the German cabinet-maker, who had been the first to -discover the murder. He gave evidence through the medium of an -interpreter, and described how he had seen the congealed blood under -the door and the suspicions it had given rise to. In answer to a -question put by a superintendent of police, who represented the -commissioner, he stated that he had never spoken to the deceased, for -the reason that he knew no English or Italian, and she was not -acquainted with German. He had heard her go out on the night in -question, and return shortly after midnight, but whether she was -accompanied by any one he could not say. He also deposed to the position -of the body when they opened the door, and to the mysterious fact that -the hands were missing. - -The next witness was the police-constable on the beat, who had been -called in by the landlord. He gave evidence as to the opening of the -door, and the discovery then made. He was followed by the doctor, who -had made the post-mortem examination, and who described the nature and -situation of the various wounds, and the conclusions he had drawn -therefrom. Then came the first sensation of the afternoon, when the -well-known artist, Godfrey Henderson, was called. In answer to the -various questions put to him, he deposed that he had known the deceased -for upward of a year; that he had employed her for the model of his -picture, "A Woman of the People," and had always found her a quiet and -eminently respectable girl. He had been compelled to dismiss her, not -because he had any fault to find with her, but because he was going -abroad. This was not the last he had heard of her, for, while on the -Nile at Luxor, he had received a letter from her, informing him of her -address, in view of any future work he might have for her. At Naples he -had again met her, when he was on his way back to England, and had taken -her to the Opera in her mother's company. On the night of the murder, he -had again met her in the Strand, quite by accident, when, finding that -she was in serious trouble, he had offered to help her. She would not -accept his assistance, however. Noticing that she was in a most unhappy -state, and not liking to leave her alone in the streets, he had called a -cab and escorted her to her abode in Burford Street. He did not enter -the building, however, but bade her good-bye in the street, after which -he returned to his hotel. He was unable to assign any motive for the -crime, and added that the only person he could have believed would have -committed it, was a man named Dardini, an Italian, who was in love with -the girl, and who had attempted his (the witness's) life in Naples, on -the night of the visit to the Opera. Whether the man was in England he -was unable to say. Whether she had been in want of money at the time of -his last seeing her, he also was unable to say. She had declared that -she was in work, that was all he knew of the matter. - -"On hearing that she was married, did you not inquire the name of her -husband?" asked the coroner. - -"I did," Godfrey replied, "but she refused to tell me." - -"Did not that strike you as being singular?" - -"No," Godfrey replied. "When she informed me that he was dead, I did not -press the matter." - -"You are quite sure, I suppose, that she was not married when you met -her at Naples?" - -"I feel convinced that she was not; but I could not say so on my oath." - -"And when you opened the box, which you say was sent you at your country -residence, were you not shocked at the discovery you made?" - -"Naturally I was!" - -"And what conclusions did you come to?" - -"I gathered from it that my old friend had been murdered." - -"What caused you to recognise her hands?" - -"A certain mark above the knuckle of the second finger, the result, I -should say, of a burn." - -At this point, Mr. Codey, who had already informed the coroner that he -was appearing on behalf of the witness then being examined, asked an -important question. - -"On making this terrible discovery, what was your immediate action?" - -"I sent for my prospective father-in-law, Sir Vivian Devereux, and for -the police officer in charge of Detwich. It was at once agreed that we -should communicate with the authorities and that I should render them -all the assistance in my power." - -"Pardon my touching upon such a matter, but I believe you are about to -be married, Mr. Henderson?" said the coroner. - -"I hope to be married on Thursday next," said Godfrey. - -"I do not think I need trouble you any further," the coroner then -remarked. - -The next witness was a police officer, who informed the Court that -inquiries had been made in Naples concerning the man Dardini, with the -result that it was discovered that he had been arrested for assault upon -a foreigner a fortnight before the deceased's return to England, and -that he was still in prison. This effectually disposed of his -association with the crime, and added an even greater air of mystery to -it than before. - -When this witness had stepped down, Mr. Victor Fensden was called. He -stated that he was also an artist, and a friend of Mr. Godfrey -Henderson. It was he who had first discovered the deceased, and he had -recommended her to his friend for the picture of which she was afterward -the principal figure. She had always struck him as being a quiet and -respectable girl. When asked why she had received her notice of -dismissal, Victor answered that it was because his friend, Mr. -Henderson, had suddenly made up his mind to travel. - -"I understand you to say _suddenly_," said the superintendent in charge -of the case. "Why was it Mr. Henderson suddenly made up his mind to go -abroad?" - -"I do not know that this question is at all relevant to the case," said -Victor, appealing to the coroner. "It was purely a private matter on Mr. -Henderson's part." - -"But anything that bears on the question at issue can scarcely be -irrelevant," said the coroner. "I think it would be better if you would -answer the question." - -Fensden paused for a moment while the Court waited in suspense. - -"I repeat my question," said the superintendent. "Why did the deceased -so suddenly lose her employment?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Godfrey looked at him in surprise. Why did -he not go on? - -"We decided to travel on account of a conversation Mr. Henderson and I -had concerning the girl." - -"What was that conversation?" inquired the coroner. - -Once more Fensden seemed to hesitate. - -"Did the conversation refer to the deceased?" - -"It did!" - -"I gather from your reluctance to answer that you were afraid Mr. -Henderson might become attached to her, so you used your friendly -influence in order to hurry him away as quickly as possible? Am I right -in so supposing?" - -Another pause, during which Victor's face was seen to express great -emotion. - -"That was so." - -"You are sure that Mr. Henderson was attached to the deceased?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"Did you know that Mr. Henderson was aware of the deceased's return to -Naples?" - -"I was aware that he was in correspondence with her," said Victor; "but -he said nothing to me of his intention to visit her in Naples." - -"Had you known this, would you have endeavoured to dissuade him from -such a course?" - -"I do not know what I should have done; but I should think it very -probable that I should have endeavoured to prevent their meeting." - -"When did you become aware of the deceased's return to England?" - -"When Mr. Henderson informed me of it on my arrival at his house at -Detwich Hall." - -"You were naturally very much surprised to hear that he had met her, I -suppose?" - -"Very much," Victor replied. - -"Did you say anything to him upon the subject?" - -"I warned him against the folly of being drawn into another entanglement -with her, particularly when he was to be married in ten days' time." - -"You say _another_ entanglement with her? Are we, therefore, to -understand that there had been an entanglement before?" - -Again Victor paused before he replied. - -"I withdraw the word 'another,'" he said, hurriedly. "I did not mean it -in that sense. I merely suggested to Mr. Henderson that his _fiancee_ -might not care to know that he had been seen driving through the streets -of London after midnight with an Italian girl, who had once been his -model." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey to himself. "And this is the man whom I -have trusted and who has called himself my friend for so many years!" - -At this point the coroner, addressing the jury, stated his intention of -adjourning the inquiry until the following Wednesday morning at eleven -o'clock. He had excellent reasons for keeping it open until then, he -said, and these reasons he had communicated to the foreman of the jury, -who was completely satisfied. The Court thereupon adjourned, and -Godfrey presently found himself in the street with Mr. Codey on one side -and Sir Vivian Devereux on the other. Victor Fensden was waiting for -them on the pavement, and, as soon as they emerged, he approached them -with a face that still bore the traces of violent emotion. - -"Godfrey," he began, in a faltering voice, "after what they dragged out -of me, I scarcely know what to say to you." - -"In any case, I beg that you will not say it," said Godfrey, coldly. -"You have said quite enough already." Then, turning to the others, he -continued: "Come, gentlemen, let us find a cab. I suppose we had better -go back to your office, Mr. Codey?" - -"I think it would be better," said that gentleman. "I must have a talk -with you upon this matter." - -Then, hailing a cab, they entered it, leaving Fensden on the pavement -looking after them. Godfrey's face was still very pale. It was -impossible for him to be blind to the fact that his kindness to Teresina -had been the means of bringing down grave suspicion upon himself. Yet, -even with that knowledge before him, he knew that he would not, or -could not, have acted otherwise than he had done. - -When they reached the lawyer's private office, the door was shut and -they sat down to business. - -"Well, Mr. Henderson," said Mr. Codey, "what is your opinion now?" - -"I think that the public mind is already jumping to the conclusion that -I am responsible for the murder," Godfrey answered, without fear or -hesitation. - -"I am very much afraid that you must accustom yourself to look upon it -in that light," the other replied. "The man Fensden's evidence, given in -such a manner as he gave it, was unnecessarily damaging." - -"He is a black-hearted scoundrel," said the old baronet, wrathfully. "I -told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I didn't trust him, and that I felt -sure he bore you some ill-will. And yet, do you know, Mr. Codey," he -added, turning to the lawyer, "Mr. Henderson has done everything for -that man. He has practically kept him for years past, he took him on a -tour round Europe only a few months ago, and this is the result. It -makes one sick with humanity." - -"When you have seen as much of humanity as I have, you will not be -surprised at anything," said the lawyer. "The greater the obligation in -many cases, the deeper the ingratitude. We are wandering from the point, -however. Now I am going to be plain-spoken. Tell me, Mr. Henderson, did -you ever, under any sort of circumstance, make love, or suggest love, to -the woman who is now deceased?" - -"Never," said Godfrey, firmly. "The man who declares that I did, lies." - -"Very probable, but that won't prevent his saying it. When you left her -in Burford Street, did you meet any one near the house?" - -"Not a soul. The street, so far as I could see, was empty." - -"I think you said this morning that the night porter let you in at your -hotel? Did you make any remark to him respecting the time?" - -"Yes, I said to him when he had opened the door, 'I'm afraid I'm rather -late,' then, looking at my watch, I added, 'Why, it's half-past -twelve!'" - -"If he's blessed with a good memory, he will recollect that," said -Codey. Then with his usual abruptness, he continued, "Which way did you -walk from Burford Street?" - -"Through the Tottenham Court Road, along Oxford Street, and down Bond -Street." - -"A man shall walk it quickly to-morrow morning in order to see how long -it will take. If only that hall porter has a good memory, and can be -relied upon, this should prove an important point." - -"But surely, my good sir," put in Sir Vivian, "you do not for a moment -suppose that Mr. Henderson will be accused of having killed this woman?" - -"I should not be at all surprised," said the lawyer, quietly. "Let us -regard the facts of the case. Some months back, Mr. Henderson employed -this girl as his model, and retained her services when he really had no -need for them. He was on such familiar terms with her that his friend -felt compelled to remonstrate with him. As a result they left England -hurriedly, the girl following them to Naples. No, no, Mr. Henderson, I -beg that you will be silent. Remember, I am telling the story as I -should tell it if I were against you instead of for you. As I have said, -the girl left for Naples, and I insinuate that she followed you. It can -be proved that she corresponded with you, and that you sent your friend -on his way to travel alone; always bearing in mind that he was the man -who had persuaded you to give the girl up. You, in the meantime, -returned to Naples, in order to visit her again. You may dispute the -motive, but you can not deny that you took her out to dinner and to a -theatre afterward." - -"But her mother was with her," said Godfrey hurriedly, his face flushing -angrily at the imputation put upon his action by the other. - -"That point is immaterial," the lawyer replied calmly. "It is sufficient -for the purposes of the prosecution that you met her there. Then you -proceeded to England, and, after a little while in the country, became -engaged to the daughter of Sir Vivian, now present. The Italian girl had -also gone to England. Why? To be with you, of course. You, however, see -nothing of her. Therefore, she is unhappy. Why? Because you are about to -be married." - -"But that is only supposition," said Godfrey. "As a matter of fact, she -herself was already married." - -"To whom? Why not to yourself?" - -"Good Heavens, man," said Godfrey, starting from his seat, "you don't -surely mean to say that you believe I had married her?" - -"I believe nothing," he replied, still with the same coolness. "But you -will find that the counsel for the prosecution will consider it more -than likely. Let me continue my story. I was saying that she was unhappy -because you were about to be married. It is only natural. Then you came -up to town, visited the theatre, and afterward, quite by chance, met her -in the Strand, at midnight. At midnight, and by chance, mark that! Does -that meeting look like an accidental one? Could you convince a jury that -it was? I doubt it. However, let us proceed. The girl is in trouble, and -you take her home in a hansom. The policeman and the cabman will -certainly identify you, and, for the reason that you say the street was -empty when you bade her good-bye, no one will be able to swear that you -did not go into the house with her. Now, Mr. Henderson, I ask you to -look these facts in the face, and tell me, as a thinking man, whether -you consider the public is to be blamed if it regards you with -suspicion?" - -"As you put it, no," said Godfrey. "But it can surely be proved that I -had nothing whatsoever to do with it, beyond what I have said." - -"Exactly; and that is what we have got to do. But I don't mind telling -you candidly that I fancy we shall have our work cut out to do it. You -see, we have to remember that, beyond your own evidence, there is -absolutely nothing for us to argue upon. The two strongest points in -your favour are the facts that you were at Detwich when the box -containing the dead woman's hands was sent off at Euston, and that there -would not be sufficient time between the moment when the policeman saw -you in Burford Street and the time when you arrived at your hotel, for -you to have committed the crime. What we have to do is to find the -person who despatched the box from London, and to make sure of the hall -porter. In the meantime go back to Detwich, and be sure that you don't -stir from home until you hear from me." - -"One more question, Mr. Codey. I should like you, before we go any -further, to tell me honestly whether, in your own heart, you believe me -to be innocent or guilty?" - -"I believe you to be innocent," said the lawyer; "and you may be sure I -shall try to prove it." - - - - -CHAPTER X - - -A more miserable home-coming than Godfrey's, after the events described -in the previous chapter, could scarcely be imagined. They had taken a -cab from the lawyer's office to Euston Station, and during the drive, -neither of them referred in any way to the interview they had just had -with Codey. It was not until they were seated in the railway carriage, -and the train had started upon its journey, that they broke their -silence. - -"Sir Vivian," said Godfrey, "I can not express to you my thanks for the -kindness which you showed me in standing by me to-day. Believe me, I am -very sensible of it." - -"You must not speak of it;" said the worthy old gentleman; "and as for -the affair itself, it is a piece of ill-luck that might have happened to -the best of us. At the same time, I should very much like to have an -opportunity of telling that wretched Fensden what I think of him." - -"Do not let us talk of him," said Godfrey. "His own feelings must be -sufficient punishment for him. There is one thing, however, that I must -say to you before we go any further." - -"And what is that?" - -"It concerns my wedding," Godfrey replied. "I am afraid it will be a -terrible blow to poor Molly; but until this charge, which I have no -doubt will be brought against me, is disproved, she must not think any -more of me." - -Sir Vivian stared at him in astonishment. - -"Nonsense, my dear lad," said he. "I know that you love my girl, and -that she loves you. It is her duty, therefore, to stand by you and to -comfort you when you are in trouble. Believe me, she will have no doubt -as to your innocence." - -"I know that," said Godfrey; "but I do not think it would be fair for me -to allow her name to be linked with mine under such painful -circumstances." - -"It will be linked with it whether you like it or not," was the reply. -"If I am prepared to stake my honour on your innocence, you may be very -sure that she will stake hers. Molly isn't a fair-weather friend." - -"She is the truest and best girl in the world," said Godfrey. "No one -knows that better than I." - -"Then wait until you have seen her and talked it over with her alone. -Put the question to her, and see what she will say. I know her well -enough to guess what her answer will be." - -"God bless you for your trust in me!" said Godfrey, in a shaky voice. "I -fear I have done very little to deserve it." - -"It is sufficient that I know you for what you are," the other answered. -"I knew your uncle and grandfather before him, and I am as certain that -you would not do anything dishonourable as I am of my own name. What we -have to do is to put our wits to work and to endeavour to find out, as -Codey says, the sender of the box. Then I believe we shall be on the -track of the real criminal. It was a very good suggestion on Mr. -Bensleigh's part that we should employ that man; we could not have had a -better. I never saw such eyes in my life. He seems to look one through -and through. I pity Mr. Fensden when he comes to be cross-examined by -him." - -The old gentleman chuckled over the thought and then lapsed into -silence. - -When they reached Detwich, they became aware that Griffin had travelled -from London by the same train. Godfrey beckoned to him. - -"Of course you heard the evidence to-day, Griffin," Godfrey began when -the other approached. - -"Yes, sir, I did," said the police official, gravely. - -"And you must have drawn your own conclusions from it?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Well, Griffin, what I wanted to say to you is that, if I am wanted for -anything, I shall not leave the Hall until Wednesday morning; then I -shall go up to the inquiry again." - -"I will bear the fact in mind, sir," said the man. "But there's one -thing I should like to say, if you don't mind." - -"What is it? Say it by all means." - -"It's this, sir. Whether it's going against my duty or not--and there's -nobody here to hear it if it is--whatever verdict they may bring in, I -don't believe for a moment that you had any more to do with that poor -girl's death than I had. You will excuse my saying so, I hope, sir?" - -"On the contrary, I am very much obliged to you for your good opinion," -Godfrey replied, holding out his hand which the other took. "I am afraid -that it's going to be a very unpleasant business for me. That can't be -helped, however. Good-night." - -"Good-night, sir," the man answered. - -Then Godfrey joined Sir Vivian and, as had been arranged, they drove off -to the Hall together. The moon was rising above the hill as they went -through the park, and as Godfrey looked on the peaceful scene around him -and thought of the terrible suspicion that was growing in people's minds -concerning himself his heart sank within him. If only little Teresina -could speak, how easily she could clear up all the dark charges against -him! She was dead, however, brutally murdered, and he, the only man who -had ever befriended her, was suspected of having caused her death. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my lad," said Sir Vivian, as they alighted from -the carriage and ascended the steps. "Think of the ladies, and don't -make them any more unhappy than you can help." - -The door was opened by the ancient butler who had served his uncle -before him, and Godfrey entered his home, but how different a man from -the young fellow who had left it that morning! - -"The ladies are in the drawing-room, sir," said the servant, when he had -relieved them of their hats and coats. - -They accordingly proceeded thither, one of them at least with a sinking -heart. - -"We have just been wondering when we should see you," said Kitty. - -There was a look of anxiety on Molly's face as she came forward to meet -her lover. She placed her hand in his, and they sat down together. - -"Well, my dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, "what have you to tell us? -What was the result?" - -There was no need for her to say to what she referred. Their minds had -been too much occupied with it that day to leave room for any -uncertainty upon the point. - -"Nothing is decided yet," said Sir Vivian, who took upon himself the -part of spokesman. "The inquiry is adjourned until Wednesday." - -"That means that you will have to go up again," said Molly. "Why -couldn't they settle it at once?" - -Godfrey knew, but he dared not tell her the reason. - -"They are searching for more evidence, I fancy," said Sir Vivian. "You -must remember that the matter is, at present, shrouded in the greatest -mystery. Until that can be cleared up, nothing can be done." - -"And Mr. Fensden, where did you leave him?" asked Mrs. Henderson. - -"We parted outside the Court," said Godfrey. "I have no idea where he is -staying to-night." - -Though he tried to speak unconcernedly, Molly felt certain in her own -mind that there had been trouble between the two men. She said nothing -to him about it, however. She knew that he would tell her in good time. - -That night, when Sir Vivian's carriage was announced, Godfrey -accompanied him to the front door. Before leaving, the old gentleman -took him on one side out of earshot of the servants. - -"Keep up your spirits, my dear lad," he said, as he had done so many -times before. "Remember that you have many friends and that I am not the -least of them. Should anything occur, send for me at once, and I will be -with you as fast as horses can bring me. In the meantime do not alarm -the ladies more than you can help." - -"You may rely upon my not doing so," said Godfrey, and then Sir Vivian -entered his carriage and drove away. - -Later, when Godfrey bade Molly good-night, she looked up at him with -sorrowful eyes. - -"I feel sure," she said, "that there is something you are keeping back -from me. I beg of you not to do so. You know how I love you, and how -earnest is my desire to share both your joys and your sorrows with you. -Will you not confide in me and tell me everything?" - -"When there is anything worth the hearing, you may be sure I will tell -you, dear," he answered, not daring to let her know the truth that -night. "In the morning we will talk the whole matter over and you shall -give me your advice. And now you must go to bed and try to obtain a good -night's rest, for I am sure you did not sleep well last night." - -"I did not," she answered. "I was thinking of you all night, for I knew -how you were dreading going up to-day." - -He did not tell her that he dreaded going up on Wednesday a great deal -more. He preferred to take her in his arms and kiss her, calling her his -good angel, swearing that he would love her all his life long, and that -even death itself should not separate them. Then he went to his room, -prepared to spend what he knew would be a sleepless night, and he was -not destined to be wrong. Hour after hour he tumbled and tossed upon his -bed, going over the day's proceedings again and again, and speculating -with never-ceasing anxiety as to what was to happen in the future. At -last, unable to bear it any longer, he rose from his bed and went -downstairs to his studio, where he lighted his fire and smoked and read -until daylight. Then a cold bath somewhat refreshed him, and, as soon as -he had dressed, he set off across the park to the home farm. He was -always an early riser, and his presence there at that hour excited no -comment. He watched the sleek, soft-eyed cows being milked, saw the -handsome cart-horses, of which he had once been so proud, set off upon -their day's work, had a quarter of an hour's conversation with his -head-keeper at his cottage gate, and then returned home through the -plantations to breakfast. It was his mother's habit to read prayers to -the household immediately before the meal, and, as he knelt by Molly's -side, and listened to the old familiar words, his heart ached when he -thought of the misery that any moment might bring upon them. - -As the first train from London did not arrive until somewhat late, the -morning papers were delivered with the letters, which usually reached -the Hall about half-past nine. When they arrived Godfrey selected one, -and took it with him to his studio. With a feeling that he had never -before experienced when opening a paper, he turned the crisp pages in -search of the column which he knew he would find. Then he saw in large -type: - - THE BURFORD STREET MURDER - - * * * * * - - EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE - - * * * * * - -There was no need for him to wonder what that evidence was: he knew -before he began to read. The prominence given by the paper to the case -was a proof of the excitement the inquiry had aroused in the public -mind. At last he forced himself to read. Every word rose before his eyes -as vividly as though it had been traced in letters of fire. Set down in -cold print, the affair presented a very sinister aspect, so far as he -was concerned. Every portion of the evidence seemed to point to himself -as being the man who had committed the dastardly deed. He could well -imagine what the feeling of independent persons would be who read it, -and how readily they would arrive at a conclusion unfavourable to -himself. He had just perused it for the second time, when he was -startled by a faint tap upon the door. - -"Come in," he cried, and in response Molly entered the room. - -"I have been looking for you," she said, with the parody of a smile upon -her face. - -"I should have come in search of you in a few moments," he replied. "The -fact is, I have had certain things to do which could not very well be -left undone. Will you forgive me, dear?" - -"Of course I will," she answered. "It is impossible for you to be always -with me, and yet I am selfish enough to grudge you the time you spend -upon anything else." - -He was quick-witted enough to see that what she said was only an attempt -to gain time. She, on her side, knew that he stood in need of comfort, -and she had come to give it to him. - -"Molly," he said, rising from the chair in which he had been sitting and -going toward her, "I feel that I must tell you everything. God knows, -this is the crisis of my life, and to whom should I turn in my sorrow, -if not to the woman I love, and whom I know loves me? Have you read the -account of the inquest in the papers?" - -"No," she answered, "I would not read it, lest I should derive a false -impression from it. I am quite willing to hear what you have to say -about it, and to accept your version as the truth." - -"God bless you, dear, for your trust in me!" he replied; "but it is -necessary that you should hear what other people have to say upon the -matter. Read it carefully, and, when you have finished, tell me what you -think about it." - -He gave her the paper, and for a moment she stood as if undecided. - -"Do you really wish it?" she asked. - -"It is better that you should do so, believe me," he said. "In that -case, no one can say that I kept anything back from you." - -"I will read it," she said, and went toward the window-seat to do so. - -While she was reading, he stood before the fire and watched her. He -noticed the poise of the beautiful head, the sweet hands holding the -paper, on one finger of which sparkled the engagement ring he had given -her, and the tiny foot just peeping from beneath the dark green skirt. -She was a woman worth fighting all the world for, and, as he reflected -how easy it would be for false evidence to separate them, he experienced -a fear such as he had never known in his life before. - -When she had finished, she crossed the room with the paper in her hand. -Deliberately folding it up and laying it upon the table, she went to -him, and placed her hands in his. Looking up into his face with trustful -eyes, she said: - -"I told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I believed in you. I tell you -again, that, whatever the world may say with regard to this dreadful -affair, it will make no difference in my love. I feel as convinced as I -am of anything that, by whatever means, or at whose hand, that poor girl -met her death, you were in no sort of way responsible for, or connected -with it. You believe me, don't you?" - -"I do," he answered, with tears in his eyes. "And I thank God for your -trust. Do you know, yesterday I suggested to your father that, situated -as we are, it would be better if I were to give you back your freedom -until my innocence is proved?" - -"I would not take it," she answered, firmly. "When I gave myself to you, -it was not to be your bride in fair weather alone; it was to be your -partner in the rough seas of life as well as in the smooth. No, come -what may, Godfrey, I will not let you give me up. Promise me that you -will never mention such a thing again? It hurts me even to think of it." - -"Your mind is made up?" - -"Quite made up," she answered. "I should not change, even if you were -what--(here she shuddered)--what that paper would seem to suggest. No, -darling, I am your wife, if not in the law, at least in God's sight." - -"I thank you," he answered, earnestly. "The knowledge that you still -trust me will be my most precious consolation." - -"And now tell me of this Mr. Codey, the lawyer you have employed. Is he -a clever man?" - -"One of the cleverest in the land, I should say," Godfrey replied. "He -has had great experience in these sort of cases, and, if any man can -render me assistance, I should say he is that one." - -"Oh, how thankful I shall be," she said, "when everything is settled! -How little we dreamt, when we were so happy together last week, that -within a few days we should be made so miserable! Perhaps, after all, it -is only our love being tried in the crucible of trouble. And when it is -over, and we have come out of it, we shall know each other's real worth. -That is the best way to look at it, I think." - -"Quite the best," he answered, and kissed her on the forehead. - -Then, adopting a brighter tone, he suggested that they should go for a -walk together, in order, if possible, to dispel, for the time being at -least, the dark clouds that had settled upon them. It was a clear, -bright morning, and as they crossed the park, and mounted the hillside -toward the plantation, where the rabbits were playing, and the -pheasants, who of late had not received the attention their merits -deserved, were strutting about on the open grass land, Godfrey found it -difficult to believe that the situation was really as desperate as he -imagined. Their walk lasted for upward of two hours; indeed, it was -nearly lunch-time before they reached the house once more. When they -did, Molly went upstairs to her room to prepare herself for luncheon, -while Godfrey made his way to his mother's sitting room, where he found -the old lady quietly knitting by the fire. - -"Thank goodness you have come in at last, dear!" said Mrs. Henderson. "I -have been wanting so much to have a talk with you! Godfrey, I have read -the evidence given at the inquest, and it frightens me." - -"I am sorry for that, mother," he said, seating himself by her side. -"What do you think of it?" - -She placed her hand upon his arm, and looked at him with her loving -eyes. - -"I think my boy is too noble to have done anything of which his mother -would have had reason to be ashamed." - -Godfrey rose from his chair and walked to the window. These constant -proofs of the love in which he was held was unmanning him. He could not -trust himself to speak. When his own little world believed in him so -implicitly, how could the greater world be so censorious? - -When they went into luncheon, Godfrey soon saw that the ancient butler -and his subordinate had become aware of the state of affairs. Attentive -to his wants as they always were, on this particular occasion, they -were even more so than usual. It was as if they were endeavouring in -their own kindly way to show that they too believed in him, and were -desirous of proving their sympathy with him. Never before had his own -home struck him in the same light. His heart was too full for speech, -and, in spite of his sister's well-meant attempt to promote -conversation, the meal passed almost in silence. - -After luncheon the bailiff sent in word that he should like to speak to -him. The man was accordingly admitted to the smoking-room, where he -discussed various matters connected with the estate with his master for -upward of an hour. Labouring as he was, under the weight of greater -emotions, Godfrey found it difficult to pin his attention to the matters -at issue, and when the other went his way, after respectfully touching -his forelock, for the first time since he had known the old fellow, he -heaved a sigh of relief. At half-past four he joined the ladies in the -drawing-room for afternoon tea. To add to his pain, another consignment -of wedding presents had arrived, and in order that he should not be -thought to be unduly nervous about the future, he was compelled to -appear delighted with the attentions he had received from his friends. - -"That makes the fifth pair of asparagus tongs we have received," said -Molly, as she closed the case and placed it with its fellows upon the -table. "And what is this? Well, I declare, it's another set of sweet -dishes. That brings the number up to twenty-seven!" - -At that moment the sound of carriage wheels outside reached them, -followed, a few seconds later, by the ringing of the front door-bell. - -"Visitors, I suppose," said Kitty. "It may be rude, but I must say that -I trust it is not the vicar." - -They waited in suspense until Williamson, the butler, entered the room -and informed Godfrey that a gentleman had called to see him, and was -waiting in the library. - -"Who is it?" Godfrey asked. "Did he not give his name?" - -"His name is Tompkins, sir," the butler replied. "He said he should be -glad if you could spare the time to see him for a few moments." - -"I will do so at once," said Godfrey, and, asking the ladies to excuse -him, left the room. - -On entering the library, he found himself face to face with a -middle-aged individual, who at first glance resembled a sporting parson. -He was dressed in black, and carried a black silk hat in his hand. - -"What can I do for you?" Godfrey inquired. "I am not aware that I have -ever seen you before." - -"Very likely not, sir," the man replied. "My name is Tompkins, and I am -a Scotland Yard detective. I hold a warrant for your arrest on a charge -of wilfully murdering Teresina Cardi in Burford Street on the night of -Thursday last. I had better tell you that anything you may say will be -used against you." - -The blow had fallen at last! - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - -For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from -town to arrest him, as if he were stunned. Though he had half expected -it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate -his position. At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession. - -"You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me," -he said to the detective. "But I have no wish to complain to you; you -are only doing your duty. Where is it you desire to take me?" - -"We must go up to town to-night," said the man, civilly enough. "As you -may remember, sir, the adjourned inquest is to be held to-morrow -morning, and it will be necessary for you to be present." - -"In that case we had better catch the 6.10 train from Detwich. It is an -express and gets to Euston at eight. Is your cab waiting, or shall I -order one of my own carriages to take us?" - -"I told the man to wait," the other replied. "He is a station cabman." - -"In that case, if you will allow me, I will tell my servant to put up a -few things for me. I suppose I shall be allowed to take them?" - -"There is no objection to it." - -Godfrey rang the bell, and, when the butler appeared in answer to it, -bade him tell his man that he intended going up to London at once, and -that he wanted his bag prepared without a moment's delay. Then, with a -fine touch of sarcasm, he added: "Tell him also that I shall not require -my dress clothes." - -The detective smiled grimly. It was a joke he could appreciate; he also -liked the other's pluck in being able to jest at such a time. - -"That's the thing with these swells," he said to himself. "They never -know when they're beaten." - -"In the meantime," said Godfrey, "I suppose you will permit me to say -good-bye to my family? I will give you my word, if you deem it -necessary, that I will make no attempt to escape." - -"I will trust you, sir," said the man. "I know it's hard lines on you, -and I want to make it as pleasant for you as I can, provided, of -course, you don't get me into hot water." - -"I will endeavour not to do that," said Godfrey. "And now I'll go to the -drawing-room. If you think it necessary you can wait in the hall." - -"No, sir, thank you. I am quite comfortable here," said the man; "but I -shouldn't make the interview longer than I could help if I were you. -These things are always a bit trying for the ladies. I know it, because -I've seen it so often." - -Having ordered a glass of brandy and water for him, the man's favourite -tipple, and handing him an illustrated paper, Godfrey left him and -returned to the drawing-room. He had an agonizing part to play, and he -wanted to spare his women folk as much pain as possible. As he entered -the room they looked up at him with startled faces. - -"What is it, Godfrey? What is it?" asked his mother, while the two girls -waited for him to speak. - -"It is a man from London who has come down to see me with regard to the -murder," Godfrey began, scarcely knowing how to break the news to them. -"It appears that the authorities are desirous of seeing me prior to the -inquest to-morrow, and so I am going up to-night." - -"Godfrey," cried his mother, springing to her feet and running toward -him, "I see it all. They have arrested you on a charge of murder! Oh, my -boy, my boy, I can not let you go! They shall not take you away." - -"It is only a matter of form, mother," he said, soothingly. "On the face -of yesterday's evidence, they could do nothing else. All well, I shall -be down again to-morrow. It is only a little temporary inconvenience; -for my lawyer, who is one of the cleverest men of his profession, feels -certain that he can disprove the charge." - -"It is monstrous even to suspect you of it," said Kitty. "If they only -knew you, they would not dare even to hint at such a thing." - -Molly said nothing. But he knew what her thoughts were. - -"I must send a note to your father, dear," he said. "He anticipated this -and made me promise to communicate with him directly it should come to -pass." - -He thereupon went to a writing-table in the corner of the room and wrote -a hurried note to Sir Vivian, after which he rang the bell and gave -orders that it should be taken to the Court without a moment's delay. - -"Now," he said, when he had examined his watch and found that it was -nearly half-past five, "I must bid you good-bye. Do not be anxious about -me. I am proudly conscious of my own innocence, and I feel sure that, by -this time to-morrow, the public will be aware of it also." - -But his mother was not to be comforted. She clung to him with the tears -streaming down her cheeks, as if she could not let him go. - -"Mother dear," said Kitty, "you must be brave. Think of Godfrey, and -don't send him away more unhappy than he is." - -"I will be brave," she said, and drew his face down to hers and kissed -him. "Good-bye, my dear boy. May God in His mercy bless you and send you -safely back to us!" - -When Kitty had kissed him, she drew her mother back into the ingle nook -in order that Godfrey and Molly might say good-bye to each other in -private. - -Then Godfrey took Molly in his arms. - -"Good-bye, my own dearest," she said. "I shall pray for you continually. -Night and day you will be in my thoughts." - -He could not answer her, but kissed her passionately. Then, disengaging -himself from her embrace, he left the room. - -Returning to the library, he informed the detective that he was at his -disposal, at the same time telling him that, if they desired to catch -the 6.10 at Detwich, they had no time to lose. - -"We had better be going, then," said the man, and leaving the library -they proceeded into the hall. Godfrey's bag had already been placed in -the cab, and the gray-haired old butler, Williamson, was standing at the -foot of the stairs holding the door open. - -"Good-bye, Williamson," said Godfrey. "I know that I can safely leave -everything in your hands." - -"You can, sir," the man replied, simply; and then for the first time in -his life he allowed himself to become familiar with his master, and -laying his hand on his arm he added, "May God bless you, sir, and send -you back to us soon!" - -Then the cab rolled away down the drive, and Godfrey's journey to prison -had commenced. - -For the greater part of the drive into Detwich neither of them spoke. -One had too much upon his mind to be in the humour for conversation, -while the other, who was sorry for his prisoner, and who knew a -gentleman when he saw one, had no desire to thrust himself upon him in -his trouble. As it happened when they reached the station they found -that they had some minutes to spare. They accordingly strolled up and -down the platform, while they awaited the coming of the express. On its -arrival they secured an empty compartment, and settled down for the -journey to London. When Euston was reached they took a cab and drove -direct to Bow Street, where Godfrey Henderson, of Detwich Hall, Detwich, -was formally charged with the wilful murder of Teresina Cardi, artist's -model. The usual forms having been complied with, he was placed in a -somewhat superior apartment in another portion of the building. Then the -key was turned upon him, and for the first time in his life was a -prisoner. - -Early next morning it was announced that two gentlemen had arrived to -see him. They proved to be Sir Vivian Devereux and Mr. Codey, the -lawyer. - -"My dear lad, this is indeed a sad business," said Sir Vivian, as they -shook hands. "I can not tell you how sorry I am for you. But, thank -God, we know you to be innocent and are determined to prove it." - -They sat down, and the lawyer, who had been looking round the room, -which doubtless he had seen on many previous occasions, began to ply him -with questions, which Godfrey answered to the best of his ability. When -they had withdrawn, he was left to himself until the time arrived for -him to set off for the coroner's court. When he did so, it was in a cab -with a couple of stout policemen beside him to see that he made no -attempt to escape. On reaching it, he found that it was packed to -overflowing. Victor Fensden was there, seated in the space reserved for -the witnesses, but Sir Vivian noticed that he avoided meeting Godfrey's -eyes. With one exception, the proceedings proved comparatively tame. It -was only when the hall porter referred to Godfrey's haggard appearance -when he returned to the hotel on the Thursday night, that there was -anything approaching excitement. He deposed that Mr. Henderson, who had -been staying at the hotel, and whom he now recognised as being in Court, -returned to the hotel on the night of the murder between a quarter-past -and half-past twelve. He, the porter, was immediately struck by his -strange appearance. In reply to a question put by a juror, he replied -that he looked very much as if he had been upset by something; his face -was deadly white, and he had an anxious, what he should call frightened, -look in his eyes. At the other's request, he had procured him some -brandy, and, as he had had some trouble next morning with the head -waiter about it, the fact was the more vividly impressed upon his -memory. The cabman who had driven them from the Strand to Burford Street -was next called. In answer to questions put to him, he stated that, when -he was hailed by the person now in court, the deceased woman seemed very -reluctant to enter the cab. But the other had at last prevailed upon her -to do so, and he had driven them to the house in the street in question. -He had identified the body, and could swear as to the identity of the -person in court. The police-constable, who had passed a few minutes -before he bade Teresina good-night, was next examined. He remembered -seeing them together, and thought it a strange place for a gentleman to -be in at such a time. His attention was drawn to them because the girl -was crying, while the gentleman seemed somewhat excited. Feeling that, -as he was not appealed to, he had no right to interfere, he passed on -down the street. In answer to the coroner's inquiry, he was unable to -say whether or not the man entered the house. - -Ten minutes later a verdict of wilful murder against Godfrey Henderson -was returned, and he was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant. - -Instead of returning to Bow Street from the coroner's court, Godfrey was -now driven to Holloway Prison, where he was placed in an ordinary cell. -His spirits by this time had fallen to as low an ebb as it would be -possible for those of a human being to reach. What had he done to -deserve this cruel fate? He was not conscious of ever having done any -one an injury; he had always done his best to help his fellow-men. Why, -therefore, was he brought so low? He thought of Molly, and pictured her -feelings when she should hear that he was committed for trial. He could -imagine his mother's despair and could almost hear poor, sorrowing Kitty -vainly endeavouring to comfort her. - -During the afternoon Sir Vivian and Mr. Codey came to see him again. The -former was very plainly distressed; the latter, however, regarded -matters in a somewhat more stoical light. He had seen the same things -so many times before, that he had become in a certain measure hardened -to it. In all the cases upon which he had hitherto been engaged, -however, he had never had one in which the prisoner was a country -gentleman, besides being an artist of considerable repute. "You must not -give way, Mr. Henderson," he said, kindly. "There's plenty of time yet -for us to prove your innocence. Doubtless, when this is all over and you -are free once more, you will regard it as a very unpleasant experience, -certainly, but one which might very easily have been worse. Now, with -your permission, I will tell you what I have done. In the first place, -we must endeavour to find the real murderer. Only a trained hand could -do this, so I have engaged a man with whom I have had a great many -dealings in the past. He is a private detective of an unusual kind, and -has a knack of securing information which neither the Government men nor -the private agents seem to possess. He will be expensive, but I suppose -you will have no objection to paying him well for his services, if he is -successful, as I trust he will be." - -"You may be quite sure I shall have no objection," said Godfrey. "Let -him get me out of this scrape, and I'll pay him double, even treble, -his usual charges." - -"Oh, he won't bleed you as much as that," returned the lawyer. "He is -below now, and if you care to see him, I will obtain permission for him -to come up." - -The necessary authority being forthcoming, Codey presently returned, -accompanied by a burly, rosy-cheeked individual, who might very well -have been the landlord of a well-to-do country inn or a farmer in a -prosperous way of business. A more jovial countenance could scarcely -have been discovered, had one searched England through for it. Merely to -look at it was to be made to feel happy, while to hear his laugh was to -be put in a good humour for the remainder of the day. He was dressed in -a suit of tweeds, more than a trifle pronounced as to colour, a knitted -blue waistcoat covered his portly, bow-windowed presence, while he wore -a spotted blue and white tie, decorated with a large diamond pin. His -feet and hands were enormous, and when he laughed--which he did on every -available opportunity--his whole figure seemed to quiver like a blanc -mange. - -"This is Jacob Burrell, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, when the door -had closed on them. "I have told him that you wish him to take up your -case, and he is prepared to do so without delay." - -"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Burrell," said Godfrey. "Mr. Codey -has told me of your cleverness. If you can discover who it was who -actually murdered the poor girl, you will not only relieve me from a -position of considerable danger, but you will lay me under an -everlasting obligation to yourself." - -"I'll do the best I can, sir," said the man, jovially, rubbing his hands -together, as if he regarded the whole affair as a huge joke. "As Mr. -Codey may have told you, I have unravelled pretty tangled skeins in my -day, and it won't be my fault if I don't do the same here. Now, sir, Mr. -Codey, who knows my ways of work, has given me an outline of the case, -but if you don't mind, I should like to put a few questions to you on my -own account." - -"Ask me whatever you please," said Godfrey, "and I will answer to the -best of my ability." - -Burrell seated himself opposite Godfrey, placed one enormous hand on -either knee, and looked the other full in the face. - -"Now, sir, in the first place, when you had your old studio in London, -before you inherited your present estate, and when you first engaged the -girl, can you remember who were your intimate friends? I mean, the -friends who were in the habit of dropping into your studio pretty -frequently, to smoke their pipes, and perhaps to take a friendly glass?" - -Godfrey considered for a moment. - -"I had not very many friends in those days," he answered at last. "I was -a hard worker, and for that reason didn't encourage men to waste my -time. Besides, I was only a struggling artist, and couldn't afford to -entertain very much." - -"But there must have been some men who came in. Think, sir, and try to -recollect. It's an important point." - -"Well, of course, there was my friend, Mr. Fensden, who practically -lived with me. He used my studio whenever he had anything to do." - -"He is the gentleman who gave the damaging evidence against you on -Monday, is he not?" - -"He is! Then there was a Mr. Bourke, a leader writer on the Daily -Record." - -"I know Mr. Bourke," said the detective. "We may dismiss him from the -case at once." - -"Then there was an artist named Halliday, who occasionally dropped in, -but he is now in Dresden." - -"When did he go?" - -"Nearly two months before I went abroad myself," Godfrey answered. "I -think I have given you the list of my friends. I can remember no more." - -"Now, sir, that box, in which the hands were sent, had you ever seen it -before?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "I am quite certain I had not." - -"When you came home from Egypt, did you make any purchases in Naples?" - -"None at all. I was only there one night." - -"Now, sir, I am given to understand that your friend, Mr. Fensden, -induced you to go abroad for the reason that he feared you were falling -in love with your model. On what sort of terms was Mr. Fensden himself -with the girl in question?" - -"On very friendly terms," said Godfrey. - -"Was he in love with her, do you think?" - -"I am certain he was not," Godfrey replied, shaking his head. "I do not -think he would ever be in love with anybody." - -"And you are quite sure that he saw nothing of the girl from the day he -bade her good-bye in your studio, until Monday, when he inspected her -dead body in the mortuary?" - -"I am sure of it," Godfrey answered. - -"And when did he return to England, for I understand he has been abroad -until lately?" - -"On Thursday morning. I met him at the Mahl Stick Club an hour or two -after his return from Paris." - -"Now, sir, one other question, and the last. The girl, I understand, -told you that she was married, and refused to say to whom. I have had an -opportunity of examining the wedding-ring from her finger. Somewhat to -my surprise, I found that it was of Austrian make. Now, how does it come -about that a girl living in Naples should be married with an Austrian -wedding-ring? It was, moreover, an expensive one. What I want to know -is, was the young woman ever in Vienna?" - -"Never, to the best of my belief," said Godfrey. "At any rate she never -told me so." - -"Now, sir, there's one point I want to clear up, and when I have done -that, I sha'n't be at all certain that I haven't got the key to the -whole mystery. Is it only a singular coincidence, do you think, that -Teresina Cardi, your old model, wore a wedding-ring of Austrian make, -and that the box in which her hands were sent to you the other day -should bear the label of a well-known Vienna firm?" - -He chuckled and rubbed his hands together, as he put this question to -Godfrey. - -"It certainly seems singular," said the latter; "but why should not the -ring have been purchased in Naples, even if it were of Austrian make?" - -"There is not the least reason why it should not, but the coincidence is -worth remarking. Now, sir, I shall leave you to think over what I have -said. I shall telegraph to Naples and Vienna, and meanwhile endeavour to -find out who it was handed the box in at Euston. Allow me to wish you -good-day, gentlemen." - -They returned his salutations, after which he went away, leaving one -little ray of hope behind him. - -"A most remarkable man that!" said Codey, appreciatively, when the door -was once more closed. "He will follow the trail now like a sleuth-hound. -In the meantime, Mr. Henderson, I can not promise you anything very -hopeful for to-morrow. I shall apply to the magistrate for a remand in -order to give Burrell more time to look about him. I shall keep in touch -with him, you may be sure. I have retained Alfred Rolland as counsel for -you. He and I have often worked together, and I don't think you could -have a better man." - -"I place myself in your hands unreservedly," said Godfrey. "Do whatever -you think best, and spare no expense. I have others besides myself to -think of in this matter." - -"You have indeed, poor souls!" said Sir Vivian. "I shall go down -to-night, and try to reassure them, and come up again first thing in the -morning." - -When they left him, half-an-hour later, Godfrey sat himself down on his -bed and resigned himself to his own miserable thoughts. What enemy had -he who hailed from Vienna? He could think of no one among the circle of -his acquaintances who had ever been there. Certainly no one who would be -likely to do him such an irreparable wrong. After that he thought of his -dear ones at home, and broke down completely. His supper was sent away -untouched. He felt as though he could not have swallowed a mouthful, -even had his life depended on it. At last he retired to bed, but not to -rest. When he rose next morning, he felt older by a dozen years. - -"This will never do," he said to himself. "If I go on like this, people -will begin to think from my appearance that I am guilty. No, they shall -see that I am not afraid to look any man in the face." - -Then the door was unlocked, and he was informed that it was time to set -off for the magistrate's court. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - -The preliminary investigation before the magistrate calls for but little -comment. The evidence was, with but few exceptions, that which had been -given before the coroner on the Monday and Wednesday preceding. If it -were remarkable for anything it was for the number of spectators in the -Court. The building, in which the coroner's inquiry had been conducted, -had been crowded, but the police-court was packed, not with the -poorly-clad spectators which one usually meets and associates with that -miserable place, but by well-dressed and even aristocratic members of -society. When Godfrey recovered from his first feeling of shame at -finding himself in such a place and in such a position, and looked about -him, he recognised several people whom he had once accounted his -friends, but who had now schemed and contrived by every means in their -power, to obtain permission to watch, what they thought would amount to -his degradation and final extinction. Pulling himself together he gazed -boldly around him, and more than one person there told himself or -herself that a man who could look at one like that could never be guilty -of such a crime as murder. Mr. Rolland, the counsel who had been -retained by Codey for the defence, was a tall, handsome man, and of -others, little above middle-age. He was the possessor of a bland, suave -manner which had the faculty of extracting information from the most -unwilling and reluctant witnesses. Near him sat Mr. Codey himself, -keen-eyed and on the alert for anything that might tend to his client's -advantage. The curiosity of the visitors was not destined, however, to -be gratified, for, when certain of the witnesses had been examined, the -case was adjourned for a week, and Godfrey returned to Holloway by the -way he had come. - -How the next seven days passed Godfrey declares he is unable to tell, -but at last that weary week came to an end, and once more he stood in -the crowded Court. At first glance it looked, if such a thing were -possible, as if more people had been squeezed into the building than on -the previous occasion. The fashionable world was as well represented as -before, while this time there were even more ladies present than had -hitherto been the case. The cabman who had driven the pair to Burford -Street was examined and repeated his former evidence. He was subjected -to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Rolland, but his testimony remained -unshaken. The police-constable, who had seen them together outside the -house, also repeated his tale. He was quite certain, he assured the -Court, that the woman in question was crying as he passed them. At the -same time he was not sure whether or not the prisoner was speaking -angrily to her. When he left the witness-box Victor Fensden took his -place. He described the life in the studio before Godfrey left England, -and repeated the story of the attempt he had made to induce him to break -off his relations with the girl. When the prosecution had done with him -Mr. Rolland took him in hand and inquired what reason he had for -supposing that his client had ever felt any affection for the deceased -woman. - -"Because he himself told me so," Fensden returned unblushingly. "I -pointed out to him the absurdity of such a thing, and was at last -successful in inducing him to accompany me abroad." - -"You parted where?" - -"In Port Said. I went on to Palestine, while he returned to Naples." - -"_En route_ to England?" - -"I believe so." - -"On what day did you yourself reach London?" - -"On the day of the murder." - -"When did you next see the prisoner?" - -"He lunched with me at the Mahl Stick Club on the same day." - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland, somewhat to the surprise of the Court. -"I have no further questions to ask you." - -It was at this point that the great sensation of the day occurred. When -Fensden had taken his place once more, Detective-sergeant Gunson was -called, and a tall, handsome man, with a short, brown beard entered the -box. He stated that his name was Gunson, and that he was a member of the -Scotland Yard detective force. Two days previous, accompanied by -Detective-sergeant McVickers, he had paid a visit to the prisoner's -residence, Detwich Hall, in the county of Midlandshire. They had made a -systematic search of the building, with the result that, hidden away -behind a bookcase in the studio, they had discovered a long knife of -Oriental workmanship and design. The blade was of razor-like sharpness, -and was covered with certain dark stains. He found nothing else of an -incriminating nature. Detective-sergeant McVickers was next called, who -corroborated his companion's evidence. - -Dr. Bensford, an analytical chemist and lecturer at the Waterloo -Hospital, stated that he was instructed by the Home Secretary to make an -examination of the marks upon the knife in question, now produced, and -had arrived at the conclusion that they were the stains of human blood. -(Great sensation in Court.) - -So overwhelming was the shock to Godfrey, that for a moment he neither -heard nor saw anything. A ghastly faintness was stealing over him and -the Court swam before his eyes. With a mighty effort, however, he pulled -himself together and once more faced the Court. He looked at Sir Vivian -and saw that the baronet's face had suddenly become very pale. - -"Good Heavens!" he thought to himself, "will he suspect me also?" - -The analyst having left the box, Victor Fensden was recalled, and the -knife handed to him. He took it in his daintily gloved hand and -examined it carefully. - -"Have you ever seen that knife before?" asked the prosecution. - -Victor hesitated a moment before he replied. - -"No," he answered, as if with an effort. - -"Think again," said his examiner. "Remember that this is a court of -justice, and it behooves you to speak the truth. Where did you see that -knife before?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Then in a somewhat louder voice he said: - -"In Egypt. In Cairo." - -"To whom does it belong?" - -"To Mr.--I mean to the prisoner. I was with him when he purchased it." - -A greater sensation than ever was produced by this assertion. Godfrey -leaned forward on the rail of the dock and scrutinized the witness -calmly. - -"Your Worship," he said, addressing the magistrate, "with all due -respect I should like to be allowed to say that I have never seen that -knife in my life before." - -The prosecution having finished their case, Mr. Rolland addressed the -Bench. He pointed out how entirely improbable it was that a gentleman -of Mr. Henderson's character and position would commit a murder of such -a cowardly nature. He commented on the fact that it would have been -impossible, had he even desired to do such a thing, for him to have -committed the crime and have walked from Burford Street to his hotel in -Piccadilly in the time counted from the moment he was seen by the police -officer to the time of his arrival at his hotel. Moreover, he asked the -magistrate to consider the question as to whether a man who had -committed such a dastardly deed would have been likely to send the -mutilated remains to himself as a wedding present. It was useless for -him, however, to argue, the magistrate had already made up his mind, and -Godfrey was therefore not surprised when he found himself committed to -stand for his trial at the next Criminal Sessions, to be held in a -month's time. Bowing to the magistrate, he left the dock, entered the -cab that was waiting for him in the yard, and was driven away to -Holloway. - -"It was the finding of that knife that did it," said Mr. Codey -reproachfully, when he next saw him. "Why on earth didn't you tell me -that it was hidden there?" - -"Because I did not know it myself," Godfrey replied. "When I told the -magistrate that I had never seen it before, it was the truth. I did not -buy a knife in Cairo, so how could I have brought one home with me?" - -"But who could have placed it behind the bookcase, if you did not?" -asked the lawyer. - -"That is more than I can say," said Godfrey simply. - -"Look here, Mr. Henderson," said Codey sharply, "I have met a good many -unsuspicious men in my time, but I don't think I have ever met one so -unsuspicious as you are. I have a list of all the people in your house -at the moment when that box arrived. Let us run it over. There was your -mother, your sister, and your _fiancee_, Miss Devereux. As our friend -Burrell would say, they may be dismissed from the case without delay. -Your butler and footman are old family servants, as are the housekeeper, -the cook, and the head parlour-maid. They may also be dismissed. The -remainder of the household would be scarcely likely to possess a knife -of that description, so we will dismiss them also. There remains only -yourself and Mr. Fensden. You declare you are innocent, and we will -presume that you are. Now, Mr. Fensden, by his evidence has placed you -where you are. That is certain. You say that he lied as to the fact of -your being in love with the woman who is dead, and also when he said -that you purchased the knife in Cairo. You say that he came to stay with -you on the day that the murder was discovered--why should he not have -placed it behind the bookcase, in order that it should be another -incriminating point against you?" - -"I can not believe that he would do such a thing," said Godfrey. "He -would not be so base." - -"I am not so sure of it," said the astute lawyer. "What is more, I made -a curious discovery to-day. The man in question pretends to be your -friend. He gives his evidence with reluctance. Yet I noticed that when -that knife was produced his face betrayed neither surprise nor emotion. -Had he had your interests at heart, would he have been so callous? -Answer me that! Now you have my reasons for arguing that he knew where -the knife was, and also the man who had placed it there." - -"The suspicions you suggest are too horrible," said Godfrey, rising and -pacing the cell. "What possible reason could he have for doing me such -an injury?" - -"One never knows. There are some men who hate the man who is supposed to -be their best friend, either because he, the friend, has been successful -in money-making, in love, or perhaps he presumes him to be happier than -himself. You are rich; he is poor. You have been successful in your -profession; he has been a failure. His hatred, like hundreds, might have -begun with jealousy and have terminated in this. I have known more -unlikely things." - -"In that case what am I to do?" - -"Leave it to me and to Burrell to arrange. If things were not going -right, my experience teaches me that that astute gentleman would have -shown signs of dissatisfaction before now. He has got his nose on the -trail, you may be sure, and if I know anything about him, he will not -leave it for a moment." - -"But do you think he will be able to prove my innocence?" asked Godfrey. - -"All in good time, my dear sir, all in good time," said the lawyer. -"With me for your lawyer (pardon the boast), Rolland for your counsel, -Dick Horsden and Braithwaite with him, and Burrell for the ferret that -is to make the rabbits bolt, you could not be better served. For my own -part, I wouldn't mind making you a bet--and as a rule I am not a man -who gambles--that the last-named gentleman has already acquired -sufficient information to secure your return to Detwich with an -unblemished character." - -"Then do so by all means," said Godfrey. "I will take it with the -greatest pleasure in the world." - -"Very well then," answered the lawyer. "I'll tell you what we'll do. -I've a junior clerk who has the making of a man in him, but who is in -consumption. The doctors tell me that, unless he is sent for a long sea -voyage to the other side of the world, he will not live a year. I have -promised to send him to the South Seas, and, if you like, this shall be -our bet: If you get off scot-free, you pay all his expenses--something -like five hundred pounds--and also give him five hundred pounds to go on -with. If you don't, then I pay. Will you agree to that?" - -"With all the pleasure in the world," Godfrey replied. - -"Then it's settled. And now I must be going. Good-bye." - -They shook hands, and then the lawyer took his departure, leaving -Godfrey happier than he had been for some time past. - -The month that separated the magistrate's inquiry from the Sessions at -the Old Bailey seemed to Godfrey like an eternity. Day after day crept -slowly by, with but little, if anything, to relieve the monotony. He -took his daily exercise, kept his cell in spotless order, received -visits from the lawyer, who came to report progress, and from Sir -Vivian, who brought messages of hope and encouragement from the folk at -home. - -On one red-letter day he was informed that visitors had arrived to see -him, and he was accordingly conducted to the room where he had on -several occasions interviewed his lawyer. The warder opened the door and -he entered, to be nearly overwhelmed by surprise. Standing by her -father's side, at the farther end of the room, and waiting to receive -him, was no less a person than Molly herself. She ran forward and threw -herself into his arms. - -"Molly, Molly," he faltered, "what does this mean? Why are you here? You -should not distress yourself like this." - -"I could not help it," she answered. "I had to come, I could stay away -from you no longer. You do not know how I have suffered. It seems as if -a lifetime had elapsed since we parted. At last I managed to persuade -papa to bring me up. My poor boy, how ill you look! How you must have -suffered!" - -"Never mind about that, dear," said Godfrey. "If it all comes right in -the end, we can afford to suffer a little. Now tell me of yourself; you -don't know how hungry I am for news." - -"No, don't let us talk of myself," she answered. "I want to talk about -you and your affairs. Do you know that this morning I saw Mr. Codey, -your lawyer, for the first time? He was introduced to me by papa." - -"And what did he say to you?" Godfrey inquired, with natural interest. - -"I am afraid there is not much to tell," said Molly. "When I asked him -if he thought we should be able to prove your innocence, he said, -'That's a thing we shall have to see about; but I don't mind going so -far as to promise you, that, unless there's anything else that I don't -know of, you and Mr. Henderson will eat your Christmas dinner together -next year!' I asked him and implored him to tell me more, but I could -not get anything else out of him." - -Godfrey felt his heart beat more hopefully. It was something, indeed, to -know that Codey took such a bright view of the case. Then Molly went on -to give him the latest news of his mother and sister. The old lady, it -appeared, was suffering a great deal on her dear boy's account; but she -firmly believed that in the end he would be acquitted. - -"It makes me so sad to see her," said Molly. "As you may suppose, I -spend the greater part of my time there now, and I think we help and -comfort each other." - -"God bless you for your goodness to them, dear!" replied Godfrey. "I -know what it must mean to them to have you with them." - -"And now, Molly," said Sir Vivian, rising from his chair, "I am afraid -we must go. We were only allowed a short time with you, and we must not -exceed it. Good-bye, my boy, and may God bless you! Don't be -down-hearted; we'll prove your innocence yet." - -"You still believe in me, Sir Vivian?" he asked. - -"As firmly as ever," the other answered. "I should not be here if I did -not. And now, Molly, you must come along." - -Godfrey kissed his sweetheart, and wished her good-bye. When she had -left the room, all the sunshine seemed to have gone out of it, and with -a heavy heart he went back to the gloom of his prison life again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - -Jacob Burrell sat in his comfortable armchair and took counsel with -himself. He was a bachelor, and like many other bachelors was wedded to -a hobby, which in some respects was more to him than any wife could -possibly have been. In other words he was an enthusiastic philatelist, -and his collection of the world's stamps was the envy of every -enthusiast who came in contact with them. For Jacob Burrell they -possessed another interest that was quite apart from their mere -intrinsic value. A very large number of the stamps so carefully pasted -in the book had been collected, or had come into his possession, in the -performance of his professional duties. A very rare 1-1/4 schilling blue -Hamburg was picked up by the merest chance on the same day that he ran a -notorious bank swindler to earth in Berlin; while a certain blue and -brown United States, worth upward of thirty pounds, became his property -during a memorable trip to America in search of a fraudulent trustee, -whose whereabouts the officials of Scotland Yard had not been able to -discover. Well-nigh every page had a story of its own to tell, and when -Burrell was in the humour, he could, with the book before him, reel off -tale after tale, of a description that would be calculated to make the -listener's hair stand on end with astonishment. At the present moment he -was occupied, as he very well knew, with one of the most knotty problems -he had ever tackled in his life. His face wore a puzzled expression. In -his right hand he held a large magnifying glass and in his left a -Canadian stamp of the year 1852. But whether it was the case he was -thinking of or the stamp it would have been difficult to say. - -"Genuine or not?" he asked himself. "That's the question. If it's the -first, it's worth five pounds of any man's money. If it's a fudge, then -it's not the first time I've been had, but I'll take very good care -that, so far as the gentleman is concerned who sold it to me, it shall -be the last." - -He scrutinized it carefully once more through the glass and then shook -his head. Having done so he replaced the doubtful article in the -envelope whence, he had taken it, slipped the glass back into its -chamois-leather case, tied the tape round the handle as deliberately as -if all his success in life depended on it, put both book and glass away -in a drawer, and then proceeding to the sideboard on the other side of -the room, slowly and carefully mixed himself a glass of grog. It was -close upon midnight and he felt that the work he had that day completed -entitled him to such refreshment. - -"Good Heavens," he muttered as he sipped it, "what fools some men can -be!" - -What this remark had to do with the stamp in question was not apparent, -but his next soliloquy made his meaning somewhat more intelligible. - -"If he had wanted to find himself in the dock and to put the rope round -his neck he couldn't have gone to work better. He must needs stand -talking to the girl in the Strand until she cries, whereupon he calls a -cab and drives home with her, gets out of it and takes up a position in -the full light of a gas lamp, so that the first policeman who passes may -have a look at his face, and recognise him again when the proper time -comes. After that he hurries back to his hotel at such a pace that he -arrives in a sufficiently agitated condition to stand in need of -brandy. Why, it's an almost unbelievable list of absurd coincidences. -However, he didn't commit the crime, that's quite certain. I've had a -bit of experience in my time, and I don't know that I've ever made a -mistake about a human face yet. There's not a trace of guilt in his. -To-morrow morning I'll just run round to the scene of the murder and -begin my investigations there. Though the Pro's have been over the -ground before me, it will be strange if I can not pick up something that -has not been noticed by their observant eyes." - -A perpetual feud existed between the famous Jacob Burrell and the -genuine representatives of the profession. His ways were unorthodox, the -latter declared. He did not follow the accustomed routine, and what was -worse, when he managed to obtain information it was almost, if not -quite, impossible to get him to divulge it for their benefit. Such a man -deserved to be set down on every possible opportunity. - -True to the arrangement he had made with himself on the previous -evening, Burrell immediately after breakfast next morning set out for -Burford Street. On reaching No. 16 he ascended the steps and entered the -grimy passage, and inquired from a man he found there where the -landlord was to be discovered. In reply the individual he interrogated -went to the head of a flight of stairs that descended like an abyss into -the regions below, and shouted something in German. A few moments later -the proprietor of the establishment made his appearance. He was a small -sallow individual with small bloodshot eyes, suggestive of an undue -partiality for Schnapps, and the sadness of whose face gave one the -impression that he cherished a grievance against the whole world. His -sleeves were rolled up above the elbows, and he carried a knife in one -hand and a potato in the other. - -"Vat is dat you vant mit me?" he inquired irritably, as he took stock of -the person before him. - -"I want you to show me the room in which that Italian girl, Teresina -Cardi, was murdered," Burrell replied, without wasting time. - -The landlord swore a deep oath in German. - -"It is always de murder from morning until night," he answered. "I am -sick mit it. Dat murder will be the ruin mit me. Every day der is -somebody come and say 'Where is dot room?' Who are you that you ask me -that I should to you show it?" - -Burrell, to the best of his ability, explained his motive for proffering -such a request. This must have been satisfactory, for in the end the -landlord consented to conduct him to the room in question. From the day -of the murder it had been kept locked, and it must be confessed that -since no one would inhabit it, and it did not in consequence return its -owner its accustomed rent, he had some measure of excuse for the -irritation he displayed in connection with it. - -"Dere it is," he said, throwing the door open, "and you can look your -full at it. I have scrubbed all dot floor dill my arms ache mit it, but -I can not get der blood marks out. Dot stain is just where she was -found, boor girl!" - -The man pointed, with grizly relish, to a dark stain upon the floor, and -then went on to describe the impression the murder and its attendant -incidents had produced upon him. To any other man than Burrell, they -would probably have been uninteresting to a degree. The latter, however, -knowing the importance of little things, allowed him to continue his -chatter. At the same time his quick eyes were taking in the character -of the room, making his own deductions and drawing his own inferences. -At last, when the other had exhausted his powers of description, Burrell -took from his pocket his favourite magnifying glass, cased in its -covering of chamois leather. Having prepared it for business, he went -down on his hands and knees and searched the floor minutely. What he was -looking for, or what he hoped to find, he did not know himself, but a -life's experience had taught him that clews are often picked up in the -most unexpected quarters. - -"I've known a man get himself hanged," he had once been heard to remark, -"simply because he neglected to put a stitch to a shirt button and had -afterward to borrow a needle and thread to do it. I remember another who -had the misfortune to receive a sentence of fifteen years for forgery, -who would never have been captured, but for a peculiar blend of tobacco, -which he would persist in smoking after the doctors had told him it was -injurious to his health." - -So slow and so careful was his investigation, that the landlord, who -preferred more talkative company, very soon tired of watching him. -Bidding him lock the door and bring the key downstairs with him when he -had finished, he returned to the culinary operations from which he had -been summoned. Burrell, however, still remained upon his knees on the -floor, searching every crack and crevice with that superb and -never-wearying patience that was one of his most remarkable -characteristics. It was quite certain, as the landlord had said, that -the floor had been most thoroughly and conscientiously scrubbed since -the night of the murder. He rose to his feet and brushed his knees. - -"Nothing there," he said to himself. "They've destroyed any chance of my -finding anything useful." - -Walking to the fireplace he made a most careful examination of the -grate. Like the floor, it had also been rigorously cleaned. Not a -vestige of ash or dust remained in it. - -"Polished up to be ready for the newspaper reporters, I suppose," said -Burrell sarcastically to himself. "They couldn't have done it better if -they had wanted to make sure of the murderer not being caught." - -After that he strolled to the window and looked out. The room, as has -already been stated elsewhere, was only a garret, and the small window -opened upon a slope of tiled roof. Above the eaves and at the bottom of -the slope just mentioned, was a narrow lead gutter of the usual -description. From the window it was impossible, unless one leaned well -out, to look down into the street below. - -"Just let me think for a moment," said Burrell to himself, as he stood -looking at the roofs of the houses opposite; "the night of the murder -was a warm one, and this window would almost certainly be open. I -suppose if the people in the houses on the other side of the way had -seen or heard anything, they would have been sure to come forward before -now. The idea, however, is always worth trying. I've a good mind to make -a few inquiries over there later on." - -As he said this he gave a little start forward, and leaning out of the -window, looked down over the tiles into the gutter below. A small -fragment of a well-smoked cigarette could just be descried in it. - -"My luck again," he said with a chuckle. "If some reporter or sensation -hunter didn't throw it there, which is scarcely likely, I may be on the -right track after all. Now who could have been smoking cigarettes up -here? First and foremost I'll have a look at it." - -On entering, he had placed his walking stick on the table in the middle -of the room. He turned to get it, and as he did so he took from his -pocket a small housewife. His multitudinous experiences had taught him -the advisability of carrying such an article about with him, and on this -occasion it promised to prove more than ordinarily useful. From one -compartment he selected a long, stout needle which he placed in a hole -in the handle of the walking stick. Then returning once more to the -window, and leaning well out, he probed for the cigarette lying so -snugly five or six feet below him. Twice he was unsuccessful, but the -third attempt brought the precious relic to his hand. Taking it to the -table, he drew up a chair and sat down to examine it. It was sodden and -discoloured, but the rim of the gutter had in a measure protected it, -and it still held together. His famous magnifying glass was again -brought into action. Once upon a time there had been printing on the -paper, but now it was well-nigh undecipherable. As I have already -remarked, however, Burrell was a man gifted with rare patience, and -after a scrutiny that lasted some minutes, he was able to make out -sufficient of the printing to know that the maker's name ended with -"olous," while the place in which the cigarette had been manufactured -was _Cairo_. - -"I wonder," said the detective to himself, "if this is destined to be of -any service to me. At first glance it would appear as if my first -impression was a wrong one. Mr. Henderson, who is accused of the murder, -has lately returned from Cairo. Though, perhaps he never purchased any -tobacco there, it would certainly do him no good to have it produced as -evidence, that the butt end of a cigarette from that place was found in -the gutter outside the window of the murdered woman's room." - -After another prolonged inspection of the room, and not until he had -quite convinced himself that there was nothing more to be discovered in -it, he descended to the lower regions of the house, returned the key to -the landlord, and immediately left the building. Crossing the street, he -made his way to the house opposite. The caretaker received him, and -inquired the nature of his business. He gave his explanation, but a few -questions were sufficient to convince him that he must not expect to -receive any assistance from that quarter. The rooms, so he discovered, -from which it would have been possible to catch any glimpse of what was -going on in Teresina's apartment in the opposite house, were tenanted -only in the daytime. - -"Nothing to be learned there," said Burrell to himself, when he had -thanked the man and had left the house. "Now the question to be decided -is, what shall I do next?" - -He stood upon the pavement meditatively scratching his chin for a few -moments. Then he must have made up his mind, for he turned sharply round -and walked off in the direction of the Tottenham Court Road. Taking a -'bus there, he made his way on it to Oxford Street, thence, having -changed conveyances, he proceeded as far as Regent Street. It was a -bright, sunny morning, and the pavements of that fashionable -thoroughfare were crowded with pedestrians. As the burly, -farmerish-looking man strode along, few, if any, of the people he passed -would have believed him to be the great detective whose name had struck -a terror, that nothing else could have inspired, into the hearts of so -many hardened criminals. When he was a little more than half-way down -the street, he turned sharply to his left hand, passed into another and -shorter thoroughfare, then turned to his left again, and finally -entered another street on his right. He was now in the neighbourhood of -quiet-looking houses of the office description. There was nothing about -them to indicate that their occupants were the possessors of any great -amount of wealth, and yet one could not help feeling, as one looked at -them, that there was a substantial, money-making air about them. Having -reached a particular doorway, Burrell paused, consulted the names -engraved upon the brass plate on the wall outside, and then entered. He -found himself in a small hall, from which a narrow flight of -linoleum-covered stairs led to the floors above. These stairs he -ascended, to presently find himself standing before a door on which the -names of Messrs. Morris and Zevenboom were painted. Disregarding the -word "Private," which for some inexplicable reason was printed -underneath the name of the firm, he turned the handle and entered. A -small youth was seated at a table in the centre of the apartment, busily -engaged making entries in a large book propped up before him. He looked -up on seeing Burrell, and, in an off-hand fashion, inquired his -business. - -"I want to see Mr. Zevenboom if he's at home," said the latter. "If he -is, just tell him, my lad, that I should like to speak to him, will -you?" - -"That's all very well," said the boy with an assurance beyond his years, -"but how am I to do it if I don't know your name? Ain't a thought -reader, am I?" - -"Tell him Mr. Burrell would like to speak to him," said the detective -without any appearance of displeasure at the lad's impertinence. "I -fancy he will know who I am, even if you don't!" - -"Right you are, I'll be back in a moment." - -So saying, the lad disappeared into an inner apartment with an air that -seemed to insinuate that if Mr. Zevenboom might be impressed by the -stranger, it was certainly more than he was. His feelings received -rather a shock, however, when his employer informed him in a stage -whisper that Mr. Burrell "_was the great detective_" and made him show -him in at once and not keep him waiting. Jacob was accordingly ushered -in, with becoming ceremony, and found himself received by a little man, -whose beady black eyes and sharp features proclaimed his nationality -more plainly than any words could have done. - -"Ah, mein dear friend," said he, "I am glad to see you. It is long since -we have met, and you are looking as well as ever you did." - -"I am all right, thank you," said Burrell genially. "Thank goodness, in -spite of hard work, there's never very much the matter with me." - -Before he seated himself the other went to a cupboard at the back of his -desk and, having unlocked it, took from it a cigar box, one of a number -of others, which he placed upon the table at his guest's elbow. - -"Try one of these," he said, "you will smoke nothing better in all -Europe. I pledge you the word of Israel Zevenboom to that." - -"I can quite believe you," said Burrell, and then mindful of the -business that had brought him there, he added, "if there's one man in -all London who knows a good cigar I suppose you are that one." - -The little man grinned in high appreciation of the compliment. - -"Cigars or cigarettes, I tell you, it's all the same to me," he said, -spreading his hands apart. "There is no tobacco grown, or upon the -market, that I can not put a name to." - -"And you are familiar with all the best makers, I suppose?" - -The other again spread his hands apart as if such a question was not of -sufficient importance to require an answer. - -"I know them all," he continued pompously. "And they all know me. Morris -and Zevenboom is a firm whose name is famous with them all." - -A pause of upward of half a minute followed this remark, during which -Burrell lit his cigar. - -"And now what can I do for you, my friend?" the other inquired. "I shall -be most happy to oblige you as far as lies in my power. You were very -good to me in de matter of----" - -He paused for a moment. Then he thought better of it and came to a -sudden stop. - -"Well, in the matter that we both remember," he added finally. - -"I want a little information from you, that I believe it is in your -power to give," said Burrell, taking a note book from his pocket and -from it producing the scrap of cigarette he had taken from the gutter of -the house in Burford Street. He placed it on the desk before his -companion. - -"I want you to tell me if you can who are the makers of these -cigarettes, and whether they can be obtained in England?" - -The other took up his glasses and perched them on the end of his -delicate nose, after which he held the charred fragment of the cigarette -up to the light. This did not seem to satisfy him, so he took it to the -window and examined it more closely. He turned it over, smelt it, -extracted a shred of the tobacco, smelt that, and at last came back to -the table. - -"That cigarette was made by my good friend Kosman Constantinopolous, of -Cairo, a most excellent firm, but as yet they have no representatives in -England. Some day they will have." - -"Where is the nearest place at which these cigarettes can be obtained?" -asked Burrell. - -"In Paris--if you like I will give you the address," the other replied, -"or better still I will get some for you should you desire to have some. -They are expensive but the tobacco is good." - -"I won't trouble you to procure me any just now, thank you," Burrell -answered. "I only wanted to try and fix the maker's name. It comes into -some important business that I am just now at work upon. I suppose I -can rely upon your information being correct? It will make a big -difference to me." - -"My good friend, you may be quite sure of that," the other answered with -pride. "I am Israel Zevenboom, the expert, and after fifty years' -experience, should not be likely to make a mistake in such a simple -matter as that." - -Then, at Burrell's request, he thereupon wrote down the address of the -firm in Paris, after which the detective thanked him heartily for his -trouble and bade him good-bye. - -"To-morrow," said Burrell to himself, "if all goes well, I will take a -run down to Mr. Henderson's country seat and make a few inquiries there. -After that it looks as if Paris is likely to be the scene of my next -operations. There are one or two little preliminaries, however, that -must be settled before I leave England." - -He was as good as his word, and the mid-day train next day landed him -upon the platform at Detwich. He inquired how far it was to the Hall, -and on being informed of his direction, set off along the High Road at a -swinging pace. He was a man who never rode when he could walk, and, had -he not chosen another profession, it is possible he might have made a -name for himself in the athletic world as a pedestrian. - -"It seems a sad thing," he said to himself, as he turned in through the -lodge gates and began to cross the park, "that a young gentleman owning -such a beautiful place as this should be clapped into limbo on a charge -of murder. But here I suppose is what the literary gentlemen call the -'Irony of Fate.' However, it's my business to get him out of the scrape -he's in if I can, and not to bother my head about anything else." - -Having reached the house he sent his name in to Mrs. Henderson, and -asked for an interview. Her daughter Kitty was with her in the morning -room when the butler entered. - -"Mr. Jacob Burrell?" she said in a puzzled way, looking at the card the -man had handed to her. "I don't know the name, do you, Kitty?" - -"Why, yes, mother, of course I do," the girl replied. "How could you -forget? He is the famous detective whom the lawyers have engaged to take -up the case for poor Godfrey. Tell him that we will see him at once, -Williamson, and show him in here." - -A few moments later Burrell made his appearance and bowed to the two -ladies. That he was not at all the sort of individual they had expected -to see was evident from the expressions upon their faces. - -"Doubtless, ladies, you have heard my name and the business upon which I -am engaged," he said, by way of introducing himself. - -They acknowledged that they had done so, and when they had invited him -to be seated, inquired what success he had so far met with. He shook his -head cautiously. - -"In these sort of cases you must not expect to succeed all at once," he -said. Then observing the look upon their faces he added: "You see, Mrs. -Henderson, a big case, unless the evidence is very clear and -straightforward, is not unlike a Chinese puzzle, being a lot of little -pieces cut out of one big block. Well, all the little cubes are tipped -out upon the floor in confusion, and before you can begin to put them -together it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the rough outlines -of the parts and to make yourself acquainted with the sizes, shapes, and -numbers of the pieces you have to work with. That done you can begin -your work of putting them together." - -"Mr. Burrell is quite right, mother," Kitty remarked. "We must be -patient and not expect too much at first. We ourselves know that -Godfrey is innocent, and Mr. Burrell will very soon demonstrate it to -the world, I am very sure." Then turning to the detective she continued: -"Since you have spared the time to come down here, it is only natural to -suppose that you desire to ask us questions. If so, please do not -hesitate to put them. My mother and I will--only too thankfully--do all -that lies in our power to assist you in your work." - -"Well, miss," said Burrell, "I won't deny that there are certain -questions I should like to put to you. In the meantime, however, if you -will allow me, I'll just take a walk round the place, and if I have your -permission to enter your brother's rooms, it's just possible I may be -able to find something that will be of advantage to him there." - -"Go where you please," said Mrs. Henderson. "Heaven knows at such a time -we should place no restrictions upon any one. If you can save my poor -boy--I shall be grateful to you forever." - -"Be sure, madam, I will do my best. I can't say more." - -Kitty rose from her chair. - -"Perhaps it would be better for me to show you my brother's studio -first," she said. "Will you come with me?" - -Burrell followed her out of the room and down the long corridor to the -room in question. Kitty left him there, and for upward of half-an-hour -he remained in the apartment, busily engaged upon what he called -"forming his own impressions." After that he passed through the French -windows out into the grounds beyond, had a few minutes' conversation -with some of the men, and, when he had exhausted that portion of the -business, returned to the house to find that luncheon had been provided -for him in the library. He thereupon sat down to it and made an -excellent meal. That finished, he was wondering what he should do next, -when Kitty entered the room. - -"I hope you have been well looked after, Mr. Burrell," she said. "You -are quite sure there is nothing else you would like?" - -"Nothing at all, thank you," he answered, "unless I might ask you for a -cigarette?" - -"A cigarette," she replied, with a suggestion of astonishment, for he -did not look like the sort of man who would have cared for anything less -than a pipe or a strong cigar. "That is very unfortunate, for I am -afraid we have not one in the house. My brother Godfrey, you see, never -smokes them, and I remember his saying just before----" she paused for a -moment and a look of pain came into her face, "just before this trouble -occurred," she continued, "that the supply he had laid in for his -friends was exhausted and that he must order some more." Then she -appeared to recollect something, for her face brightened. "Ah!" she -cried, "now I come to think of it, we _do_ happen to have a box which -Mr. Fensden left here before he went away. If you'll excuse me, I'll get -it." - -He thanked her and she left the room, whereupon he walked to the window -and stood looking out upon the lawn, drumming with the fingers of his -right hand upon the pane before him. What his thoughts were at that -moment will in all probability never be known, but when, a few minutes -later, Kitty returned with a box of cigarettes in her hand, he turned to -greet her with as much excitement in his face as he had ever been known -to show about anything. The box in question was flat and square, with -some Arabic writing in gold upon the lid and the inscription Kosman -Constantinopolous et Cie, Cairo. - -Jacob Burrell may or may not have been a cigarette smoker (for my part -I have never seen him with so mild a weed between his lips). I only know -that on this particular occasion he stood with the cigarette in one hand -for some time without lighting it, and the box in the other. - -"Did I understand you to say that Mr. Fensden gave these cigarettes to -your brother?" he inquired at last, after he had turned certain matters -over in his mind. - -"Yes," she replied. "He used to say laughingly that the weakest of all -Godfrey's weak points was his dislike to Egyptian cigarettes, and that -if he would only try to cultivate the taste for that tobacco, he would -be converted from barbarism to comparative civilization. You have seen -Mr. Fensden, of course?" - -"I saw him in Court," Burrell replied, apparently without much interest. -"And now, I think, with your permission, miss, I will return to the -station. I have seen all that is necessary for my purpose here, and am -anxious to get back to town as soon as possible. There are several -matters there that demand my attention." Kitty was silent for a moment. -Then she gained her courage and spoke out. - -"Mr. Burrell," she said, laying her hand upon his arm, "I suspect you -can very well imagine what a terrible time of suspense this is for us. -As I said this morning, we all know that my brother is innocent of the -crime with which he is charged. But how can we prove it? All our hopes -are centred upon you. You have done such wonderful things in the past -that surely you can bring the real perpetrator of this hideous crime to -justice. Can you not give us even a grain of hope to comfort us? My poor -mother is fretting herself to a shadow about it." - -"I scarcely know what I can say just yet," he replied. "I, of course, -have begun to form my own theories, but they are too unsubstantial as -yet for me to be able to pin any faith upon them--much less to allow you -to do so. This, however, I will tell you, and any one who knows me will -tell you that it is something for me to admit. What I say is that up to -the present moment, I have been more successful than I had dared to hope -I should be. Like yourselves, I have a conviction that your brother is -innocent, and you may believe me when I say that it won't be my fault if -we can't prove it. May I ask you to rest content with that? I can not -say more." - -"I can not thank you sufficiently for your kindness," she answered. -"Your words give me fresh hope. May I tell Miss Devereux what you say?" - -"Miss Devereux?" asked Burrell, who for the moment had forgotten the -young lady in question. - -"It is to Miss Devereux that my brother is engaged," Kitty answered. -"You may imagine how sad she is. Yet she has been, and still is, so -brave about it." - -"Not braver than you are, I'll be bound," said Burrell gallantly. "And -now I will wish you good-afternoon." - -He did so, and refusing her offer of a carriage to take him, was soon -striding across the park on his way back to the railway station. As he -walked along he thought of what he had done that day, and of the strange -good fortune that had so far attended his efforts. - -"It is only the merest guess," he said to himself, "and yet it's the -old, old story. It is when they think themselves most secure, and that -detection is impossible, that they are in the greatest danger. At that -point some minute circumstance is sufficient to give them away, and it's -all over. This looks as if it will prove another example of the one -rule." - -It was nearly five o'clock when he reached London. Arriving there he -called a hansom and bade the man drive him with all speed to Mr. Codey's -office. As it happened he was only just in time to catch the lawyer, who -was on the point of leaving. - -"Halloa, Burrell," cried the genial Mr. Codey on seeing him, "you seem -excited. What's the matter now?" - -"I didn't know that I had anything to be excited about," Burrell replied -with a smile at the lawyer's attempt to draw him out. "I only thought I -would drop in upon you, sir, to let you know that I am leaving for the -Continent first thing to-morrow morning. I may be away a week, possibly -a fortnight. I'm not able to put a definite time upon it, for it will -all depend upon circumstances." - -"Then I suppose, as usual, you are beginning to find yourself on the -right track," the lawyer remarked drily. - -"And, just as usual, sir, I reply that that's as may be," said the -other. "I don't deny that I've got hold of a piece of information that -may eventually put me on the proper line--but I've got to sift it -first--before I can act upon it. That's why I'm going abroad." - -"Don't be any longer than you can help about it, then," returned the -lawyer. "You know when the trial comes off?" - -"As well as you do, sir! That's why I want to get away at once. There's -no time to be wasted--that's if we're to be properly posted." - -"Well, then, good-bye, and may good luck go with you." - -Next morning Burrell, acting on the plan he had made, left London for -Paris, with the portion of cigarette in his pocket. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - -The first night of his sojourn in Paris was spent at the residence of a -friend who was also a well-known Stamp Collector. They dined at a -Restaurant together, and spent the remainder of the evening at a Cafe -discussing matters connected with their joint hobby. Had one looked in -upon Jacob Burrell then, as he sat sipping a glass of brandy and water, -it would have been difficult to imagine that this man who was so -emphatic and precise about Water Marks, Batonne Papers, Misprints, and -Fudges, was in Paris for the sole reason of elucidating a terrible -crime, and in the hope of bringing the criminal to justice. - -Next morning he was up early and, as soon as was compatible with calling -hours, was on his way to the office of which Zevenboom had given him the -address. Sending his name in to the head of the firm, he asked for an -interview. This was promptly granted him and he was ushered into the -proprietor's office, a charming little apartment fragrant with the odour -of the divine weed. Now Burrell's French is not particularly good, but -Monsieur Zacroft's English was certainly a good deal worse. However, -they managed after a fashion, and with the help of a clerk, to make each -other understand, and that was perhaps all that was wanted. Zacroft -inquired with much solicitude after the bodily welfare of his good -friend Zevenboom, and on being assured that the latter enjoyed excellent -health, so far as Burrell was aware, proceeded to ask in what way he -could be of service to the Englishman. The latter immediately commenced -to explain, speaking in a louder tone than usual and using many -gesticulations, as an Englishman so often does, in the hope of making -his meaning clearer to his auditor. Later on Burrell produced the -charred remnant of the cigarette. The Frenchman admitted that the -cigarette shown to him was of the same brand as that manufactured by -Messrs. Kosman & Constantinopolous of Cairo, of which wealthy firm, he -took care to point out, he was the Parisian representative. He was also -acquainted with Mr. Victor Fensden, and admitted that he had supplied -that gentleman with cigarettes of the brand mentioned for some years -past. - -Burrell admitted to himself that so far this was very good. He hoped -that there would be still better news to follow. - -"Perhaps you can tell me when he obtained his last consignment from -you?" he said, after a short pause. - -The manager begged Burrell to excuse him while he went into his shop to -ask the question. When he returned he laid a piece of paper before the -other. The latter took it up and examined it carefully, though he was -not at all prepared to find that the information would be of much value -to him. The surprise he received, however, almost took his breath away. -It was the work of a moment to whip out his pocket-book and to open it. - -He turned the leaves until he arrived at the entry he wanted. - -"And am I to understand you to say that Mr. Fensden wrote to you from -England for them? Are you quite sure of it?" - -"Quite sure," replied the other, and intimated in exceedingly poor -English that he was prepared to show his customer's letter in proof of -the genuineness of his assertion. He did so, and Burrell examined it -carefully. Ultimately he prevailed upon the other to permit him to keep -the letter. - -"I wouldn't lose it for a thousand pounds," he said to himself. "Good -gracious, this is nothing less than a stupendous piece of luck. It's the -last thing in the world I should have thought of." - -He thanked the little tobacco merchant for his courtesy, and bade him -farewell, promising to remember him most affectionately to Zevenboom -when next he should see him. After that he went off to make arrangements -about his journey from Paris to Naples. - -It was at a late hour of the night when he reached that famous Italian -city. Tired out he betook himself to his hotel, slept the sleep of the -just, and rose in the morning with the pleasant feeling that the day -before him was likely to prove a busy and also an exciting one. After he -had breakfasted, which he made a point of doing in the solid English -fashion, he smoked a contemplative cigar, and interested himself after -his own fashion in the billings and cooings of a young newly married -couple, who were staying at the hotel awaiting the arrival of the -out-going Australian Mail Boat. Then, having discovered the interpreter -whom the hotel manager had found for him, he set off for the street in -which he had been told Teresina Cardi and her mother had dwelt. - -"'See Naples and die' they say," he muttered to himself, as he made his -way out of one into another tortuous and unsavoury street. "It should -have been '_smell_ Naples and die.' A connoisseur could discover a -hundred fresh unsavouries in every hundred yards." - -At last they found themselves in the street in question, and, after some -little hunting, discovered the house in which the murdered girl had -resided with her mother. The interpreter questioned the head of the -family who lived on the ground floor. With many flourishes and bows, the -latter, whose only work in life, it would appear, was to smoke -cigarettes upon the doorstep, informed him that the Signora Cardi was -dead and that the funeral had been a most imposing one. - -"Ask him what has become of the daughter," said Burrell, who was anxious -to discover whether or not the man were aware of the murder. - -"Gone," was the laconic reply. Eventually he condescended to add, "An -Englishman came to see her, and the signorina went away with him. I can -tell you no more." - -He manufactured for himself another cigarette, with the air of a man who -has done everything he could to prove himself hospitable, and is not -quite certain whether he has succeeded in the attempt. At this juncture -Burrell rattled the money in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he thinks he would know the man again if he were to see -him," he said. "Tell him also that I will pay him well for any -information he may give me." - -A vehement debate ensued--which might have lasted from three to five -minutes. At the end the interpreter translated. - -"He says, your Excellency, that he could pick the man out from a -hundred." - -"He's been a jolly long time saying it," said Burrell, and as he spoke -he took from his pocket half-a-dozen photographs which he had brought -with him for that purpose. "However, he shall try!" - -Among the number were likenesses of Fensden and Henderson. There were -also others of men who had nothing whatsoever to do with the case. The -proprietor of the ground floor rooms picked them up one by one and -examined them critically. When he reached Fensden's portrait he held it -up immediately. - -"That is the man," he said to the interpreter. "I need look no farther. -I should know him anywhere." - -Burrell replaced the photographs in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he has any idea where the man he speaks of stayed when he -was in Naples," Burrell remarked to the man, but upon this subject it -appeared that the other could give no sort of information, though he -volunteered for a reward to find out. This help, however, Burrell -declined. After rewarding him, he retraced his steps to the hotel. - -"It should not be difficult," he thought as he went along, "to discover -the Englishman's abode during the time he was in Naples. He is not the -sort of man to put up anywhere but at a good hotel." - -Foreseeing for this reason that the number of the hotels at which the -man he was inquiring about would be likely to stay, were limited, he -resolved to institute investigations that afternoon. He was very soon -successful. At the second at which he called he discovered that Fensden -had resided there and that he had left again on the 3rd of February. The -manager knew nothing of any _liaison_ with a girl of the city, nor could -he say where his guest went after he left Naples. His servants were -equally ignorant, though one of them believed Signor Fensden's -destination to have been Rome. Thanking the manager for his courtesy, -Burrell left the hotel more than a little disappointed, to spend the -remainder of the afternoon securing affidavits as to dates and generally -verifying the discoveries he had made. - -"Well, I suppose there's nothing for it but to try Rome," he said to -himself, when he had considered the matter in all its details. - -Early next morning he accordingly shook the highly scented dust of -Naples from his feet, and in due course reached the Italian capital. He -had been there many times before, and in consequence he was a great -favourite at the hotel where he usually resided. The owner welcomed him -effusively, somewhat as he would have done a long-lost brother of whom -he stood in some little awe, and trusted that he had come to make a long -stay. - -"I am afraid not," said Burrell. "I have got an important piece of -business on hand just now which must be completed as quickly as -possible. I am trying to hunt up the doings of an Englishman, who I have -reason to believe came here from Naples with a Neapolitan girl, in -February last. Possibly he may have stayed with you. Here is his -photograph. See if you can recognise him!" - -He thereupon produced the photograph of Fensden, and laid it on the -table for the manager's inspection. The latter, however, shook his head. -He could not remember the face among his guests. - -"In that case I must begin my rounds of the hotels again, I suppose," -said Burrell. - -After luncheon he did so. The result, however, was by no means -satisfactory. He made inquiries at every hotel of importance, and at -many that were not, but try as he would he could glean no tidings of the -pair whose doings he was so anxious to trace. - -"It's evident I've gone wrong somewhere," he said to himself. "I don't -think I will waste any more time in this place, but go straight on to -Vienna and look about me there. We know that the box hailed from the -Austrian capital and that the wedding ring was manufactured in the same -country. For my own part I don't believe they came to Rome at all." - -Once more he resumed his journey and at length had the satisfaction of -finding himself in Francis Joseph's famous city. He was very fond of -Vienna, partly because he had made two important captures there, and -possibly more so for the reason that one of the best deals in stamps he -had ever effected was brought to a head in that delightful city. On this -occasion he lost no time, but set to work immediately on his arrival. In -this town, however, the search was not destined to prove a difficult -one. He had not been more than twice unsuccessful when he tried the -Hotel National in the Kaearntner Strasse. The manager himself admitted -that he had a bad memory for faces, but he was quite sure of one thing, -if they had stayed at his hotel, his head waiter would be sure to -recollect them. That functionary was immediately summoned to the -council, and the photograph was placed before him. He had no sooner -looked upon it than he recognised it as being the likeness of the -gentleman who had stayed there with an Italian girl. They had come to -Vienna to be married it was said. - -"To be married?" said Burrell in astonishment. "What do you mean by -that? Weren't they married when they arrived?" - -Before the waiter could answer, light had dawned upon the manager, who -thereupon chimed in. - -"Ah, my friend, I remember now," he said. "That was the gentleman who -was married at the Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse. Now I can -recall the pair perfectly." - -"The Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse, you said, I think," said -Burrell, making a note of the name in his pocket-book for future -reference. "Pray how long did the happy couple remain with you?" - -"For upward of a fortnight," the manager replied, consulting a book. -"But they were not happy all the time!" - -"What do you mean by that? Why were they not happy?" - -"For a very simple reason," the manager replied. "I mean that toward the -end of their stay it was becoming plain to most of us that the gentleman -was a little neglectful of his bride. Yet she was a beautiful girl! Ah! -a beautiful girl!" - -"It was the waning of the honeymoon," said Burrell cynically. "Poor -girl, it didn't last long." He paused for a while to pursue his own -thoughts, then he continued aloud, "Have you any idea where they went -after they left here?" - -The manager reflected for a moment. - -"To Munich, I believe. But of that I am not quite certain. We will ask -Adolphe." - -The head waiter was once more consulted, and corroborated his superior. -The couple had left for Munich with the intention of proceeding later to -Paris. He was sure of this for the reason that he had heard the -gentleman talking to the lady on the subject on the morning of their -departure. - -The next day was spent by Burrell in collecting further evidence. He -interviewed the worthy clergyman who had married them, obtained certain -necessary documents from him, discovered the jeweller who had sold them -the wedding ring, and when he had learned all he wanted to know, took -the train and started for Munich. - -In Munich he discovered the hotel at which they had stayed and sundry -other particulars which might, or might not, prove useful later on. -Thence he continued his journey to Paris, where more discoveries awaited -him. At last, and none too soon, he boarded the steamer which was to -carry him to England. Even this short voyage was not devoid of interest, -and by the time he reached London once more, he felt that there was not -very much standing between him and the end. But what remained was in all -probability more important than the beginning. There was a blank to be -filled in, and filled in it must be, somehow or another, before the -trial commenced. - -His first act on reaching home was to write out a true and complete -record of his doings since he had left London. This done he consulted -the memoranda he had received from the representative of Messrs. Kosman, -Constantinopolous & Co., in Paris, and then set off by train to the -little town of Staines. From Staines to the charming little village of -Laleham is a comparatively short and a most charming walk. It was almost -mid-day by the time he reached the village and began to look about him -for Laburnum Cottage. When he discovered it it proved to be a pretty -little thatched building standing in a garden which in summer would be -bright with hollyhocks, nasturtiums and other homely flowers. A card in -the window proclaimed the fact that apartments could be had within, but -at that particular season of the year this announcement would be little -likely to attract attention. Pushing open the gate, Burrell made his way -up the garden path to the neat little porch where he gave a smart -rat-tat with his stick upon the door. The sound had scarcely died away -before it was opened to him by a stout, matronly person, dressed in -black, and wearing a cap and a neat white apron. - -"Mrs. Raikes?" asked Burrell, to make sure she was the person he desired -to see. - -"That is my name, sir," said the woman. "Perhaps you will tell me what I -can do for you." - -"I want you to give me some information," Burrell answered. "I have come -down from London on purpose to see you." - -"From London, sir," she exclaimed, as if that were rather a remarkable -circumstance. "Will you be pleased to step inside?" So saying, she held -the door open for him to enter. He did so to find himself in a neat -little sitting room, unostentatiously yet comfortably furnished. Three -cases of stuffed birds decorated the walls, together with some pictures -on religious subjects, a bookcase, the latter scantily furnished, and -last, but not least, a Chippendale sofa, and two or three chairs that -would not have disgraced a ducal drawing-room. - -"Kindly take a seat, sir," said Mrs. Raikes, dusting one of the -aforementioned chairs with her apron as she spoke. "If it's apartments -you want I am quite sure I can satisfy you. Of course it's a bad season -of the year, but at the end of the month we shall begin to fill up. -There's some splendid boating on the river, as perhaps you know, and at -night, when the houseboats are all lit up, well, it's quite lively." - -Her desire to impress him with the gaieties of the place was almost -pathetic, and Burrell felt that he was acting meanly in permitting her -to go on, without acquainting her with the real object of his visit. - -"I am sorry to say that I am not in search of lodgings," he said. "My -business is of an altogether different nature. In the first place, I -think I ought to tell you that I am a detective." - -"A detective?" she cried in horror. "Lor', I _do_ hope, sir, there's -nothing wrong?" - -"Not so far as you are concerned, you may be sure," he answered. "I have -come down here to make some inquiries regarding a gentleman who was -known to be staying in your house some time back. His name was Fensden." - -The woman shook her head. - -"I haven't had a gentleman in my house of that name," she answered. "In -fact, the only gentleman I have had since the beginning of the year was -a Mr. Onslow. The name of Fensden I don't remember at all." - -Burrell consulted his pocket-book before he went further. - -"And yet the information I received was most complete," he continued. -"Victor Fensden, Esq., %George Onslow, Laburnum Cottage, -Laleham-on-Thames. There couldn't be anything plainer than that, could -there?" - -"It seems all right, sir," said the woman. "There is only one Laburnum -Cottage, and Mr. Onslow was certainly staying with us. He had his wife -with him, a sweet young thing, which was more than could be said of the -gentleman, I can assure you." - -It was plain from this that she and Mr. Onslow had not been on the best -of terms. Burrell took from his pocket the photograph of Fensden, and -handed it to her. He was beginning to have an inkling of the truth. - -"Is that the likeness of Fensden or of Mr. Onslow?" he inquired. - -"Mr. Onslow, sir, to be sure," she replied, "and a very good one of him -it is too. I hope he's not a friend of yours, because I couldn't abear -him. The way he treated his poor foreign wife of his was enough to make -an honest woman's blood boil." - -"So he had a foreign wife, had he?" said Burrell. "That's interesting. -Tell me all you can about him." - -"There's not much to be told, sir, except about his bullying and nagging -that poor young thing. She was a foreigner, as I have just said, but as -nice a young lady as ever stepped in at my door. When they first came -she told me that Mr. Onslow was an artist, and that they wanted to be -quiet and away from London. They didn't mind putting up with the -roughness of things, she said, so long as they could be quiet. Well, -sir, they had this room and the bedroom above, and for the first few -days everything went as smooth and as nice as could be. Then I noticed -that she took to crying, and that he went away day after day and once -for two days. At last he disappeared altogether, leaving her without a -halfpenny in the world. Oh! I'd have liked to have seen the brute and -have given him a bit of my mind. It would have done him good, I'll -promise him that. I shall never forget that poor young thing in her -trouble. She waited and waited for him to come back, but at last when -there was no sign of him, she came to me in my kitchen there to know -what she should do. 'I know you have not had your money, Mrs. Raikes,' -she said in a kind of piteous foreign way, that went to my heart. 'I can -not stay here any longer, and so, if you'll trust me, I'll go away to -London and try to find my husband. Even if I do not, you shall not lose -by us.' I told her I didn't want the money, and that I was as sorry for -her as a woman could be. Poor dear, I could see that her heart was -nearly broken." - -"And what happened then?" - -"Nothing, sir, except that she went away, and she hadn't been gone a -week before the money that was owing to me was sent in a Post Office -Order. From that day to this I've heard nothing of either of them and -that's the truth. Whether she found her husband I can not say, but if -she'd take my advice she'd never try to." - -"You are quite sure that you'd know the man again?" - -"I am certain I should," the woman replied. "I hope, sir, in telling you -all this, I've been doing no harm?" - -"You have been doing a great deal of good," Burrell replied. "Shortly -after she left you, poor Mrs. Onslow, as you call her, was most brutally -murdered, and I have been commissioned by the friends of the man who is -wrongfully accused of the crime to endeavour to discover the real -criminal." - -"Murdered, sir? you surely don't mean that?" - -"I do! A more abominable crime has not been committed this century." - -The good woman was honestly overcome by the news and during the -remainder of the interview scarcely recovered her composure. Before he -left, Burrell cautioned her most strongly against saying anything about -the case to her neighbours, and this injunction she promised faithfully -to observe. - -"By the way," said the detective, before he left, "do you remember -whether this man Onslow received any letters while he was staying with -you?" - -"Only one, sir, so far as I know," the woman replied. - -"You're quite sure of that?" - -"Quite sure, sir, and why I happen to be so certain is that it caused a -bit of unpleasantness between them. I was brushing the stairs just out -there, when the letter arrived. It was Mrs. Onslow that took it in, and -when she saw the post-mark she asked him who it was that he knew at -Richmond. He snatched the letter from her and told her to mind her own -business. That afternoon he went out and never came back. It's my belief -it was some woman at Richmond as enticed him away." - -"Have you any other reason for supposing that except the post-mark on -the envelope?" - -"Well, sir," returned the woman, "to be candid with you, I have, though -perhaps it's a tale I shouldn't tell. I was so sorry for that poor young -thing that I couldn't get her trouble out of my head, and nothing would -serve but that I must watch him. I saw him sitting down at the head of -the table where you are now, sir, about half-an-hour after he had -spoken so cross to his wife, and she, poor dear, was upstairs crying, -and I noticed that he was writing a telegram. Presently he calls to me. -'Mrs. Raikes,' said he, 'want to send a telegram at once, who can take -it for me?' 'There's Mrs. Hawkins's little boy next door, sir,' says I, -'he's taken messages for gentlemen I've had in the house before now, and -always done it very well. I saw him playing in the field at the back of -the house only this minute.' 'Call him in to me, then,' says he, 'and he -shall have sixpence for his trouble.' I called the lad in, and Mr. -Onslow gave him the message, and then off he went with it, but not so -fast but that I was able to run across to the corner of the field at the -back there, and catch him on the road. 'Tommy,' I said, 'let me have a -look at that telegram.' He was a good little boy, and handed it over to -me without a word. It was addressed to 'Montgomery, 13 Bridgeworth Road, -Richmond.' There was no other name to it, and the only other word was -'yes.' It didn't seem to me that there was anything out of the common -about it, and so I thought no more of it, until you spoke of his having -letters just now." - -"I think I'll make a note of the address in case it should be useful," -said Burrell. "And now I'll be off, thanking you again, Mrs. Raikes, for -the information you have given me." - -On leaving the cottage he walked back to Staines, caught a train to -London, and hastened to his house. Later on he made his way to Euston -Station. Another twenty hours elapsed before he was able to acquire the -information he wanted there--but he had the satisfaction of knowing, -when he had obtained it, that there remained now only one link to be -forged, and then the chain of evidence would be complete. That link was -forged at Richmond, and next day he handed in his report to the -astonished Codey. - -"Good heavens, Burrell," said that astute gentleman, "this is as -marvellous as it is horrible. What do you think?" - -"I think, sir, that we shall be able to prove that Mr. Henderson is -innocent." - - * * * * * - -At last, after all the weary waiting, the great day arrived. The -Sessions had commenced at the Old Bailey. For two or three days prior to -this, Godfrey had been busy with his solicitor and his counsel. It was -not, however, until the afternoon before the commencement that he could -elicit from Codey any information as to Burrell's discoveries. -Immediately he was ushered into the room where Codey was awaiting him, -Godfrey saw from the expression upon the other's face, that there was -something to tell. - -"You--have good news for me," he said, as they shook hands. - -"The very best of news," Codey replied. "My dear sir, you may rest -assured that your innocence is completely established. The whole plot -has come to light, and, when we give the word, the authorities will be -able to lay their hands upon the man who committed the deed." - -"But who is the man?" Godfrey hastened to ask, scarcely able to speak -for excitement. His pulse was beating like a sledge hammer inside his -head, until it seemed as if his brain must burst. - -"Don't ask me that now," said Codey. "Put your trust in me until -to-morrow. Then you shall know everything. Believe me, I have my own -very good reasons for asking this favour of you. Rest assured of one -thing; at latest the day after to-morrow you will be at liberty to go -where and do what you please." - -"But why can not it be settled at once? Why must it be the day after -to-morrow? It is cruel to keep me in suspense!" - -"Don't you understand that we can not bring forward our witnesses until -the proper moment arrives?" said the lawyer. "The English law has its -idiosyncrasies, and even in a case of life and death, the formalities -must be observed. There is one thing, however, I can promise you; that -is, that when the truth comes out, it will be admitted that such a -sensation has not been caused in a Court of Justice before." - -And with this assurance, meagre as it was, Godfrey had perforce to be -content. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -When Godfrey woke on the morning of his trial he lay for some moments -thinking over the strangeness of his position. He had been definitely -assured by Codey that nothing could prevent his being proved innocent, -yet how difficult it was to believe this when he was lying on a prison -bed in a prison cell with all the grim appurtenances of a convict's life -before him. The very books upon the shelf, the spy-hole in the door, -even his bed-clothes, reminded him that he was shut off from his fellow -men. At the usual signal he rose and dressed, and, having done so, -tidied his cell in the customary fashion. After this his breakfast was -served to him, and then he was permitted a short period of exercise in -the prison yard. He had not long returned to his cell before he was -informed that it was time for him to set off to the Court. - -Never, if he lives to be a hundred, will Godfrey Henderson forget the -scene that met his eyes when he entered the Court--the judge and the -sheriffs upon the Bench, the jurymen seated in their box, the rows of -counsel, and the line upon line of eager-eyed spectators. When Godfrey -made his appearance in the dock a sudden silence fell upon the Court. -The Clerk of Arraigns rose and read over the charge preferred against -him, namely, of murdering one Teresina Cardi, and this done he was -called upon in the usual manner to plead. Advancing to the front of the -dock Godfrey looked straight before him and said, in a calm, strong -voice: "Not guilty, my lord." The jury were then sworn, and as soon as -this important business had been completed the counsel for the -prosecution rose and told the story of the crime. He described the -engagement of the dead woman by the prisoner, his employment of her for -some considerable time, and then his hasty departure for the Continent. -It would be shown that he had received a letter from her while in Egypt, -and that almost immediately afterward he had returned to Naples. In the -latter city he had invited her to dine with him, and had taken her to -the Opera afterward. He commented upon the fact that the prisoner had -voluntarily admitted to the police authorities that he had endeavoured -to induce her to return to England. At that time, however, it must be -borne in mind that he had not met the lady he now desired to make his -wife. Whether he had seen anything of the deceased, prior to their -meeting in the Strand, it was as yet impossible to say. The fact, -however, remained that his engagement to the lady in the country was -ultimately announced. Despite that fact, only ten days before the -wedding was to take place, he was known to have met the deceased woman -at midnight, and had taken her to her home in Burford Street, leading -out of the Tottenham Court Road. By the medical evidence he would -presently call, he would prove that less than half-an-hour afterward she -was brutally murdered. Before half-past twelve, that is to say, within -an hour of the cabman picking them up in the Strand, he would prove that -the prisoner returned to his Hotel in Piccadilly, very white and -agitated, and had called for brandy. Since his arrest, an exhaustive -search had been made at his residence, with the result that a -blood-stained knife, which had been identified as having been purchased -by the prisoner in Cairo, had been discovered hidden behind a bookcase -in his studio. As for the motive of the crime he would point out that -the deceased woman wore a wedding ring, that she was known to entertain -a great affection for the prisoner, and that the latter was about to be -married to another lady. What was more probable than that he should wish -to have the other woman out of the way before he could do so? That was -certainly only a conjecture, but it was one that carried a large amount -of probability with it. He would now proceed to call his witnesses. - -The first witness called was the proprietor of the lodging-house, who -had identified the body. He was followed by the German cabinet-maker, -who had made the first and most important discovery. The police officer, -who had been called in when the door had been opened, followed next, -succeeded by the doctor who had made the post-mortem examination. The -question of identity and discovery having been settled, what the counsel -next proposed to do was to connect the prisoner with the crime. The -cabman who had picked them up in the Strand and had driven them to -Burford Street, was called, and the policeman who had seen them talking -together on the pavement there. Victor Fensden next deposed as to the -affection the deceased had entertained for the prisoner, and the efforts -he had made to induce the latter to give her up. He described Godfrey's -receipt of the letter from Teresina when on the Nile, and stated that -the prisoner had said nothing to him concerning his intention to visit -the woman in Naples. His next meeting with the prisoner was at the Mahl -Stick Club, where he had noticed a reluctance on his part to refer to -his association with the woman in the past. This was accentuated on the -following Saturday at the prisoner's residence in Midlandshire. He -recognised the knife produced, and recollected the circumstances under -which it had been purchased by the prisoner. This concluded Fensden's -evidence, and he accordingly sat down. Various other unimportant -witnesses followed, and then the case was adjourned for the day. - -Wrapped in suspense, Godfrey was driven back to the jail to turn the -evidence over and over in his mind all night long. Whatever trust he -might place in Burrell and his discoveries, it was quite certain that -another twenty-four hours would elapse before his deliverance could be -expected. Once more he scarcely slept. The various events connected -with the trial thronged his brain with merciless reiteration. With -phonographic distinctness he could recall almost every word that was -said. He could see the judge upon the Bench making his notes with -pitiless exactness, the various counsel in the well of the Court -whispering together, the importance of the jury, and the -self-sufficiency of the Court servants. Yet he had Codey's assurance -that all was to be put right in the end, and with this knowledge he was -perforce compelled to be content. - -At the same hour as on the previous day he was ordered to prepare -himself for his journey to the Court. The evidence already given against -him was so incriminating that the officials of the jail felt sure that -his condemnation was assured. They already looked upon him as a dead -man, and marvelled among themselves that he could carry himself with so -much assurance. - -Once more the Court was crowded. Fashionable London felt that the end of -one of the most interesting cases of late years was drawing near, and it -was anxious not to lose an opportunity of witnessing the _denouement_ of -the tragedy. - -"The Court is ready," said the warder, and once more Godfrey ascended -the stairs that had constituted the link between life and death for so -many hundreds of miserable beings before him. He found the judge, stern -and implacable as before, upon the Bench, the various counsel in their -places, and everyone eagerly awaiting his appearance. He bowed to the -judge and took up his position at the rails. He determined that, -whatever else they might think, they should not imagine that he was -afraid. Then, with the customary ceremonial, the case was commenced. - -The counsel for the prosecution having finished his case, Mr. Rolland, -having addressed the Court, prepared to call his witnesses. They were -few in number. The landlord of Godfrey's old studio in London deposed -that his rent had always been paid to the moment, and that he had heard -the deceased talk of the kindness she had received at the prisoner's -hands. "It was always in the language of a dependent," he said, "and in -no way that of a girl who believed her patron to be in love with her." - -When the prosecution had declined to cross-examine this witness, the -counsel for the defence arranged his gown and assumed an even more -important air. It was evident that something was about to happen. A -moment later Victor Fensden was recalled. - -"I am anxious, Mr. Fensden," said the counsel, "to ask you a question -regarding your return from the Continent. You have already told the jury -that you returned on the morning of the murder. Am I to understand that -that was really so?" - -"I arrived on Thursday, the 15th," said Victor, and a close observer -would have noticed that he shifted uneasily on his feet as he gave the -answer. - -"I should be glad also to have your repeated assurance that, from the -moment you saw the prisoner purchase that knife in Cairo, you did not -behold it again until it was handed you at the Magistrate's Court?" - -"That also is quite true," said Victor, who by this time was more at his -ease. - -"That is all I want to ask you. You may sit down," said the counsel. -"Call Simon Updale." - -In response to the summons, a short, stout man, who was the possessor of -a fiery beard and the reddest hair ever seen on a human being, made his -appearance and took up his position in the box. He deposed that his -name was Simon Updale, and that he was an able seaman on a steamer -plying between Dover and Calais. On a certain day, a month before the -murder, he had been made the subject of a complaint to the captain by -the previous witness, Mr. Fensden. He was quite certain of the date and -of the passenger's identity, for the reason that one of his mates had -broken his arm before reaching Dover and he wanted to accompany him to -the hospital. On account of the complaint, however, he was not permitted -to go. - -George Perran, steward on the same boat, was next called. He -corroborated what the previous witness had said, and recognised the -witness Fensden as being the gentleman who had made the complaint. - -"That," said Mr. Rolland, "proves conclusively that the witness in -question has committed wilful and corrupt perjury, inasmuch as that he -was in England a month before he stated in his evidence." - -Every eye in Court was riveted on Victor Fensden, whose face turned as -pale as the paper upon which I am writing. - -"I shall now call James Tidmarsh," said Mr. Rolland, and in response to -the summons a small boy climbed into the witness-box. - -His name, he stated, was James Tidmarsh, and he called himself an errand -boy, though as a rule he spent his time hanging about the vicinity of -Euston Station. He remembered distinctly on the night of Friday, the -16th, meeting a gentleman about eight o'clock outside the station who -carried a small wooden box in his hand. That gentleman stopped him and -asked him if he would care to earn half a sovereign. Upon his eagerly -answering in the affirmative, the stranger gave him the box in question -with the sum of fifteen shillings. "Take it to the station," he said, -"and hand it in at the parcel-office to be despatched to the address -written on the label. It won't cost more than a couple of shillings or -half-a-crown, and you can keep the change for yourself. I'll wait here -until you return to tell me it's all right." - -The boy then declared that he started off, handed the box in at the -parcel-office and paid the money. In taking the money the clerk had -_sauced_ him and he had retaliated to the best of his ability. The -result was that the policeman on the platform gave him a good shaking -and turned him out of the building. He informed the gentleman that he -had sent the parcel off, and he had not seen him since that moment until -he came into Court and had heard the witness Fensden give his evidence. -He, the witness to whom he alluded, was, without a shadow of doubt, the -gentleman who had handed him the box to send to Detwich Hall. - -The excitement in Court by this time may be better imagined than -described. The colour of Fensden's face was a dirty gray, and he seemed -to gasp for breath. The counsel for the prosecution seemed uneasy, and -even the judge leaned farther forward than usual, as if he were afraid -of losing a word of what was said. - -The clerk in the parcel-office was next called, and stated that he -remembered the incident in question. The box was a foreign one, and as -he had placed it on the floor he had remarked, "Another made in -Germany." - -The policeman who had turned the boy out of the station followed him. He -had seen the boy deposit a small box upon the counter and heard him say -something cheeky to the clerk. He thereupon bundled him out of the -station. - -When this witness had finished his tale Mr. Rolland said: "Call Jacob -Burrell." - -On hearing this a stir ran through the Court. The famous detective was -well known to all the officials within the building, and they, in the -light of this new discovery and the knowledge that this individual had -taken up the prisoner's case, began to regard the matter in a somewhat -different light. There was a slight flicker of a smile upon the austere -countenance of the judge when the counsel asked the detective his name. - -"Jacob Burrell," was the reply. - -"I understand," went on the counsel, "that you were instructed by my -friend, the solicitor for the defence, to make an investigation into -this case. In the course of that investigation did you visit Naples?" - -"I did," the other replied. - -"And what did you discover there?" - -"I found that the witness Fensden, although he has denied the matter on -oath, was in Naples three weeks after the prisoner passed through on his -way to England." - -The counsel here informed the jury that five affidavits to this effect -would be produced and read. Addressing the witness once more he said: - -"Are you aware that the witness Fensden spent the greater part of his -time in Naples in the company of the deceased woman?" - -"I found that to be the case. On February 3rd they left Naples together -for Vienna, stayed together at the Hotel National, in the Kaearntner -Strasse, and were married on the 26th of that month at the Church at -Funfhaus, in the Gurtel Strasse. The wedding-ring, which was still upon -the left hand when it was sent to the prisoner, was purchased at the -shop of Messrs. Radler & Hass, in the Kohlmarkt." - -"The head of that firm is now in Court," said Mr. Rolland, "and will -give his evidence. Call Herr Radler." - -Herr Radler thereupon entered the box which Burrell had vacated, and -stated that he well remembered selling the ring in question to an -Englishman who was accompanied by a beautiful Italian lady. The -gentleman he recognised as the witness Fensden, and from the photograph, -that had been shown to him of the dead woman, he was able to swear that -it was for her the ring was purchased. - -Victor Fensden, at this point, sprang to his feet as if to speak, but -his voice failed him, and he sat down again. - -A sworn copy of the marriage certificate having been produced and read, -and handed up for the inspection of the jury, Jacob Burrell was -recalled. - -"When you had traced the witness and the deceased to Vienna, what did -you do?" - -"I returned to England, _via_ Paris and Calais," he answered. "On -reaching London I followed up certain clews I had received, and found -that the witness and the deceased lived for a short time together in the -country." - -"At what place?" - -"At the village of Laleham on the River Thames." - -Here the counsel for the prosecution rose to protest. - -"Your lordship," he said, "I must respectfully submit that the question -as to whether Mr. Fensden cohabited with the deceased is not relevant to -the case. We are trying the prisoner at the Bar and not Mr. Fensden." - -His opponent took up the challenge. - -"I respectfully submit that I am in the right," said Rolland. "In -eliciting this information I am leading up to the question of motive, -and I am sure my learned friend will admit that that is an all-important -point. - -"I am afraid I must rule against you," said the judge, addressing the -Prosecuting counsel. "Anything that tends to throw a light upon the -proceedings of the deceased so short a time prior to the murder can -scarcely fail to be relevant." - -Once more readjusting his gown, Mr. Rolland invited Burrell to proceed. - -"How long did witness and the deceased occupy the house at Laleham?" - -"For more than a fortnight. Then Fensden left her in a strange place -without a penny in the world." (Here a murmur of indignation ran through -the Court, which, by the judge's orders, was instantly suppressed.) - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland. "Call Elizabeth Raikes." - -The owner of Laburnum Cottage next entered the box, and, though much -flurried by the novel position in which she found herself, gave evidence -to the effect that the deceased and Fensden had occupied apartments at -her house for the period mentioned by the previous witness. She was -quite sure, from things she had overheard, that they were not happy -together, and she knew that the man treated the woman cruelly. Sometimes -he was away for a couple of days, and one day he disappeared altogether -without paying for anything they had had while in the house, and leaving -his wife totally unprovided for. She had heard the present case talked -about, but had not associated the victim with the Mrs. Onslow who had -occupied rooms at her cottage. - -"I have two more witnesses to call," said Mr. Rolland, when Mrs. Raikes -had stepped down. "Then, my lord, I shall have completed my case. Call -Mrs. Wilhelmina Montgomery." - -A tall, handsome woman, fashionably attired, stepped into the -witness-box and took the oath. In response to the question put her by -the counsel for the defence, she stated that her name was Wilhelmina -Montgomery, and that she was the widow of George Montgomery, late of -Sheffield. "I live at No. 13, Bridgeworth Road, Richmond," she -continued. "I first met the witness, Victor Fensden, at Baden, while -travelling with some friends, in December last. We became very intimate, -and, when he returned to England early in March, he called upon me at -my house. Eventually he asked me to marry him, and after some -hesitation I consented to do so. I have three thousand a year invested -in Consols, and a considerable amount of ready money lying idle at the -bank. This may or may not have been his motive, but I have no knowledge -of that. Mr. Fensden was anxious for an immediate marriage, but to this -I would not consent. I knew that he was in the hands of the Jews, but I -would have paid off his indebtedness after marriage. He stayed at my -house on several occasions, as did others of my friends. One day I went -out to do some shopping, and on my return discovered him in my boudoir. -He held a piece of yellow soap in his hand and a large number of -door-keys were spread out on the table before him. I asked him what he -was doing, and he answered that he was endeavouring to find a key -similar to the one he had lost. My housekeeper had furnished him with -several, and he had at last found one that fitted the imprint in the -soap. On the night of the murder he informed me that it would be -necessary for him to attend an important meeting, and that it was just -possible he would not be back until late. As a matter of fact, it was -considerably after one o'clock, perhaps half-past one, when he -returned. On the Saturday following he left me to go down to -Midlandshire to pay a visit to an old friend, he said, who was about to -be married. Before he went he once more pressed me for an early -marriage, suggesting, knowing that I am fond of travelling, that we -should immediately set off for a long trip round the world." - -The box which had contained the hands was then handed to her, and she -was asked if she recognised it. - -"Yes," she answered immediately. "If you look underneath I think you -will find a large inkstain. (This proved to be the case.) I brought some -things in it from Vienna. How Mr. Fensden obtained possession of it, -however, I do not know." - -The counsel for the prosecution having no questions to ask, the witness -was allowed to stand down. - -"Call Joseph Hodder," said Mr. Rolland, and, to Godfrey's amazement, one -of his own under-gardeners entered the box. Having taken the oath, he -stated, in reply to the counsel's question, that, on the Sunday -following the murder, it was his duty to attend to the stoking of the -fires of the various conservatories at the Hall. He knew that his -master and the ladies had gone to Church, because he had passed them in -the park, and that the strange gentleman had remained at home, because, -when he had passed the drawing-room window on his way to his work, he -saw him sitting before the fire reading. Having attended to the fires in -the vineries and other garden-houses, he returned to the Hall itself to -look after the heat in the new winter garden that Mr. Henderson had -built. From this house in question it is quite possible to see into the -studio, and, to his surprise, he discovered the gentleman visitor was no -longer in the drawing-room, but was kneeling beside the big bookcase -near the fireplace in the studio. It looked as if he were feeling for -something behind it, but what that something was he had no idea. When he -was asked why he had not given information on this matter before, he -replied that he had not attached any importance to it until he had -talked it over with the head gardener on the day following the search by -the police. Then he had gone to Miss Henderson, and had told her. She -had written at once to his master's lawyer, and that was all he knew -about it. - -"The evidence of this man," said Mr. Rolland, "completes my case." - -The words had scarcely left his lips before Victor Fensden was seen to -spring to his feet. Once more he opened his mouth as if to speak, and -once more he failed to utter a word. Then, with a loud cry, he fell -forward in a swoon. Two of the policemen near at hand ran forward to -pick him up. Between them, they carried him out of the Court to an -adjoining room. In the Court itself at that moment, it would have been -possible to have heard a pin drop. Then the judge found his voice. - -"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the jury, "after the astounding -evidence you have just heard, I am thankful to say that, in my opinion, -there is not the least shadow of a reason for continuing the case -against the prisoner at the bar. In this I feel sure you will concur -with me." - -The foreman of the jury entirely agreed with his lordship, and at the -same time desired to express, on behalf of himself and his brother -jurymen, their great regret that a gentleman of Mr. Henderson's position -should, by another man's action, have been placed in such an unhappy -predicament. - -"With that I quite agree," said the counsel for the prosecution. - -This was the signal for general applause in Court, which, somehow, was -not checked by the judge as quickly as is customary in such cases. - -When silence had been restored, the latter addressed Godfrey. - -"Godfrey Henderson," he said, and his voice was very impressive, "by -reason of the false evidence that has been given against you, by a cruel -and vindictive man, you have been brought to the dock of this Court, and -charged with the perpetration of a most cruel and bloodthirsty crime. Of -that crime twelve of your countrymen have declared you to be innocent, -and to their testimony I emphatically add my own. While it is not in my -power to offer you the hope of receiving any return for the anxiety you -have suffered, I can say something that I know you will value much more; -that is, that you leave this Court a free man, and without the shadow of -a stain upon your character." - -"I thank you, my lord," said Godfrey, quietly, and at that moment one of -the ushers of the Court entered and approached the judge. - -"Gentlemen," said the latter, again addressing the Court, "I think it -only right to make it known to you that a Higher Power than that I -represent has intervened, and the wretched man, who has caused all this -misery and suffering, has been suddenly called to appear before a -greater Tribunal. May God have mercy upon his soul!" - -Then the Court was cleared, and Godfrey found himself shaking hands with -Sir Vivian and the men who had worked so hard to prove his innocence. -When he had thanked them from the very bottom of his heart, Sir Vivian -took his arm. - -"Come away now, come away," said the old gentleman. "There are other -people waiting to welcome you." - -Seizing Godfrey by the arm, he hurried him out into the street to a cab -which was waiting there. Ten minutes later he was locked in his mother's -arms. - -"O Godfrey," said Molly, as he embraced her in her turn, "I knew that -God would send you back to me!" - - * * * * * - -A week later Godfrey and Molly were married by special license, and left -England the same day for the South of France. They are now back again at -the Hall, and as happy as two young people could well expect to be. The -clouds that shadowed their lives at one time are now completely -dispersed, but, if Godfrey lives to be a hundred, he will never forget -the agony he suffered in connection with what the newspapers called "The -Mystery of the Clasped Hands." - -THE END - - - - -APPLETONS' TOWN AND COUNTRY LIBRARY. - -PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY. - - - * * * * * - - 1. _The Steel Hammer_. By L. ULBACH. - 2. _Eve_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 3. _For Fifteen Years_. By L. ULBACH. - 4. _A Counsel of Perfection_. By L. MALET. - 5. _The Deemster_. By H. CAINE. - 5-1/2. _The Bondman_. By H. CAINE. - 6. _A Virginia Inheritance_. By E. PENDLETON. - 7. _Ninette_. By the author of Vera. - 8. "_The Right Honourable._" By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 9. _The Silence of Dean Maitland_. By M. GRAY. - 10. _Mrs. Lorimer_. By L. MALET. - 11. _The Elect Lady_. By G. MACDONALD. - 12. _The Mystery of the "Ocean Star."_ By W. C. RUSSELL. - 13. _Aristocracy_. - 14. _A Recoiling Vengeance_. By F. BARRETT. - 15. _The Secret of Fontaine-la-Croix_. By M. FIELD. - 16. _The Master of Rathkelly_. By H. SMART. - 17. _Donovan_. By E. LYALL. - 18. _This Mortal Coil_. By G. ALLEN. - 19. _A Fair Emigrant_. By R. MULHOLLAND. - 20. _The Apostate_. By E. DAUDET. - 21. _Raleigh Westgate_. By H. K. JOHNSON. - 22. _Arius the Libyan_. - 23. _Constance_, and _Calbot's Rival_. By J. HAWTHORNE. - 24. _We Two_. By E. LYALL. - 25. _A Dreamer of Dreams_. By the author of Thoth. - 26. _The Ladies' Gallery_. By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 27. _The Reproach of Annesley_. By M. GRAY. - 28. _Near to Happiness_. - 29. _In the Wire Grass_. By L. PENDLETON. - 30. _Lace_. By P. LINDAU. - 30-1/2. _The Black Poodle_. By F. ANSTEY. - 31. _American Coin_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 32. _Won by Waiting_. By E. LYALL. - 33. _The Story of Helen Davenant_. By V. FANE. - 34. _The Light of Her Countenance_. By H. H. BOYESEN. - 35. _Mistress Beatrice Cope_. By M. E. LE CLERC. - 36. _The Knight-Errant_. By E. LYALL. - 37. _In the Golden Days_. By E. LYALL. - 38. _Giraldi_. By R. G. DERING. - 39. _A Hardy Norseman_. By E. LYALL. - 40. _The Romance of Jenny Harlowe_, and _Sketches of Maritime Life_. - By W. C. RUSSELL. - 41. _Passion's Slave_. By R. ASHE-KING. - 42. _The Awakening of Mary Fenwick_. By B. WHITBY. - 43. _Countess Loreley_. By R. MENGER. - 44. _Blind Love_. By W. COLLINS. - 45. _The Dean's Daughter_. By S. F. F. VEITCH. - 46. _Countess Irene_. By J. FOGERTY. - 47. _Robert Browning's Principal Shorter Poems_. - 48. _Frozen Hearts_. By G. W. APPLETON. - 49. _Djambek the Georgian_. By A. G. VON SUTTNER. - 50. _The Craze of Christian Engelhart_. By H. F. DARNELL. - 51. _Lal_. By W. A. HAMMOND, M. D. - 52. _Aline_. By H. GREVILLE. - 53. _Joost Avelingh_. By M. MAARTENS. - 54. _Katy of Catoctin_. By G. A. TOWNSEND. - 55. _Throckmorton_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 56. _Expatriation_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 57. _Geoffrey Hampstead_. By T. S. JARVIS. - 58. _Dmitri_. By F. W. BAIN, M. A. - 59. _Part of the Property_. By B. WHITBY. - 60. _Bismarck in Private Life_. By a Fellow-Student. - 61. _In Low Relief_. By M. ROBERTS. - 62. _The Canadians of Old_. By P. GASPE. - 63. _A Squire of Low Degree_. By L. A. LONG. - 64. _A Fluttered Dovecote_. By G. M. FENN. - 65. _The Nugents of Carriconna_. By T. HOPKINS. - 66. _A Sensitive Plant_. By E. and D. GERARD. - 67. _Dona Luz_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 68. _Pepita Ximenez_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 69. _The Primes and their Neighbors_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 70. _The Iron Game_. By H. F. KEENAN. - 71. _Stories of Old New Spain_. By T. A. JANVIER. - 72. _The Maid of Honor_. By Hon. L. WINGFIELD. - 73. _In the Heart of the Storm_. By M. GRAY. - 74. _Consequences_. By E. CASTLE. - 75. _The Three Miss Kings_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 76. _A Matter of Skill_. By B. WHITBY. - 77. _Maid Marian, and Other Stories_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 78. _One Woman's Way_. By E. PENDLETON. - 79. _A Merciful Divorce_. By F. W. MAUDE. - 80. _Stephen Ellicott's Daughter_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 81. _One Reason Why_. By B. WHITBY. - 82. _The Tragedy of Ida Noble_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 83. _The Johnstown Stage, and Other Stories_. By R. H. FLETCHER. - 84. _A Widower Indeed_. By R. BROUGHTON and E. BISLAND. - 85. _The Flight of a Shadow_. By G. MACDONALD. - 86. _Love or Money_. By K. LEE. - 87. _Not All in Vain_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 88. _It Happened Yesterday_. By F. MARSHALL. - 89. _My Guardian_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 90. _The Story of Philip Methuen_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 91. _Amethyst_. By C. R. COLERIDGE. - 92. _Don Braulio_. By J. VALERA. Translated by C. BELL. - 93. _The Chronicles of Mr. Bill Williams_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 94. _A Queen of Curds and Cream_. By D. GERARD. - 95. "_La Bella" and Others_. By E. CASTLE. - 96. "_December Roses_." By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 97. _Jean de Kerdren_. By J. SCHULTZ. - 98. _Etelka's Vow_. By D. GERARD. - 99. _Cross Currents_. By M. A. DICKENS. - 100. _His life's Magnet_. By T. ELMSLIE. - 101. _Passing the Love of Women_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 102. _In Old St. Stephen's_. By J. DRAKE. - 103. _The Berkeleys and their Neighbors_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 104. _Mono Maclean, Medical Student_. By G. TRAVERS. - 105. _Mrs. Bligh_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 106. _A Stumble on the Threshold_. By J. PAYN. - 107. _Hanging Moss_. By P. LINDAU. - 108. _A Comedy of Elopement_. By C. REID. - 109. _In the Suntime of her Youth_. By B. WHITBY. - 110. _Stories in Black and White_. By T. HARDY and Others. - 110-1/2. _An Englishman in Paris_. - 111. _Commander Mendoza_. By J. VALERA. - 112. _Dr. Paull's Theory_. By Mrs. A. M. DIEHL. - 113. _Children of Destiny_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 114. _A Little Minx_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 115. _Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon_. By H. CAINE. - 116. _The Voice of a Flower_. By E. GERARD. - 117. _Singularly Deluded_. By S. GRAND. - 118. _Suspected_. By L. STRATENUS. - 119. _Lucia, Hugh, and Another_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 120. _The Tutor's Secret_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 121. _From the Five Rivers_. By Mrs. F. A. STEEL. - 122. _An Innocent Impostor, and Other Stories_. By M. GRAY. - 123. _Ideala_. By S. GRAND. - 124. _A Comedy of Masks_. By E. DOWSON and A. MOORE. - 125. _Relics_. By F. MACNAB. - 126. _Dodo: A Detail of the Day_. By E. F. BENSON. - 127. _A Woman of Forty_. By E. STUART. - 128. _Diana Tempest_. By M. CHOLMONDELEY. - 129. _The Recipe for Diamonds_. By C. J. C. HYNE. - 130. _Christina Chard_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 131. _A Gray Eye or So_. By F. F. MOORE. - 132. _Earlscourt_. By A. ALLARDYCE. - 133. _A Marriage Ceremony_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 134. _A Ward in Chancery_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 135. _Lot 13_. By D. GERARD. - 136. _Our Manifold Nature_. By S. GRAND. - 137. _A Costly Freak_. By M. GRAY. - 138. _A Beginner_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 139. _A Yellow Aster_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN ("IOTA"). - 140. _The Rubicon_. By E. F. BENSON. - 141. _The Trespasser_. By G. PARKER. - 142. _The Rich Miss Riddell_. By D. GERARD. - 143. _Mary Fenwick's Daughter_. By B. WHITBY. - 144. _Red Diamonds_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 145. _A Daughter of Music_. By G. COLMORE. - 146. _Outlaw and Lawmaker_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 147. _Dr. Janet of Harley Street_. By A. KENEALY. - 148. _George Mandeville's Husband_. By C. E. RAIMOND. - 149. _Vashti and Esther_. - 150. _Timar's Two Worlds_. By M. JOKAI. - 151. _A Victim of Good Luck_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 152. _The Trail of the Sword_. By G. PARKER. - 153. _A Mild Barbarian_. By E. FAWCETT. - 154. _The God in the Car_. By A. HOPE. - 155. _Children of Circumstance_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN. - 156. _At the Gate of Samaria_. By W. J. LOCKE. - 157. _The Justification of Andrew Lebrun_. By F. BARRETT. - 158. _Dust and Laurels_. By M. L. PENDERED. - 159. _The Good Ship Mohock_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 160. _Noemi_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 161. _The Honour of Savelli_. By S. L. YEATS. - 162. _Kitty's Engagement_. By F. WARDEN. - 163. _The Mermaid_. By L. DOUGALL. - 164. _An Arranged Marriage_. By D. GERARD. - 165. _Eve's Ransom_. By G. GISSING. - 166. _The Marriage of Esther_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 167. _Fidelis_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 168. _Into the Highways and Hedges_. By F. F. MONTRESOR. - 169. _The Vengeance of James Vansittart_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 170. _A Study in Prejudices_. By G. PASTON. - 171. _The Mistress of Quest_. By A. SERGEANT. - 172. _In the Year of Jubilee_. By G. GISSING. - 173. _In Old New England_. By H. BUTTERWORTH. - 174. _Mrs. Musgrave--and Her Husband_. By R. MARSH. - 175. _Not Counting the Cost_. By TASMA. - 176. _Out of Due Season_. By A. SERGEANT. - 177. _Scylla or Charybdis?_ By R. BROUGHTON. - 178. _In Defiance of the King_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 179. _A Bid for Fortune_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 180. _The King of Andaman_. By J. M. COBBAN. - 181. _Mrs. Tregaskiss_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 182. _The Desire of the Moth_. By C. VANE. - 183. _A Self-Denying Ordinance_. By M. HAMILTON. - 184. _Successors to the Title_. By Mrs. L. B. WALFORD. - 185. _The Lost Stradivarius_. By J. M. FALKNER. - 186. _The Wrong Man_. By D. GERARD. - 187. _In the Day of Adversity_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 188. _Mistress Dorothy Marvin_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 189. _A Flash of Summer_. By Mrs. W. K. CLIFFORD. - 190. _The Dancer in Yellow_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 191. _The Chronicles of Martin Hewitt_. By A. MORRISON. - 192. _A Winning Hazard_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 193. _The Picture of Las Cruces_. By C. REID. - 194. _The Madonna of a Day_. By L. DOUGALL. - 195. _The Riddle Ring_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 196. _A Humble Enterprise_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 197. _Dr. Nikola_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 198. _An Outcast of the Islands_. By J. CONRAD. - 199. _The King's Revenge_. By C. BRAY. - 200. _Denounced_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 201. _A Court Intrigue_. By B. THOMPSON. - 202. _The Idol-Maker_. By A. SERGEANT. - 203. _The Intriguers_. By J. D. BARRY. - 204. _Master Ardick, Buccaneer_. By F. H. COSTELLO. - 205. _With Fortune Made_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 206. _Fellow Travellers_. By G. TRAVERS. - 207. _McLeod of the Camerons_. By M. HAMILTON. - 208. _The Career of Candida_. By G. PASTON. - 209. _Arrested_. By E. STUART. - 210. _Tatterley_. By T. GALLON. - 211. _A Pinchbeck Goddess_. By Mrs. J. M. FLEMING (A. M. Kipling). - 212. _Perfection City_. By Mrs. ORPEN. - 213. _A Spotless Reputation_. By D. GERARD. - 214. _A Galahad of the Creeks_. By S. L. YEATS. - 215. _The Beautiful White Devil_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 216. _The Sun of Saratoga_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 217. _Fierceheart, the Soldier_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 218. _Marietta's Marriage_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 219. _Dear Faustina_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 220. _Nulma_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 221. _The Folly of Pen Harrington_. By J. STURGIS. - 222. _A Colonial Free-Lance_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 223. _His Majesty's Greatest Subject_. By S. S. THORBURN. - 224. _Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer_. By A. RAINE. - 225. _A Soldier of Manhattan_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 226. _Fortune's Footballs_. By G. B. BURGIN. - 227. _The Clash of Arms_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 228. _God's Foundling_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 229. _Miss Providence_. By D. GERARD. - 230. _The Freedom of Henry Meredyth_. By M. HAMILTON. - 231. _Sweethearts and Friends_. By M. GRAY. - 232. _Sunset_. By B. WHITBY. - 233. _A Fiery Ordeal_. By TASMA. - 234. _A Prince of Mischance_. By T. GALLON. - 235. _A Passionate Pilgrim_. By P. WHITE. - 236. _This Little World_. By D. C. MURRAY. - 237. _A Forgotten Sin_. By D. GERARD. - 238. _The Incidental Bishop_. By G. ALLEN. - 239. _The Lake of Wine_. By B. CAPES. - 240. _A Trooper of the Empress_. By C. ROSS. - 241. _Torn Sails_. By A. RAINE. - 242. _Materfamilias_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 243. _John of Strathbourne_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 244. _The Millionaires_. By F. F. MOORE. - 245. _The Looms of Time_. By Mrs. H. FRASER. - 246. _The Queen's Cup_. By G. A. HENTY. - 247. _Dicky Monteith_. By T. GALLON. - 248. _The Lust of Hate_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 249. _The Gospel Writ in Steel_. By ARTHUR PATERSON. - 250. _The Widower_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 251. _The Scourge of God_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 252. _Concerning Isabel Carnaby_. By ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER. - 253. _The Impediment_. By D. GERARD. - 254. _Belinda--and Some Others_. By ETHEL MAUDE. - 255. _The Key of the Holy House_. By ALBERT LEE. - 256. _A Writer of Books_. By G. PASTON. - 257. _The Knight of the Golden Chain_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 258. _Ricroft of Withens_. By HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE. - 259. _The Procession of Life_. By HORACE A. VACHELL. - 260. _By Berwen Banks_. By A. RAINE. - 261. _Pharos, the Egyptian_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 262. _Paul Carah, Cornishman_. By CHARLES LEE. - 263. _Pursued by the Law_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - 264. _Madame Izan_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 265. _Fortune's my Foe_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 266. _A Cosmopolitan Comedy_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 267. _The Kingdom of Hate_. By T. GALLON. - 268. _The Game and the Candle_. By RHODA BROUGHTON. - 269. _Dr. Nikola's Experiment_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 270. _The Strange Story of Hester Wynne_. By G. COLMORE. - 271. _Lady Barbarity_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 272. _A Bitter Heritage_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 273. _The Heiress of the Season_. By Sir WILLIAM MAGNAY, Bart. - 274. _A Voyage at Anchor_. By W. CLARK RUSSELL. - 275. _The Idol of the Blind_. By T. GALLON. - 276. _A Corner of the West_. By EDITH HENRIETTA FOWLER. - 277. _The Story of Ronald Kestrel_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 278. _The World's Mercy_. By M. GRAY. - 279. _The Gentleman Pensioner_. By ALBERT LEE. - 280. _A Maker of Nations_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 281. _Mirry-Ann_. By NORMA LORIMER. - 282. _The Immortal Garland_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 283. _Garthowen_. By ALLEN RAINE. - 284. _The Lunatic at Large_. By J. STORER CLOUSTON. - 285. _The Seafarers_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 286. _The Minister's Guest_. By ISABEL SMITH. - 287. _The Last Sentence_. By M. GRAY. - 288. _Brown of Lost River_. By MARY E. STICKNEY. - 289. _The Jay-Hawkers_. By ADELA E. ORPEN. - 290. _The Flower of the Flock_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 291. _A Private Chivalry_. By FRANCIS LYNDE. - 292. _King Stork of the Netherlands_. By ALBERT LEE. - 293. _Path and Goal_. By ADA CAMBRIDGE. - 294. _My Indian Queen_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 295. _A Hero in Homespun_. By WM. E. BARTON. - 296. _A Royal Exchange_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - - * * * * * - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - - - - * * * * * - -FOR NATURE LOVERS AND ANGLERS. - - * * * * * - - -Familiar Fish: Their Habits and Capture. - -A Practical Book on Fresh-Water Game Fish. By EUGENE MCCARTHY. With an -Introduction by Dr. David Starr Jordan, President of Leland Stanford -Junior University, and numerous Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - This informing and practical book describes in a most interesting - fashion the habits and environment of our familiar freshwater game - fish, including anadromous fish like the salmon and sea trout. The - life of a fish is traced in a manner very interesting to Nature - lovers, while the simple and useful explanations of the methods of - angling for different fish will be appreciated by fishermen old and - young. As one of the most experienced of American fishermen, Mr. - McCarthy is able to speak with authority regarding salmon, trout, - ouananiche, bass, pike, and pickerel, and other fish which are the - object of the angler's pursuit. His clear and practical counsel as - to fly-casting, and rods and tackle and their use, and his advice - as to outfits and the various details of camp life, render his book - a most useful companion for all sportsmen and campers. Dr. David - Starr Jordan has read the manuscript, and has lent the weight of - his approval by writing an introduction. The book is profusely - illustrated with pictures and serviceable diagrams. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. - - * * * * * - - -By F. SCHUYLER MATHEWS. - -Familiar Flowers of Field and Garden. - - Illustrated by the Author. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $1.75; - Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $2.25. - -Familiar Trees and their Leaves. - - Illustrated from Nature by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Features of the Roadside. - - With Illustrations by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Life in Field and Forest. - - With many Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - - * * * * * - -The Art of Taxidermy. - - By JOHN ROWLEY. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. - -Insect Life. - - By JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $2.50; - Teachers' and Students' Edition, $1.50. - -The Insect World. - - By CLARENCE M. WEED. 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents. - -Bird-Life. - - A Study of our Common Birds. By FRANK M. CHAPMAN, Assistant Curator - of Mammalogy and Ornithology in the American Museum of Natural - History. Illustrated by Ernest Seton Thompson. 12mo, cloth, $1.75. - With 75 full-page Plates in Colors, 8vo, cloth, $5.00. - -Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. - - By FRANK M. CHAPMAN. With nearly 200 Illustrations. 12mo. Library - Edition, cloth, $3.00; Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $3.50. - - - - - * * * * * - -RECENT FICTION. - - * * * * * - - -The Brass Bottle. - -A Romance. By F. ANSTEY, author of "Vice Versa," etc., With -Frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Not only is the plot of the book novel, like all of Anstey's work, - but he has developed it with rare skill. The rollicking hilarity - and absurdity of the conception are carried off with a gravity and - seriousness that is the very essence of droll fun. The man who - loves to laugh will find 'The Brass Bottle' a fountain of - mirth."--_Brooklyn Eagle_. - -The Eagle's Heart. - -A Story of the West. By HAMLIN GARLAND, author of "A Spoil of Office," -"A Member of the Third House," "Wayside Courtships," etc. 12mo. Cloth, -$1.50. - - "'The Eagle's Heart' is Mr. Garland's best work, considered as a - story of sustained interest, strong characters, and exciting - incidents."--_Cleveland Plain Dealer_. - - "Hamlin Garland may be seen at his best in 'The Eagle's Heart.'... - He has graphically depicted the wild life on the Western plains; - he has added a symmetrical and intensely interesting character - study of the typical plainsman, and through the whole there runs a - dainty love motive. These elements are combined with artistic - skill."--_Chicago Tribune_. - - "Mr. Garland gives us as true a historical novel as any of the - colonial period or the days of the War for Independence. He - presents the dignity of the life and its service to the nation. - 'The Eagle's Heart' is a splendid achievement."--_New York Mail - and Express_. - -The Footsteps of a Throne. - -A Romance. By MAX PEMBERTON. Uniform with "Kronstadt" and "The Phantom -Army." Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "The reader's attention is held breathlessly until the last page - has been turned."--_Boston Journal_. - - "The book trade has all at once had a great revival. Quite ten - thousand copies of Mr. Max Pemberton's new story, 'Footsteps of a - Throne,' have already been issued in this country alone. Of - course, this is generally regarded as by far the best story, as - well as one of the most dramatic, the author has yet - written."--_From a special London cable to the New York Herald_. - - - - - * * * * * - -ADA CAMBRIDGE'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Path and Goal. - -This latest book shows the constant human interest which characterizes -the work of this sympathetic and charming writer. There is an -entertaining plot, and the backgrounds of the varying scenes of action -are sketched most vividly. - -Materfamilias. - -"The story is fragrant with the breath of farms, the aroma of the salt -sea, and the even sweeter essence that exhales from the homely virtues, -practiced amid simple surroundings, where family ties are strong, and -where love, loyal and true, reigns as queen."--_Philadelphia Item_. - -A Humble Enterprise. - -"A restful, sympathetic, domestic story, full of tender pathos, -excellent character drawing, and genuine, lovable human nature--a story -to be read, not once, but again and again."--_London Daily Mail_. - -Fidelis. - -"The original flavor of Ada Cambridge is not lost but enriched by being -ingrafted on a sturdy stock. Her pictures of Australia and of rural -England are as attractive as ever, her story better than ever."--_New -York Evening Post_. - -My Guardian. - -"A story which will, from first to last, enlist the sympathies of the -reader by its simplicity of style and fresh, genuine feeling.... The -author is _au fait_ at the delineation of character."--_Boston -Transcript_. - -The Three Miss Kings. - -"An exceedingly strong novel. It is an Australian story, teeming with a -certain calmness of emotional power that finds expression in a continual -outflow of living thought and feeling."--_Boston Times_. - -Not All in Vain. - -"A worthy companion to the best of the author's former efforts, and in -some respects superior to any of them."--_Detroit Free Press_. - -A Marriage Ceremony. - -"Highly original in conception, its action graceful though rapid, and -its characters sparkling with that life and sprightliness that have made -their author rank as a peer of delineators."--_Baltimore American_. - -A Little Minx. - -"A thoroughly charming novel, which is just the finest bit of work its -author has yet accomplished."--_Baltimore American_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY ALLEN RAINE. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Garthowen: A Welsh Idyl. - -"Wales has long waited for her novelist, but he seems to have come at -last in the person of Mr. Allen Raine, who has at once proved himself a -worthy interpreter and exponent of the romantic spirit of his -country."--_London Daily Mail_. - -By Berwen Banks. - -"Mr. Raine enters into the lives and traditions of the people, and -herein lies the charm of his stories."--_Chicago Tribune_. - -"Interesting from the beginning, and grows more so as it -proceeds."--_San Francisco Bulletin_. - -"It has the same grace of style, strength of description, and dainty -sweetness of its predecessors."--_Boston Saturday Evening Gazette_. - -Torn Sails. - -"It is a little idyl of humble life and enduring love, laid bare before -us, very real and pure, which in its telling shows us some strong points -of Welsh character--the pride, the hasty temper, the quick dying out of -wrath.... We call this a well-written story, interesting alike through -its romance and its glimpses into another life than ours."--_Detroit -Free Press_. - -"Allen Raine's work is in the right direction and worthy of all -honor."--_Boston Budget_. - -Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer. - -"Simple in all its situations, the story is worked up in that touching -and quaint strain which never grows wearisome no matter how often the -lights and shadows of love are introduced. It rings true, and does not -tax the imagination."--_Boston Herald_. - -"One of the most charming tales that has come to us of late."--_Brooklyn -Eagle_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY J. A. ALTSHELER. - - * * * * * - - -In Circling Camps. - -A Romance of the American Civil War. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Mr. Altsheler has an enviable reputation. His method is that of - Fenimore Cooper.... In 'In Circling Camps' he tells a good, strong, - human story for its own sake, and not for the sake of showing off - his talent as a literary story-teller. He gives us some great - battle pieces, notably Shiloh and Gettysburg. His admiration of the - nobler qualities of 'old friends turned foes' is so hearty and so - sincerely dramatic that we love and pity the terrible valor of - both."--_Richard Henry Stoddard, in the New York Mail and Express_. - - "The author seeks to interpret some of the situations of the civil - war, and read to us out of the well-known records the story of - personal bravery, the drama of personal history, and the old story - of love which went on behind the grim scenes of - war."--_Philadelphia Call_. - -A Herald of the West. - -An American Story of 1811-1815. 12mo. Cloth, $ 1.50. - - "A portion of our history that has not before been successfully - embodied in fiction.... Extremely well written, condensed, vivid, - picturesque, and there is continual action.... A rattling good - story, and unrivaled in fiction for its presentation of the - American feeling toward England during our second - conflict."--_Boston Herald_. - -A Soldier of Manhattan. - -And his Adventures at Ticonderoga and Quebec. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, -50 cents. - - "The story is told in such a simple, direct way that it holds the - reader's interest to the end, and gives a most accurate picture of - the times."--_Boston Transcript_. - - "Graphic and intensely interesting.... The book may be warmly - commended as a good specimen of the fiction that makes history - real and living."--_San Francisco Chronicle_. - -The Sun of Saratoga. - -A Romance of Burgoyne's Surrender. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - "Taken altogether, 'The Sun of Saratoga' is the best historical - novel of American origin that has been written for years, if not, - indeed, in a fresh, simple, unpretending, unlabored, manly way, - that we have ever read."--_New York Mail and Express_. - - "A sprightly and spirited romance gracefully written in a crisp, - fresh style that is simply delightful to read."--_Philadelphia - Press_. - - - - - * * * * * - -"AN EPIC OF THE WEST." - - * * * * * - - -The Girl at the Halfway House. - -A Romance of the Plains. By E. HOUGH, author of "The Story of the -Cowboy." 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - The author of "The Girl at the Halfway House," Mr. E. Hough, gained - general recognition by his remarkable book, "The Story of the - Cowboy," published by D. Appleton and Company in this country, and - also published in England. - - "The Girl at the Halfway House" has been called an American epic - by critics who have read the manuscript. The author illustrates - the strange life of the great westward movement which became so - marked in this country after the civil war. A dramatic picture of - a battlefield, which has been compared to scenes in "The Red Badge - of Courage," opens the story. After this "Day of War," in which - the hero and heroine first meet, there comes "The Day of the - Buffalo." The reader follows the course of the hero and his - friend, a picturesque old army veteran, to the frontier, then - found on the Western plains. The author, than whom no one can - speak with fuller knowledge, pictures the cowboy on his native - range, the wild life of the buffalo hunters, the coming of the - white-topped emigrant wagons, and the strange days of the early - land booms. Into this new world comes the heroine, whose family - finally settles near at hand, illustrating the curious phases of - the formation of a prairie home. The third part of the story, - called "The Day of the Cattle," sketches the wild days when the - range cattle covered the plains and the cowboys owned the towns. - The fourth part of the story is called "The Day of the Plow," and - in this we find that the buffalo has passed from the adopted - country of hero and heroine, and the era of towns and land booms - has begun. - - Nothing has been written on the opening of the West to excel this - romance in epic quality, and its historic interest, as well as its - freshness, vividness, and absorbing interest, should appeal to - every American reader. - - - - - * * * * * - -A NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE. - - * * * * * - - -Betsy Ross. - -_A Romance of the Flag_. By CHAUNCEY C. HOTCHKISS, author of "In -Defiance of the King," etc. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Betsy Ross" is a historical romance based upon the story of the - maker of the first official American flag. Mrs. Ross was a charming - young widow of but little more than twenty-three when she was - commissioned to make the flag from a design submitted to her by - Washington. Her husband had been killed by an accident at the - Philadelphia arsenal within a few months after his marriage. - - The romance which the author has woven around the origin of our - flag will quicken the pulse of every reader by the wealth of - striking characters and dramatic incidents, and the absorbing - interest of the plot. History has furnished a motive which has - been curiously neglected in fiction, and the picturesque figures - of the time, sea-rangers and Quakers, redcoats and Continental - soldiers, and even Washington himself, have to do with the - development of a strange and thrilling story wherein Betsy Ross - takes the leading part. The ancient tavern, the home of the - Philadelphia merchant, the flag-maker's little shop, and the - quaint and charming life of the time, are shown as the background - of a series of swift incidents which hold the reader's attention. - "Betsy Ross" is a book to be read, and the reader will recommend - it. - - The Betsy Ross of history was a singularly bright and winsome - woman, and intensely patriotic. Mr. Hotchkiss's story has been - confined to the romantic days of her early womanhood. The house in - which the flag was completed, and in and about which most of the - action of the novel takes place, still stands on Arch Street, - Philadelphia, and the attempt to preserve it as one of the shrines - connected with American history is meeting with deserved success. - Mrs. Ross (afterward Mrs. Claypoole) died at the great age of - ninety-three, and her remains lie in Mount Moriah Cemetery. - - * * * * * - -D. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/42807.zip b/42807.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1ebd19a..0000000 --- a/42807.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/42807-8.txt b/old/42807-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a79f828..0000000 --- a/old/42807-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7811 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mystery of the Clasped Hands, by Guy -Boothby - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Mystery of the Clasped Hands - A Novel - - -Author: Guy Boothby - - - -Release Date: May 25, 2013 [eBook #42807] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS*** - - -E-text prepared by Annie McGuire from page images generously made -available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - http://www.google.com/books?id=_qIlAAAAMAAJ - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - - * * * * * - -GUY BOOTHBY'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - The Mystery of the Clasped Hands. - My Indian Queen. - A Maker of Nations. - Dr. Nikola's Experiment. - Pharos, the Egyptian. - The Lust of Hate. - The Beautiful White Devil. - Dr. Nikola. - A Bid for Fortune. - The Marriage of Esther. - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - * * * * * - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - -A Novel - -by - -GUY BOOTHBY - -Author of Dr. Nikola's Experiment -Pharos, The Egyptian -My Indian Queen, etc. - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - -New York -D. Appleton and Company -1901 - -Copyright, 1901, -By D. Appleton and Company. - - - - -CHAPTER I - - -"I never knew such a fellow as you are for ferreting out these low, -foreign eating-houses," said Godfrey Henderson to his friend, Victor -Fensden, as they turned from Oxford Street into one of the narrow -thoroughfares in the neighbourhood of Soho. "Why you should take such -trouble, and at the same time do your digestion such irreparable injury, -I can not imagine. There are any number of places where you can get a -chop or steak, free of garlic, in a decent quarter of the Town, to say -nothing of being waited upon by a man who _does_ look as if he had been -brave enough to face the dangers of washing once or twice within five -years." - -His companion only laughed. - -"Go on, my friend, go on," he said, blowing a cloud of cigarette smoke. -"You pretend to be a cosmopolitan of cosmopolitans, but you will remain -insular to the day of your death. To you, a man who does not happen to -be an Englishman must of necessity be dirty, and be possessed of a -willingness to sever your jugular within the first few minutes of your -acquaintance. With regard to the accusation you bring against me, I am -willing to declare, in self-defence, that I like burrowing about among -the small restaurants in this quarter, for the simple reason that I meet -men who are useful to me in my work, besides affording me food for -reflection." - -The taller man grunted scornfully. - -"Conspirators to a man," he answered. "Nihilists, Anarchists, members of -the Mafia, the Camorristi, and the Carbonari. Some day you will enter -into an argument with one of them and a knife thrust between your ribs -will be the result." - -"It may be so," returned Victor Fensden, with a shrug of his narrow -shoulders. "Better that, however, than a life of stolid British -priggishness. How you manage to paint as you do when you have so little -of the romantic in your temperament, is a thing I can not for the life -of me understand. That a man who rows, plays football and cricket, and -who will walk ten miles to see a wrestling match or a prize fight, -should be gifted with such a sense of colour and touch, is as great a -mystery to me as the habits of the ichthyosaurus." - -And indeed, what Fensden said was certainly true. Godfrey Henderson, one -of the most promising of our younger painters, was as unlike the popular -notion of an artist as could well be found. He had rowed stroke in his -'Varsity boat, had won for himself a fair amount of fame as a good -all-round athlete, and at the same time had painted at least three of -the most beautiful pictures--pictures with a subtle touch of poetry in -them--that the public had seen for many years. His height was fully six -feet one and a half, his shoulders were broad and muscular; he boasted a -pleasant and open countenance, such a one in fact as makes one feel -instinctively that its owner is to be trusted. Taken altogether, a -casual observer would have declared him to be a young country Squire, -and few would have guessed that the greater portion of his life was -spent standing before an easel, palette and brush in hand. - -Victor Fensden, his companion, was of an altogether different stamp. He -was at least three inches shorter, was slimly built, and at first -glance would appear to possess a highly nervous and delicate -constitution. In his dress he also differed from his friend. His taste -betrayed a partiality for velvet coats; his ties were usually startling, -so far as colour went; he wore his hair longer than is customary, and -further adorned his face with a neat little Vandyke beard and mustache. -Like Henderson he was also a votary of the brush. His pictures, however, -were of the impressionist order--pretty enough in their way, but lacking -in form, and a trifle vague as to colouring. On occasions he wrote -poetry. There were some who said he was not sincere, that his pictures -were milk-and-water affairs, suggestive of the works of greater men, and -only intended to advertise himself. If that were so, the success they -achieved was comparative. Sad to relate, there were people in London who -had not heard the name of Victor Fensden; while the walls of the -Academy, which he affected so much to despise, had not so far been -honoured by his patronage. "The whole thing," he would say, adopting the -language of our American cousins, "is controlled by a Business Ring; the -Hanging Committee and the dealers stand in with each other. If you -prefer to do bad work deliberately, or at any rate are content to be -commonplace, then you're safe for admission. But if you prefer to do -something which may, or may not, please the multitude, but which will -last longer than Burlington House, or the National Gallery itself, then -you must be content to remain outside." After this tirade, regardless of -the implied sneer at his work, Godfrey would laugh and turn the matter -off by proposing dinner, luncheon, or some other distraction. He knew -the value of his own work, and was content to estimate it accordingly. - -Having reached the end of the street down which they had been walking, -when the conversation already described occurred, they found themselves -before the entrance to a small eating-house. One glance was sufficient -to show that it was of the foreign order, so derided by Henderson a few -moments ago before. They entered and looked about them. The room was -long and narrow, and contained some ten or a dozen small tables, three -or four of which were already occupied. Pictures of the German school, -apparently painted by the yard, and interspersed with gaudy portraits of -King Humbert with his mustache, Victor Emmanuel with his wealth of -orders, the latter cheek by jowl with Mr. Garibaldi in his felt hat, -decorated the walls. The proprietor, a small, tubby individual, with the -blackest of black hair and eyes, and an olive skin that glistened like -the marble tops of the tables, came forward to welcome them. At his -request they seated themselves and gave their orders. - -"What enjoyment you can find in this sort of thing I can not imagine," -repeated Henderson, almost irritably, as he looked about him. "If you -take a pleasure in macaroni and tomato, and find poetry in garlic and -_sauer-kraut_, the divine instinct must be even more highly developed in -you than your warmest admirers believe. We might have gone to the club -and have had a decent meal there." - -"And have had to listen to a lot of supercilious young idiots chattering -about what they are pleased to call 'their work,'" the other replied. -"No, no, we are better off here. Set your imagination to work, my dear -fellow, and try to believe yourself in Florence, with the moonlight -streaming down on the Ponte Vecchio; or in Naples, and that you can hear -the waves breaking up on the rock under the Castello del Ovo. You might -even be listening to _Funiculi-Finicula_ for the first time." - -"Confound you! I never know whether you are serious or not," replied -Godfrey. "Is it a joke you're bringing me here to-night, or have you -some definite object in view?" - -He looked across the table at his companion as if he were anxious to -assure himself upon this point before he said anything further. - -"What if I _had_ an object?" the other answered. "What if I wanted to do -you a good turn, and by asking you to come here to-night were able to -help you in your work?" - -"In that case," Henderson replied, "I should say that it was very kind -of you, but that you have chosen a curious way of showing it. How a low -Italian restaurant in Soho can help me in the work I have on hand I can -not for the life of me understand. Is it possible for you to be more -explicit?" - -"If the critics are to be believed you ask too much of me," Fensden -returned, with one of his quiet laughs. "Are they not always declaring -that my principal fault lies in my being too vague? Seriously, however, -I will confess that I had an object in bringing you here. Have I not -heard you grumbling morning, noon, and night, that the model for your -new picture is about as difficult to find as, well, shall we say, an -honest dealer? Now, I believe that the humble mouse was once able to -assist the lion--forgive the implied compliment--in other words, I think -I have achieved the impossible. It will take too long to tell you how I -managed it, but the fact remains that I have discovered the girl you -want, and what is more, she will be here to-night. If, when you have -seen her, you come to the conclusion that she will not answer your -purpose, then I shall be quite willing to confess that my knowledge of a -beautiful woman is only equal to your appreciation of an Italian dinner -in a cheap Soho restaurant. I have spoken!" - -"And so you have really brought me here to eat this villainous -concoction," Henderson answered, contemptuously regarding the mess -before him, "in order to show me a face that you think may be useful to -me in my work? My dear fellow, you know as well as I do that we think -differently upon such matters. What you have repeatedly declared to be -the loveliest face you have ever seen, I would not sketch upon a canvas; -while another, that haunts me by day and night, does not raise a shadow -of enthusiasm in you. I am afraid you have had your trouble in vain. But -what abominable stuff this is to be sure! Order some wine, for pity's -sake." - -A flask of chianti was brought them, and later some goat's milk cheese. -Upon the latter, bad as it was, Henderson elected to dine. He had barely -finished what was placed before him when an exclamation from his -companion caused him to turn his head in the direction of the door. Two -women were entering the restaurant at the moment, and were approaching -the table at which the young men sat. The elder was a stout and matronly -party, dark of eye, swarthy of skin, and gorgeous in her colouring, so -much so, indeed, that not the slightest doubt could have existed as to -her nationality. She was a daughter of Italy from the top of her head to -the soles of her ample feet. Her companion, however, was modelled on -altogether different lines. She was tall, graceful, and so beautiful, in -a statuesque way, that Henderson felt his heart thrill with pleasure at -the sight of her. Here was the very woman he had been so anxious to -discover. If he had hunted the Continent of Europe through, he could not -have found any one better suited to the requirements of the work he had -in hand. Since it was plain that it was she for whom Fensden was -waiting, it looked as if their tastes, for once, were likely to be the -same. - -"What a perfect face!" exclaimed Godfrey, more to himself than to his -companion. "At any hazard, I must induce her to sit to me." - -Fensden looked at his friend's face, made a note of the admiration he -saw there, and smiled to himself. - -"What did I tell you?" he inquired with a note of triumph in his voice. -"You pooh-poohed the notion that I should ever be able to find you a -model. What do you say now?" - -"She is perfect," Henderson replied. "Just look at the eyes, the -beautiful contour of the face, the shapely neck and the hands! Great -Scott! what is a woman of her class doing with such hands? Where did you -meet her?" - -"In another of my contemptible restaurants," Fensden answered. "Directly -I saw her, I said to myself: 'This is the model for Godfrey!' I made -inquiries about her, and, finding that she was willing to sit, made an -appointment to meet her here this evening." - -By this time Godfrey's antagonism had entirely left him. His only desire -now was to secure this woman, and, with her assistance, to complete his -masterpiece. As soon as the doors of Burlington House were thrown open, -that face should look down upon the picture-lovers of England, or he'd -never touch a brush again. - -The two women, by this time, had seated themselves at another table; and -it was almost with a sense of disappointment that Godfrey observed his -ideal commence her meal. To watch her filling her pretty mouth to -overflowing with steaming macaroni was not a pleasing sight. It was too -human and too suggestive of a healthy appetite to harmonize with the -poetic framework in which his imagination had already placed her. - -When the ladies had finished their meal, the two young men left their -own table and crossed the room to that at which they were seated. -Fensden said something in Italian, which elicited a beaming smile from -the elder lady, and a gesture of approval from her companion. It was not -the first time in his life that Godfrey Henderson had had occasion to -wish he had taken advantage of the opportunities he had had of acquiring -a knowledge of that melodious language. - -"The signora declares that there is no occasion for us to speak Italian, -since she is an accomplished English scholar," said Fensden, with a -sarcastic touch that was not lost upon Henderson. - -"The signorina also speaks our villainous tongue as well as if she had -been born and bred within the sound of Bow Bells." - -At this supposed compliment, the elder lady smiled effusively, while her -daughter looked gravely from one man to the other as if she were not -quite sure of the value to be placed upon what Fensden had said. Having -received permission, the two men seated themselves at the table, and -Henderson ordered another flask of wine. Under its influence their -acquaintance ripened rapidly. It was not, however, until they had been -talking some little time, that the all-important subject was broached. - -"And it is Teresina's portrait that your friend would paint, signor?" -said the elder lady, turning to Fensden. "And why not? 'Tis a beautiful -face, though I, her mother, say it. If the signor will make the--what -you call it--'rangements, it shall be as he wishes." - -Less than a minute was sufficient to place the matter on a satisfactory -basis, and it was thereupon settled that the Signorina Cardi should -attend at the studio at a certain hour every week-day until the picture -was finished. Matters having been arranged in this eminently friendly -fashion, the meeting broke up, and with many bows and compliments on -Fensden's and the signora's parts, they bade each other adieu. A few -minutes later, the two young men found themselves once more in the -street. - -"My dear fellow, I don't know how to thank you," said Henderson. "I've -been worrying myself more than I can say at not being able to find the -face I wanted. I owe you ten thousand apologies." - -But Fensden would not hear of such a thing as an apology. His only -desire was that the picture should be successful, he said. - -"I had no idea that he was so fond of me," Henderson remarked to himself -that night when he was alone in his bedroom. "Fancy his hunting through -London for a model for me. He is the last man I should have thought -would have taken the trouble." - -Next morning Teresina entered upon her duties, and Godfrey set to work -with more than his usual enthusiasm. The picture was to be his _magnum -opus_, the greatest effort he had yet given to the world. The beautiful -Italian proved to be a good sitter, and her delight as the picture grew -upon the canvas was not to be concealed. Meanwhile Fensden smoked -innumerable cigarettes, composed _fin-de-sicle_ poems in her honour, -and made a number of impressionist studies of her head that his friends -declared would eventually astonish artistic London. At last the picture -was finished and sent in. Then followed that interval of anxious -waiting, so well known to those who have striven for such honours as the -Academy has to bestow. When it was announced that it had passed the -first and second rejections great was the rejoicing in the studio. - -"It is your face that has done it, Teresina," cried Godfrey. "I knew -they wouldn't be able to resist that." - -"Nay, nay," said the signora, who was present, "such compliments will -turn the child's head. Her face would not be there but for the signor's -cleverness. Well do I remember that when Luigi Maffoni painted the -portrait of Monsignore----" - -No one heeded her, so she continued the narrative in an undertone to the -cat on her lap. The day, however, was not destined to end as happily as -it had begun. That evening, when they were alone together in the studio, -Fensden took Godfrey to task. - -"Dear boy," he said, as he helped himself to a cigarette from a box on -the table beside him, "I have come to the conclusion that you must go -warily. There are rocks ahead, and, from what I see, you are running -straight for them." - -"What on earth is the matter now?" Godfrey asked, stretching himself out -in an easy chair as he spoke. "I know the poise of that head is not -quite what it might be, but haven't I promised you that I'll alter it -to-morrow? Teresina is the very best model in the world, and as patient -as she's beautiful." - -"That's exactly what I am complaining of," Victor answered, quietly. "If -she were not, I should not bother my head about her. I feel, in a -measure, responsible, don't you see? If it hadn't been for me, she would -not be here." - -The happiness vanished from Godfrey's face as a breath first blurs and -then leaves the surface of a razor. - -"I am afraid I don't quite grasp the situation," he said. "You surely -don't suppose that I am falling in love with Teresina--with my model?" - -"I am quite aware that you're not," the other answered. "There is my -trouble. If you _were_ in love with her, there might be some hope for -her. But as it is there is none." - -Henderson stared at him in complete surprise. - -"Have you gone mad?" he asked. - -"No one was ever saner," Fensden replied. "Look here, Godfrey, can't you -see the position for yourself? Here is this beautiful Italian girl, whom -you engaged through my agency. You take her from beggary, and put her in -a position of comparative luxury. She has sat to you day after day, -smiled at your compliments, and--well, to put it bluntly, has had every -opportunity and encouragement given her to fall head over ears in love -with you. Is it quite fair, do you think, to let it go on?" - -Godfrey was completely taken aback. - -"Great Scott! You don't mean to say you think I'm such a beast as to -encourage her?" he cried. "You know as well as I do that I have behaved -toward her only as I have done to all the other models before her. -Surely you would wish me to be civil to the girl, and try to make her -work as pleasant as possible for her? If you think I've been a -blackguard, say so outright!" - -"My dear Godfrey, nothing could be further from my thoughts," answered -Fensden in his usual quiet voice, that one of his friends once compared -to the purring of a cat. "I should be a poor friend, however, if I were -to allow you to go on as you are going without an expostulation. Can not -you look at it in the same light as I do? Are you so blind that you can -not see that this girl is falling every day more deeply in love with -you? The love-light gleams in her eyes whenever she looks at you; she -sees an implied caress even in the gentle pats you give her drapery, -when you arrange it on the stage there; a tender solicitude for her -welfare when you tell her to hurry home before it rains. What is the end -of it all to be? I suppose you do not intend making her your wife?" - -"My wife?" said Godfrey, blankly, as if the idea were too preposterous -to have ever occurred to him. "Surely you must be jesting to talk like -this?" - -"I am not jesting with you, if you are not jesting with her," the other -replied. "You must see for yourself that the girl worships the very -ground you walk upon. However, there is still time for matters to be put -right. She has so far only looked at the affair from her own standpoint; -what is more, I do not want her to lose her employment with you, since -it means so much to her. What I do want is, that you should take hold of -yourself in time and prevent her from being made unhappy while you have -the opportunity." - -"You may be quite sure that I will do so," Henderson replied, more -stiffly than he had yet spoken. "I am more sorry than I can say that -this should have occurred. Teresina is a good girl, and I would no more -think of causing her pain than I would of striking my own sister. And -now I'm off to bed. Good-night." - -True to his promise, his behaviour next day, so far as Teresina was -concerned, was so different that she regarded him with surprise, quite -unable to understand the reason of the change. She thought she must have -offended him in some way, and endeavoured by all the means in her power -to win herself back into his good graces. But the more she tried to -conciliate him, the further he withdrew into his shell. Victor Fensden, -smoking his inevitable cigarette, waited to see what the result would -be. There was a certain amount of pathos in the situation, and a close -observer might have noticed that the strain was telling upon both of the -actors in it, the girl in particular. For the next fortnight or so, the -moral temperature of the studio was not as equable as of old. Godfrey, -who was of too honest a nature to make a good conspirator, chafed at the -part he was being called upon to play, while Teresina, who only knew -that she loved, and that her love was not returned, was divided between -her affections for the man and a feeling of wounded dignity for herself. - -"I wish to goodness I could raise sufficient money to get out of London -for six months," said Godfrey, one evening, as they sat together in the -studio. "I'd be off like a shot." - -Fensden knew why he said this. - -"I am sorry I can't help you," he replied. "I am about as badly off as -yourself. But surely the great picture sold well?" - -"Very well; for me, that is to say," Godfrey replied. "But I had to part -with most of it next day." - -He did not add that he had sent most of it to his widowed sister, who -was very badly off and wanted help to send her boy to college. - -A short silence followed; then Fensden said: "If you had money what -would you do?" - -"Go abroad," said Godfrey quickly. "The strain of this business is more -than I can stand. If I had a few hundreds to spare we'd go together and -not come back for six months. By that time everything would have settled -down to its old normal condition." - -How little did he guess that the very thing that seemed so impossible -was destined to come to pass! - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -One morning a week or so after the conversation described at the end of -the previous chapter, Godfrey Henderson found lying on the table in the -studio a long, blue envelope, the writing upon which was of a neat and -legal character. He did not own a halfpenny in the world, so what this -could mean he was not able to imagine. Animated by a feeling of -curiosity he opened the envelope and withdrew the contents. He read the -letter through the first time without altogether realizing its meaning; -then, with a vague feeling of surprise, he read it again. He had just -finished his second perusal of it when Fensden entered the room. He -glanced at Godfrey's face, and said, as if in inquiry: - -"Anything the matter? You look scared!" - -"A most extraordinary thing," returned Godfrey. "You have heard me talk -of old Henderson of Detwich?" - -"Your father's brother? The old chap who sends you a brace of grouse -every season, and asks when you are going to give up being a starving -painter and turn your attention to business? What of him?" - -"He is dead and buried," answered Godfrey. "This letter is from his -lawyer to say that I am his heir, in other words that Detwich passes to -me, with fifteen thousand a year on which to keep it up, and that they -are awaiting my instructions." - -There was a pause which lasted for upward of a quarter of a minute. Then -Fensden held out his hand. - -"My dear fellow, I am sure I congratulate you most heartily," he said. -"I wish you luck with all my heart. The struggling days are over now. -For the future you will be able to follow your art as you please. You -will also be able to patronize those who are not quite so fortunate. -Fifteen thousand a year and a big country place! Whatever will you do -with yourself?" - -"That is for the Future to decide," Godfrey replied. - -That afternoon he paid a visit to the office of the firm of solicitors -who had written to him. They corroborated the news contained in their -letter, and were both assiduous in their attentions and sincere in -their desire to serve him. - -Four days later it was arranged that Godfrey and Fensden should start -for the Continent. Before doing so, however, the former purchased a neat -little gold watch and chain which he presented to Teresina, accompanied -by a cheque equivalent to six months' salary, calculated at the rate she -had been receiving. - -"Don't forget me, Teresina," he said, as he looked round the now -dismantled studio. "Let me know how you get on, and remember if ever you -want a friend I shall be only too glad to serve you." - -At that moment Fensden hailed him from the cab outside, bidding him -hurry, or he feared they would miss their train. Godfrey accordingly -held out his hand. - -"Good-bye," he said, and though he would have given worlds to have -prevented it, a lump rose in his throat as he said it, and his voice was -so shaky that he felt sure she must notice it. - -Then, bidding her give the key to the landlord when she left the studio, -he went out into the street, and jumped into a cab, which next moment -started off for the station. How was he to know that Teresina was lying -in a dead faint upon the studio floor? - -When they left England for the Continent Godfrey had only the vaguest -notion of what they were going to do after they left Paris. Having spent -a fortnight in the French capital they journeyed on to Switzerland, put -in a month at Lucerne, three weeks in Rome, and found themselves, in the -middle of November, at Luxor, looking upon the rolling waters of the -Nile. Their sketch books were surfeited with impressions, and they -themselves were filled with a great content. They had both visited the -Continent on numerous occasions before, but this was the first time that -they had made the acquaintance of the "Land of the Pharaohs." Godfrey -was delighted with everything he saw, and already he had the ideas for a -dozen new pictures in his head. - -"I had no notion that any sunset could be so gorgeous," he said one day, -when they sat together watching the ball of fire descend to his rest on -the western horizon of the desert. "The colours have not yet been -discovered that could possibly do it justice. For the future I shall -come out here every year." - -"Don't be too sure, my friend," said Fensden. "There was a time when -such a thing might have been possible, but circumstances have changed -with you. You are no longer the erratic Bohemian artist, remember, but a -man with a stake in the country, and a county magnate." - -"But what has the county magnate to do with the question at issue?" -Godfrey inquired. - -"Everything in the world," retorted his companion. "In virtue of your -new position you will have to marry. The future Mrs. Henderson, in all -probability, will also have a stake in the country. She will have great -ideas, moreover, connected with what she will term the improvement of -the land, and, beyond a trip to the Italian lakes at long intervals, -will not permit you to leave the country of her forefathers." - -"What a strange fellow you are, to be sure!" replied Godfrey. "To hear -you talk one would think that the possession of money--and, by Jove, -it's a very decent thing to have when you come to consider it--must -necessarily relegate a man to the region of the commonplace. Why -shouldn't I marry a girl who is fond of travelling?" - -"Because, as a rule, Fate ordains otherwise," Fensden replied. "I think -I can describe the sort of girl you will marry." - -"Then do so, by all means," said Godfrey, "I'll smoke another cigar -while you are arranging it." - -"In the first place she will be tall. Your idea of the ludicrous would -not let you marry a small woman. She will have large hands and feet, and -the latter will be heavily shod. That is how in London I always pick out -the girls who live in the country. She will be handsome rather than -pretty, for the reason that your taste lies in that direction. She will -not flirt, because she will be in love with you. She will be an -admirable housewife of the solid order, and while I should be prepared -to trust to her judgment in the matter of dogs and horses, roots, crops, -and the dairy farm, finer susceptibilities she will have none. Do you -like the picture?" - -"Scarcely," said Henderson; "and yet, when all is said and done a man -might do worse." - -There was a pause, during which each man knew what the other was -thinking about. Godfrey was recalling Teresina's beautiful face, and -Fensden knew that he was doing so. - -"By the way," said Fensden, very quietly, "I noticed this morning that -you received a letter bearing an Italian post-mark. Would it be -indiscreet if I inquired your correspondent's name?" - -"I don't see why there should be any mystery about it," Henderson -replied. "It was from Teresina." - -"From Teresina?" said the other, with a look of surprise. - -"Yes, from Teresina," his friend answered. "I made her promise before we -left home that should she leave England she would let me have her -address, and, if she were in need of anything, she would communicate -with me. You can see the letter if you like. Here it is." - -He took the letter in question from his pocket and handed it to his -companion. It consisted of only a few lines and gave the writer's -address with the hope that the time might soon come when she would again -be allowed to sit to "her kind patron." - -Victor, having perused it, handed it back to Godfrey, who replaced it in -his pocket without a word. - -Two days later they returned by steamer to Cairo, where they took up -their abode at the Mena House Hotel. Godfrey preferred it, because it -was some distance from the dust of the city, and Fensden because he -averred that the sneer on the face of the Sphinx soothed him more than -all the luxuries of Cairo. As it was, he sat in the veranda of the hotel -and made impressionist sketches of dragomen, camels, and the -backsheesh-begging Bedouins of the Pyramids. Godfrey found it impossible -to work. - -"I am absorbing ideas," he said. "The work will come later on." - -In the meantime he played polo in the Ghezireh, shot jackals in the -desert, flirted with the charming tourists in the verandas of the hotel, -and enjoyed himself immensely in his own fashion. Then one day he -received a telegram from England announcing the fact that his mother was -seriously ill, and asking him to return without delay. - -"I am sincerely sorry," said Fensden, politely. Then he added, -regretfully: "I suppose our tour must now, like all good things, come to -an end. When do you leave?" - -"By to-morrow morning's train," he answered. "I shall pick up the mail -boat at Ismailia and travel in her to Naples. If all goes well I shall -be in England to-morrow week. But look here, Victor, when you come to -think of it there's not the least necessity for you to come, too. It -would be no end of a shame to rob you of your holiday. Why should you -not go on and finish the tour by yourself? Why not come with me as far -as Port Said, and catch the steamer for Jaffa there?" - -"It's very good of you, my dear Godfrey," said Fensden, "but----" - -"Let there be no 'buts,'" the other returned. "It's all arranged. When -you come home you shall describe your adventures to me." - -Needless to say, in the end Fensden agreed to the proposal, and next day -they accordingly bade each other good-bye on the promenade deck of the -mail steamer that was to take Henderson as far as Naples. Fensden was -beginning to realize that it was by no means unpleasant to have a rich -and generous friend. Poverty was doubtless romantic and artistic, but a -well-filled pocket-book meant good hotels and the best of wines and -living. - -While the boat ploughed her way across the Mediterranean, an idea -occurred to Godfrey, and he resolved to act upon it. It was neither more -nor less than to utilize what little time was given him in Naples in -seeking out Teresina and assuring himself of her comfort in her old -home. He had quite convinced himself by this time that any affection he -might once have felt for her was now dead and buried. For this reason he -saw no possible danger in paying her a visit. "Victor made more of it," -he argued, "than the circumstances had really warranted. Had he not said -anything about it, there would have been no trouble, and in that case -Teresina would still be in London, and sitting to me." - -As soon as the vessel was in harbour, he collected his luggage and made -his way ashore. A cab conveyed him to an hotel he had patronized before; -and when he was safely installed there, and realized that he could not -proceed on his journey until the next morning, he resolved to set out in -search of Teresina. Producing her letter from his pocket-book he made a -note of the address, and then started upon his errand, to discover that -the signorina Cardi's home took some little finding. At last, however, -he succeeded, only to be informed by an intelligent neighbour that the -signora was not at home, while the signorina had gone out some fifteen -minutes before. Considerably disappointed, he turned to descend the -steps to find himself face to face with Teresina herself as he stepped -into the street. She uttered a little exclamation of astonishment and -delight at seeing him. - -"How is it that you are here, signor?" she inquired, when they had -greeted each other. "I did not know that you were in Naples." - -"I only arrived this afternoon," he answered. "I am on my way to -England." - -"To England?" she said, and then uttered a little sigh as if the very -name of that country conjured up sad memories. "It is cold and wet in -England now; and do you remember how the studio chimney smoked?" - -This apparently irrelevant remark caused them both to laugh, but their -mirth had not altogether a happy sound. - -"I am going to give up the studio," he answered. "I expect that for the -future I shall do my work in the country. But you are not looking well, -Teresina!" - -"I am quite well," she answered, hurriedly. How was he to know that for -many weeks past she had been eating her heart out for love of him? If -the whole world seemed dark to her now it was because he, her sun, no -longer shone upon her. - -"And your mother, the signora, how wrong of me not to have inquired -after her. I trust she is well?" - -"Quite well, signor," she replied. "She often talks of you. She is at -Sorrento to-day, but she may be back at any minute. She would have liked -to have seen you, signor, to have thanked you for your great goodness to -us." - -"Nonsense," said Henderson, hurriedly. "It is the other way round. My -thanks are due to you. Had it not been for your face, Teresina, my -picture would never have been such a success. Do you know that several -ladies, great ladies in England, said that they would give anything to -be so beautiful? I don't think I shall ever do a better piece of work -than that." - -He had just said this when he noticed that a young man, tall, slim, and -very dark, had approached them unperceived, and was now glaring angrily -at him. Teresina had also become aware of his presence, and was visibly -affected by it. Whereas only a moment before she had been all sunshine -and delight at seeing Henderson once more, now she was quite the -reverse. - -"Is this man a friend of yours?" Godfrey asked, in English. "He seems -to be put out about something." - -"It is only Tomasso Dardini," she answered, as if the explanation were -sufficient. "He is quick-tempered, but he means no harm." - -"Then I wish to goodness he'd go away; he glares as if he would like to -eat me. If I may hazard a guess, Teresina, I should say that he is in -love with you." - -"He is very foolish," she answered, and a flush spread over her face. -"Some day, if he is not very careful, he will get into trouble." - -"I should not be at all surprised to hear it," Godfrey replied. - -Then, turning to the man in question, he signed to him to be off about -his business. For a moment the youth seemed inclined to refuse, but -presently he thought better of it, and marched off down the street, -looking back now and again as if to see whether the Englishman and the -girl were still conversing together. - -"And now, Teresina, I have a little plan to propose to you," said -Godfrey, when the other had turned the corner. "As I told you just now, -I am on my way to England, and therefore, shall only be able to spend -to-night in Naples. From the announcements I see they are playing -'Faust' at the Opera-House. Why should not you and your mother dine with -me, and go there afterward? It would be a pleasant way of spending the -evening, and we could talk of old days." - -Teresina clapped her hands with delight. In her love of the Opera she -was a genuine Neapolitan. - -"It would be lovely," she cried. "My mother will come, I feel sure. It -is kind of you, signor." - -It was thereupon arranged that they should meet at a certain place, -dine, and then go on to the Opera together. Having settled this, -Henderson returned to his hotel, whiled away the time as best he could, -and when the hour arrived, set off to the rendezvous. - -Punctual to the moment he put in an appearance at the place. It was a -restaurant not unlike that in which he had first met Teresina and her -mother. He could not help recalling that memorable evening as he waited -on the pavement outside, and his one wish was that Fensden could have -been there to have shared the entertainment with him. When the signora -and her daughter arrived, it was plain that they regarded the occasion -an important one. They were both attired in their best, and, so far as -colour went, the signora herself was not unlike a bird of Paradise. -Teresina was more soberly clad, but Henderson noticed that a necklace -with which he had once presented her, as a memento of a certain piece of -extra work she had done for him, encircled her slender throat. As he -looked at it, he thought of the day on which he had given it to her, and -as the remembrance occurred to him, he wondered whether it was wise on -his part to play with fire for a second time. The signora greeted him -with southern volubility, and, as soon as he could get in a word, -Henderson suggested that they should enter the restaurant. Having done -so, they seated themselves at one of the small tables, and he gave his -orders. It was a banquet that was destined to be remembered with -pleasure by two of the party, and also by a third, for another and less -romantic reason. - -"And so you are returning to England, signor?" said the signora, when -the first pangs of her hunger had been assuaged. Then, remembering the -circumstances connected with the latter portion of their stay in London, -she added, pathetically: "I think if it were possible, I should not be -sorry to return--even though the winter is so cold and it rains so -often." - -"If you feel as if you would like to return, why do you not do so?" -asked Godfrey, with a quickness that caused Teresina to look up at him -in surprise, and then to look down again with equal celerity. "I am sure -Teresina could get plenty of employment. I would do all I could to help -her. For my own part, I never could understand why you left so quickly." - -If he had reflected for a moment, he would probably have been able to -arrive at an understanding of the reason that had prompted her -departure. He was too modest a man, however, to think of such a thing. -Nevertheless, he changed the conversation by making inquiries as to -their present life in Naples, and then went on to talk of Fensden, who -at that moment, could they have seen him, was fast asleep in a railway -carriage, on his way from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The signora had never been -partial to the impressionist artist and poet, and she had a vague idea -that it was to that gentleman's agency that they owed the flight of the -owner, and the consequent cessation of Teresina's employment at the -studio. She was too prudent, however, to say anything on that score to -Godfrey. She knew the friendship that existed between the two men; and -she was also aware that her daughter, who was the possessor of a quick -temper, and a tongue that she could use when she liked, would brook no -disparagement of either Mr. Henderson or his friend. - -"As to returning to England, we must think it over," she said, -complacently, when Godfrey had filled her glass with champagne for the -fourth or fifth time. "It would make another great change in our -affairs, but Teresina is young, and there is nothing for us to do in -Naples. I could wish that she should marry, signor, but she will not -hear of it. I tell her the time may come when it will be too late. But -girls do not listen to their elders nowadays." - -Godfrey glanced at Teresina's face to find that it had suddenly become -very pale. He hastened to render her assistance without delay by -twitting her mother as to the number of sweethearts she herself had had, -much to that lady's delight. This crisis having been smoothed over, he -paid the bill and they left the restaurant. - -Darkness had fallen by this time, a fact which may have accounted for -the young man's uncertainty as to whether he did or did not recognise -the figure of a man who was watching the doorway from the other side of -the street. It certainly looked as if it belonged to Tomasso Dardini; -but he said nothing on this point to either of his guests. He would be -leaving Naples in the morning, he argued, and no necessity existed for -making a fuss about it. If the silly young man were jealous, the morrow -would remove the cause; and after that it would not matter very much -whether he were aware of their visit to the Opera or not. With Teresina -beside him and the signora on the other side, they entered the theatre -and took their seats. The house was crowded, and the Opera itself was -received with that critical appreciation so characteristic of the -Neapolitan theatre-goer. Whether Godfrey enjoyed it as much as his -neighbours is a question that admits of some doubt. He certainly found -pleasure in studying the expressions that flitted across Teresina's face -as she watched what went on upon the stage; but I scarcely think it -went further. When it was over, he escorted them back to their dwelling, -and bade them good-bye upon the threshold. - -"Good-bye, Teresina," he said. "It may not be very long before we meet -in London. Do you remember the little place where I first saw you? I -think, when I get back, I must dine there once more, if only for old -association's sake." - -"Good-bye, signor," she said, giving him her hand after the English -fashion. "It was kind of you to think of us, and to give us such -pleasure as you have done to-night." - -"I have enjoyed it," he replied, and then, bidding her return soon to -London, he left her, and made his way down the narrow, evil-smelling -street toward the quarter in which his hotel was situated. He was still -fifty yards from the corner when a figure emerged from a doorway and -hurried quickly after him, keeping on the dark side of the street. -Leaving the thoroughfare in which Teresina's house was located, he -employed a short cut with which he had become acquainted that afternoon. -He had scarcely entered this, however, before he became aware of a light -footstep behind him. Turning quickly, he found a man, whom he -immediately recognised, within a few feet of him. Muttering something in -Italian, he raised his arm, and Godfrey saw that he held a poniard in -his hand. With the quickness of a practised athlete, he seized the -uplifted wrist with his left hand, while with his right he delivered a -blow that took the would-be assassin beneath the chin and sent him -sprawling upon his back in the road. Picking up the dagger that the -other had let fall, he placed it in his pocket, saying, as he did so: "I -will keep this, my friend, as a memento." Then, having made sure that -the other had no intention of following him, he continued his walk, -little dreaming how strangely that incident was to affect his future -life. - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -If I were given my choice of all the charming residences in the county -of Midlandshire, I fancy I should decide in favour of Detwich Hall. To -my thinking it is, in every respect, an ideal residence. While -sufficiently old to have a history (one of the Charleses spent some days -in hiding there), it has proved itself capable of being adapted to -modern ideas of comfort. The main portion was built, I believe, toward -the close of the reign of the Virgin Queen; a wing was added by the -owner who occupied it in the time of the early Georges; while the father -of the man who had bequeathed the property to Godfrey, was responsible -for the stables, and a somewhat obscure wing on the southern front. It -was admirably situated in the centre of a park of some three hundred -acres, and was approached by a picturesque drive, about half a mile -long, which ran for some distance along the banks of an ornamental -lake. On this lake, by the way, some of the finest duck shooting in the -county is to be obtained. In his boyhood Godfrey had spent many happy -days there, little dreaming that some day it would become his own -property. Indeed, it is quite certain it would not have done so had his -cousin Wilfred not been killed in India in the performance of a piece of -desperate heroism that will be remembered as long as a certain native -regiment exists. As for Godfrey, the old man had always liked the boy, -but had been bitterly disappointed when he had resolved to embark upon -an artistic career instead of playing the part of a country gentleman, -as so many of his ancestors had done before him. To have proved himself -a capable Master of Hounds would have been in the old bachelor's eyes a -greater distinction than to have painted the finest picture that ever -graced the walls of Burlington House. Yet in his heart he knew the power -of the young man, and honoured him for the dogged persistence with which -he had fought the uphill fight of a painter's life. - -"Well, well, I suppose he'll come out of it all right in the end," he -was wont to say to himself when he thought of the matter. "He'll be -none the worse for having known a little poverty. I like the boy and he -likes me, and, please God, he'll do his best by the dear old place when -he comes into it. I should like to see him in it." - -This, unfortunately, he was not able to do; but could he have heard the -universal expression of approbation so lavishly bestowed upon the young -master of Detwich when he had been six months in possession he would -have felt that his generosity had been rewarded. Indeed, there could be -no sort of doubt as to Godfrey's popularity. He was received by the -county with open arms, and by his tenantry with a quiet appreciation -that showed they knew how to value the blood that ran in his veins -without making a fuss about it. Owing to the short time that had elapsed -since his uncle's death it was necessarily impossible for him to see -very much society, but those who partook of his hospitality returned -home not only delighted with their host, but also with the quality of -their entertainment. - -"An acquisition, a decided acquisition," said old Sir Vivian Devereux, -the magnate of the district. "His idea of game preservation is -excellent, and he is prepared to support the hunt with the utmost -liberality. All he wants to make him perfect is a wife." - -On hearing this Lady Devereux looked at her lord and her lord looked at -her. Between them they had a very shrewd idea that they knew where to -look for the future mistress of Detwich Hall. Mistress Margaret, their -daughter, called by her friends Molly, who had that season made her bow -before her Majesty, said nothing, but maybe that was because she did not -think there was anything to be said. She had her own ideas on the -subject. She had seen the young squire of Detwich, though he had not -been aware of the fact, and, being an unaffected, straightforward -English girl, without prudery or conceit of any sort, had come to the -conclusion that she liked the look of him. Eligible young men were -scarce in the neighbourhood, and if she dreamt dreams of her own who -shall blame her? Not I, for one. - -Three months had passed since Godfrey had escorted Teresina and her -mother to the Opera. The summons which had brought him home so hurriedly -had, fortunately, proved to be a false alarm. Though his mother had been -seriously ill, there had not been so much danger as they had led him to -suppose. A month at Torquay had completely restored her to health, and -now she was back at Detwich once more, as hale and hearty an old lady as -any to be found in the kingdom. Assisted by her youngest daughter, -Kitty, she welcomed the wanderer home with every sign of delight. - -Godfrey, unlike so many other people, had the good fortune to be as -popular in his own family circle as he was out of it, and he and his -youngest sister had been on the best of terms from the days when they -had gone bird's-nesting together, until the time when she had assisted -him in packing his first picture for the Academy. Since then, however, -she had not seen so much of him. - -"Kit's no end of a brick," he had been heard to say, "and the fellow who -marries her may consider himself lucky." - -It was scarcely to be wondered at, therefore, if Miss Devereux and -Kitty, living as they did within two miles of each other, should soon -have become intimate. They were in the habit of seeing each other -several times a week, a fact which Godfrey, from a distance, had felt -somewhat inclined to resent. - -"When I get home I shall find this girl continually in the house," he -said to himself; and when he _did_ arrive and the many charming -qualities of her friend had been explained to him he did not feel any -the more disposed to be cordial. - -"I can see what it will be," he said to his sister, "I shall not catch a -glimpse of you now." - -"Perhaps you won't want to when you meet Molly," was the arch rejoinder. -"You have no idea what a pretty girl she is. They say she created a -tremendous sensation when she was presented this year. Folks raved about -her." - -"The bigger duffers they," was the uncompromising reply. "You have one -fault, my dear girl. Ever since I have known you your swans have -invariably turned out to be geese. I fancy I can realize what Miss -Devereux will be like." - -"In that case pray describe her," was the saucy rejoinder, and Miss -Kitty made a very pretty losing hazard (they were playing billiards at -the time), after which she failed to score and chalked her cue. - -Now it seems scarcely fair to say so, but Godfrey, being taken at a -disadvantage, fell back on what can be only considered by all honest -people a mean device. In describing Miss Devereux he used the almost -identical terms used by Fensden when he had attempted to draw a picture -of his friend's future wife. - -"You are quite at sea," said Miss Kitty, patting her dainty shoe with -the end of her cue as she spoke. "Some day, if you are not very careful, -I will tell Miss Devereux what you have said about her. She would never -forgive you the large feet and thick boots." - -"As you are strong be merciful," said Godfrey, potting the red into the -right-hand pocket and going into the left himself. "I don't mind -admitting without prejudice that I am getting anxious to see this -paragon. When do you think she will next honour you with her society?" - -"On Friday," Kitty replied. "We have taken up wood-carving together, and -she is coming to see some patterns I bought in town last week." - -"In that case we will defer consideration of her merits and -demerits--for I suppose she has some--until then," Godfrey replied, and -then once more going into the pocket off the red he announced the game -as standing at one hundred to ninety-five. - -On the following afternoon he had occasion to drive to the market town. -It was a bright, clear day, with a promise of frost in the air, and as -his dog-cart rolled along the high road, drawn by a tandem team he had -purchased the previous week, he felt as well satisfied with himself and -his position in the world as it was possible for a young man to be. His -business transacted in the town he turned his horses' heads homeward -once more. The handsome animals, knowing that they were on their way to -their stables, stepped out bravely, and many an approving glance was -thrown at the good-looking young squire of Detwich by folk upon the -road. He had completed upward of half his journey when he became aware -that a young lady, who had appeared from a by-road, was making her way -in the same direction as himself. - -"Whoever she is she certainly sits her horse well," he said to himself, -as he watched her swinging along at a slow canter on the soft side of -the road. "I wonder who she can be?" - -As soon as the turf gave place to hard metal she pulled her hack up and -proceeded at a walk. This very soon brought Godfrey alongside, and as -he passed he managed to steal a glance at a very pretty face and as neat -a figure as he ever remembered to have seen. - -"I wonder who she can be?" he repeated. And as he continued his drive he -meditated on the subject. - -On the Friday following he was unexpectedly called to town. His -solicitors desired an interview with him respecting the purchase of a -farm, and he had no option but to comply with their request. As luck -would have it, however, he was able to return by a somewhat earlier -train than he expected, and was just in time to hear from his butler -that afternoon tea had been carried into the drawing-room. - -"Are there any visitors?" he inquired. - -"Miss Devereux, sir," said the man; "she came to lunch." - -"I had forgotten that she was to be here to-day," he said to himself as -he crossed the hall in the direction of the drawing-room. "I wonder what -she will be like?" - -As every one who has visited Detwich is aware, the drawing-room is an -exceedingly handsome room. It is long and lofty, if possible a little -_too_ long for cosiness. This fault, if fault it be, is amply atoned -for, however, by a capitally constructed ingle-nook, in which it was the -custom for the ladies to take afternoon tea. Godfrey strolled across the -floor to this charming contrivance, little guessing what was in store -for him. A lady was sitting with her back to him holding a cup of tea in -her hand. - -"I don't think you have met Miss Devereux, Godfrey," said his sister. - -"I have not yet had that pleasure," he replied. Then to himself he -added: "Good gracious! It's the fair equestrienne." Then aloud: "I've -heard a good deal of you from Kitty, Miss Devereux." - -"And I of you," she answered. "You seem to have been everywhere, and to -have seen everything. Doubtless you find this part of the world very -dull." - -"Not at all," he answered. "I am extremely fond of the country, and -particularly of that about here." - -If the truth were told I fancy he had never thought much about it until -that moment. For the future, however, under a certain magic influence, -he was to view it with very different eyes. - -"In spite of what some people say," he continued, "I consider English -country scenery charming." - -"And yet it must be very beautiful abroad. Kitty read me one or two of -your letters, and from the description you gave of the various places -you had visited, I gathered that you thought nothing could be so -beautiful on earth." - -"No doubt they are very beautiful," he answered. "But for my part give -me the old-world peace of England. There is certainly nothing like that -to be found elsewhere. I would rather stand on the hill yonder and look -down the valley in summer-time, than gaze upon the Rhine at Heidelberg, -or Naples harbour at daybreak, or visit ancient Phil by moonlight." - -What further heresies this young man would have pledged himself to in -his enthusiasm I can not say. Fortunately for him, however, the vicar -and his wife were announced at that moment, and a distraction was thus -caused. Until that moment Miss Kitty had been regarding him with -steadfast eyes. Clever beyond all other men, as she considered her -brother, she had never seen him come out of his shell like this before. -Hitherto he had been rather given to pooh-poohing the country, and had -once been known even to assert that "London and Paris were the only two -places in which it was possible for a civilized man to live." What was -the reason of this sudden change? - -The vicar was a tall man with a pompous air, who looked forward some day -to being a bishop, and had already assumed the appearance and manners of -one. His wife, on the other hand, was small, and of a somewhat peevish -disposition. It was currently reported that the husband and wife spent -the greater portion of their time in squabbling, while it was certain -that they contradicted each other in public with an openness and -frequency that at times was apt to be a little embarrassing. - -"Possibly I may have been wrong," said the vicar, when he had seated -himself and had taken a cup of tea from his hostess's hands, "but did I -not hear you extolling the beauties of a country life as I entered the -room, Mr. Henderson?" - -He put the question as if it were one of world-wide importance, which, -answered carelessly, might involve great international complications. -Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued: "For my part, while -admitting that a country life is possessed of many charms, with which -the Metropolis can not compare, I must go on to say that there is a -breadth, if I may so express it, in London life that is quite lacking -outside." - -His wife saw her opportunity, and, as was her habit, was quick to take -advantage of it. - -"You have never had any experience of London life, William, so how can -you possibly tell?" she said, sharply. - -"My dear, I venture to say that it is a generally admitted fact," her -husband replied. - -"Generally admitted facts are as often as not rubbish," retorted the -lady with some asperity. "What I say is, let a man do his duty wherever -he is, and make the best of what he's got, without grumbling." - -There was an unmistakable innuendo in this speech, and for a moment an -awkward silence ensued. - -"I hear you have built a new conservatory, Mr. Henderson?" said Miss -Devereux, as if to change the subject. - -"It is just completed," said Godfrey. "Would you care to see it?" - -A general desire to inspect this new wonder having been expressed, -Godfrey led the way from the room, contriving, when all had passed out, -to take up his position beside their youngest visitor. - -"Will you take pity upon a stranger in the land?" he said, "and give me -some information?" - -"What can I tell you?" she asked. - -He glanced at the vicar and his wife, who were some little distance in -front. - -"Do they always squabble like this?" he inquired. - -"Yes, invariably," she replied. "We are used to it, but strangers are -apt to find it embarrassing. I really believe the habit of squabbling -has grown upon them until they have become so accustomed to it that they -do not notice it. By the way, Mr. Henderson, there is one question of -vital importance I must decide with you. Are you going to hunt?" - -As a matter of fact Godfrey had made up his mind to do so occasionally, -but now, remembering that Miss Devereux possessed the reputation of a -second Diana, he spoke as if it were the hunting that had mainly induced -him to live in Midlandshire. He registered a vow that he would purchase -a stud immediately, and that he would look upon missing a run as a sin -that could only be expurgated by religiously attending the next. - -By this time they had reached the new conservatory, which adjoined the -studio Godfrey had built for himself. It was a handsome building, and -gave a distinction to that side of the house which it certainly had -lacked before. - -"Admirable, admirable," said the vicar, complacently. "It reminds me of -the palm-house at Kew." - -"It is twenty years since you were at Kew, William; how can you possibly -remember what the palm-house is like?" retorted his wife. - -"My dear, I have always been noted for the excellence of my memory," the -vicar replied. "I assure you I have the most vivid recollection of the -house in question." - -"You mislaid your spectacles this morning, and if I hadn't seen you put -them in your pocket you would never have thought of looking for them -there," said his wife, to whom this fact appeared to be relative to the -matter at issue. - -From the conservatory to the studio was a natural transition, and the -latest work upon the easel was duly inspected and admired. - -"I remember your picture in the Academy last year, Mr. Henderson," said -Miss Devereux. "I can assure you that it brought the tears into my -eyes." - -"It is very kind of you to say so," he said, feeling that no compliment -that had ever been paid him was so much worth having. - -Then a luminous idea occurred to him. - -"I wonder if, some day, you would let me paint you a little picture?" he -asked, almost timidly. - -"I really could not think of such a thing," his companion replied. "Your -time is too valuable to be wasted in that way." - -"I shall paint one, nevertheless," he replied. "In return, perhaps, you -will instruct me in the ways of the Midlandshire hunt?" - -"I shall be delighted," she answered. "You must make Kitty come too." - -Godfrey promised to do so, but for once in his life he was ungallant -enough to think that he could dispense with his sister's society. -Presently Miss Devereux's cart was announced and Kitty and Godfrey -accompanied her to the front door. She kissed Kitty and then held out -her hand to Godfrey. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Henderson," she said. "Remember that the hounds meet at -Spinkley Grove on Thursday, at eleven o'clock, when you will be -permitted an opportunity of making the acquaintance of the Master and -the Hunt." - -"I shall be there without fail," he answered, as he helped her into the -cart and arranged her rug for her. She thereupon nodded to the groom, -who left the ponies' heads and jumped on to the step behind as the cart -passed him, with an adroitness that was the outcome of long practice. A -moment later the vehicle had turned the corner of the drive and was lost -to view. - -"Well?" said Kitty as they turned to go in. - -"Well," Godfrey replied. - -"You like her?" - -"Very much indeed," he answered, and as they passed down the hall -together he made an important decision to himself. "Provided she will -have me," he said, "I think I have found my wife." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -More than a month had elapsed since Godfrey had made his dbut as a -recognised member of the Midlandshire Hunt. It is also necessary to -state that during that period he had seen a good deal of pretty Miss -Molly Devereux, who, faithful to the promise she had given him, had -shown him a large amount of the country, with the fences, hedges, and -ditches thereof. She was also the person who was mainly responsible for -the large sum of money he had spent on horseflesh during that time. As a -matter of fact, this impressionable young man was head over ears in -love, and to prove it, he neglected his work, imperilled his neck, and, -as his mother remarked, ran an almost daily risk of coming to an early -grave through waiting about on the outskirts of damp coverts, to say -nothing of the long, wet rides home on wintry evenings. - -"I can not understand why you do it," said the old lady, who, by the -way, was not nearly so obtuse as she pretended to be. "When you first -came home from abroad, you declared that the hunting would never possess -sufficient attraction to take you out on a damp day. Now you are never -happy unless you are in the saddle." - -"It's a good healthy exercise, mother," said Kitty, with the suspicion -of a twinkle in her eyes. "Besides, Godfrey has taken such a liking to -Sir George Penistone, the Master, that he is never happy when he is -parted from him." - -Now if there was one person in the country for whom Godfrey entertained -a profound distaste, it was for the gentleman in question. Sir George -was known to have been desperately in love with Miss Devereux ever since -he had left the 'Varsity; but, while he was plucky enough in the saddle, -and would ride his horse at anything that an animal could be expected to -jump, and at a good many that it could not, he had never been able to -screw up his courage sufficiently to broach the subject to her. Finding -that he had a rival in the field, however, had given him a fillip, and, -in consequence, relations between the two young men were as strained as -it was possible for them to be, and yet to allow them to remain on -speaking terms. Whether the young lady herself was aware of this is more -than I can say; if she were she gave no sign of it, but treated them -both with the same impartiality. Certain other ladies of the hunt vowed -that she was a heartless flirt, and that she was playing one man off -against the other. Such uncharitable sentiments, however, could only be -expected from people who would have acted in the same fashion had they -been placed in a similar position. - -It has been said by a well-known writer, who, for all we know to the -contrary, was a crusty old bachelor, and therefore well qualified to -speak upon the matter, "that the very uncertainty of love is one of its -greatest charms." I fancy that Godfrey Henderson, at that particular -time, would not have agreed with the sage in question. The uncertainty -of knowing whether he was loved or not, was making a different man of -him. In days that seemed as far removed from the present as if a gulf of -centuries lay between, he had been a happy-go-lucky, easy-going fellow, -taking the world as he found it, and never allowing himself to be much -troubled by anything. Now, however, he had grown preternaturally solemn, -was much given to silent communings with himself, and only brightened -up when he was in the presence of the person who was the object of his -adoration. Naturally this could not continue for long. - -"I'll speak to her the very first opportunity I get," he said to -himself; "and if she won't have me, I'll cut the whole show and go -abroad. I could pick up Fensden in Dresden, and we'll go off to Japan -together." - -But when he was given a favourable opportunity of speaking, he found he -was unable to bring his courage to the sticking-point, and for the next -day or two he called himself by a variety of names that, had they been -addressed to him by any one else, he would have considered most -objectionable. Regarded dispassionately, in the silent watches of the -night, it seemed a small thing to do. He had only to get her alone, to -take her hand, if he could manage to obtain possession of it, and then -to make his passion known, and ask her to be his wife. Any one could do -that, and he had the best of reasons, when he looked round the circle of -his married acquaintances, for knowing that it had been carried out -successfully on numerous occasions before. Yet when it became necessary -to put it into practice he discovered that it demanded a heroism to -which the charge of the Light Brigade and the storming of the Redan were -as nothing. - -"I see that the hounds meet at Churley cross roads on Monday," said his -sister, one morning at breakfast. "Molly wants me to go, but I fear it -will be impossible. I suppose it is not necessary to ask if you will be -there?" - -"I suppose I shall," Godfrey replied, as if he had not thought very much -about the matter. - -In his heart, however, he knew that it would require an extraordinary -force to keep him away. On Friday he did not go, for the reason that he -had incidentally learned that a certain lady would be in town at her -dressmaker's. The same day he discovered that his old friend and -schoolfellow, James Bradford, to wit, had returned from America, en -route to the Continent, and the inference was that if they did not lunch -together, they would be scarcely likely to meet again for some -considerable time. What, therefore, was more fitting than that he should -catch the 10.18 train at Detwich, and set off for the Metropolis? His -mother and sister said nothing, except to wish him a pleasant journey. -When they were alone together afterward, however, Mrs. Henderson turned -to her daughter. - -"Poor boy," she said, "I never thought he would take it as seriously as -he is doing. I have never seen a harder case." - -To which her daughter replied somewhat enigmatically: - -"I wish I knew what she intends doing." - -Despite the eagerness Godfrey had shown to renew his acquaintance with -his friend, Mr. James Bradford, he did not appear to derive such a vast -amount of satisfaction from their meeting as the trouble he had taken to -bring it about would have implied. - -"I never saw such a change in a man in my life," said Mr. James Bradford -afterward, when Godfrey had left the club. "He fidgeted about all the -time we were at lunch, and examined his watch at least twice in every -five minutes. Coming into money doesn't appear to agree with him. It's a -pity, for he used to be such a good chap." - -On leaving Pall Mall Godfrey took a cab to Bond Street, and for upward -of an hour paced religiously up and down that fashionable thoroughfare. -Then, taking another cab, he drove to Euston, where he spent at least -three-quarters of an hour inspecting the various trains that passed in -and out of the station, pottering about the bookstalls, and glaring at -the travellers who approached him. As every one is aware who lives in -the neighbourhood, there is only one good train in the afternoon that -stops at Detwich, hence his reason for going to the station at that -hour. As the time approached for that train to leave, he grew more and -more nervous, and when the train itself at length backed into the -station to take up its passengers, his anxiety became almost pitiable to -watch. Placing himself near the bookstall, he scrutinized every -passenger who approached him. At last he became aware of two figures, -who were making their way leisurely along the platform in search of an -empty carriage. One was Lady Devereux, tall, gray-haired, and eminently -dignified; her companion there is no need to describe. It struck -Godfrey, as he watched her, that never in his life had he seen so pretty -a face or figure. Nerving himself to carry out the operation he had in -mind, he strolled down the platform, then turning, walked back along the -train, glancing into the various carriages as he passed, until he -reached that in which the two ladies were seated. Then, as if he were -more than surprised at seeing them, he lifted his hat. - -"How do you do, Lady Devereux?" he said. "This is an altogether -unexpected meeting!" Then, having saluted the younger lady, he inquired -whether they would permit him to travel down with them. - -"Do so, by all means," Lady Devereux replied. "Molly and I have been -obliged to put up with each other's company since the early morning. But -how is it that you are not hunting to-day, Mr. Henderson?" - -"An old friend has just returned from America," Godfrey remarked, "and -he invited me to lunch with him. Otherwise I should have been out, of -course." - -Whether Miss Molly believed this statement or not I can not say, but I -do not think it probable. One thing was plain; on this particular -occasion she had made up her mind not to be gracious to the poor young -man, and when he endeavoured to draw her into conversation, she answered -him shortly, and then retired into the seclusion of her newspaper. - -Why she should have treated him so it is impossible to say, but there -could be no sort of doubt that she was offended at something. In -consequence the poor fellow was about as miserable a specimen of the -human race as could have been found in England that day. When Detwich -was reached, he saw the two ladies to their carriage, and bade them -good-bye. Then, mounting to the box of his own dog-cart, he sent the -horse flying down the street at a pace that, had he not been well known, -would in all probability have secured him an interview with a -magistrate. - -"And what sort of journey did you have?" inquired his mother, as she -gave him a cup of tea on his arrival at the house. - -"Very pleasant," he answered, though his looks belied his assertion. - -"And would you care, as you said the other day, to go back to live in -London?" asked mischievous Miss Kitty. - -"I think London is one of the most detestable places on earth," he -replied, stirring his tea as though he were sweeping the Metropolis into -the sea. - -"And did you see any one you knew while you were in town?" inquired his -mother. - -"A lot of people I don't care a scrap about," he answered. - -Feeling that he was not in a fit humour for society, he took himself off -to his studio, where he threw himself into an easy chair, and lit the -largest pipe in his possession. This he smoked as savagely as if it were -responsible for his troubles. By the time the dressing-bell rang, he was -more than ever determined to set off for Japan. So strong, however, was -the chain which bound him, that, on second thoughts, he came to the -conclusion that he would postpone his departure until after the meet at -the Churley cross roads on the following Monday. In consequence he spent -a miserable Saturday, and it was not until he came out of church on -Sunday morning that he was anything like his old self. All through the -service he had been paying a greater amount of attention to a neat -little toque, and the back of a very shapely head, a few seats in front -of him, than was altogether proper in a place of worship. According to -custom, the two families united in the porch. - -"Good-morning, Mr. Henderson," said Molly, as they shook hands, and -then, after they had passed outside and the usual commonplaces had been -exchanged, she continued: "What do you think of the state of the -weather?" - -There was more in her speech than met the eye. What she really meant -was: "Do you think we shall be able to hunt to-morrow? If so, I am -prepared to be kind to you once more." - -Godfrey replied that there had been signs of frost early in the morning, -but he rejoiced to see that they were going off. - -"We shall see you to-morrow, I suppose?" she said, as they passed -through the lych-gate out into the high road. - -"Of course," he answered. "Provided old Benbow doesn't break his neck in -the meantime, I shall be there." - -"I am so glad," she answered, and then, as though she felt that she had -said too much, she devoted her conversation during the rest of the walk -to Kitty, leaving Godfrey to discuss parish affairs with her father. - -She had said enough, however, in that short time to transport Godfrey -into the seventh heaven of delight; and I venture to think that if any -one had been foolish enough to suggest a trip to Japan to him at that -moment, it would have been at the peril of his or her life. - -I must leave you to imagine with what attention he studied the -appearance of the sky during the next eighteen hours. The barometer in -the hall was tapped with a regularity that was sufficient to -disorganize its internal economy forever and a day. Before he retired to -rest, he took careful stock of the heavens, and was relieved to find -that there was no sign of frost in the air. Next morning he was up -betimes, took his tub with the air of a man from whom great things are -expected, and made a heartier breakfast than he had done for some weeks -past. He looked a handsome figure in pink as his mother was careful to -inform him. - -The distance to Churley cross roads from the Hall is little more than a -mile, so that the half-hour he had allowed himself to get there, enabled -him to jog along without hurrying his horse. It was what might be -described as a perfect hunting morning. A slight mist hung in places -upon the fields; it was, however, being quickly dispersed by the -sunshine. A pleasant breeze was driving the clouds across the sky, -throwing delightful shadows upon the meadows, and crisping the surface -of the river as he passed over the old stone bridge. When he reached the -cross roads he had still some ten minutes in hand; but as there were -several others as early as himself, this fact did not weigh heavily upon -his mind. Meanwhile he kept a sharp eye on the road down which he had -come, and when he espied the stout figure of the old baronet on his -famous hunter, with his daughter beside him, mounted on a somewhat -vicious-looking chestnut, he rode forward to receive them. - -"A capital day," said the old gentleman, when they had exchanged the -usual salutations. "We could scarcely have a better. Strangely enough, -as I was saying to Molly just now, in fifty years I've never known a wet -Churley Cross Meet." - -"What do you think of my new horse, Mr. Henderson?" inquired his -daughter, when the latter had remarked upon the strangeness of the -coincidence. "Papa bought him for me on Saturday." - -"He must be very nearly thoroughbred," Godfrey replied, not caring to -add that he did not altogether like the look of the animal in question. -There was a nasty flicker in the horse's eyes, of which, to Godfrey's -thinking, he showed a great deal too much white. There could be no -denying his make and shape, however. "You'll be showing us a clean pair -of heels to-day." - -"I'll be bound she will," said the old baronet, upon whom the horse had -evidently made a favourable impression. "They tell me he won a decent -steeplechase last season; and Seth Warton, of whom I got him, says he is -the best he has had in his stable for many a long day. That says -something." - -"I sincerely hope he may prove to be all you could wish," said Godfrey; -and at that moment the Master came forward to bid them good-morning. - -"I think we'll try the Spinney first, Sir Vivian," he said. "I hear good -reports in that direction. A new horse, Miss Devereux, and I should say -a fast one. Have pity on us all!" - -As if to prove that his manners were not so good as his looks, the -animal in question made as if he would rear, and for a moment Godfrey's -heart seemed to stand still. - -"I don't like the look of him," he said to himself. "Heaven send he does -her no mischief." - -But he was not permitted much time to think of such a thing, for the -Master had given the signal, and already a general move was being made -in the direction of the Spinney. Godfrey settled himself down by Miss -Devereux's side, leaving the old gentleman free to discuss the -prospects of the day with the local doctor, a sportsman of some -celebrity in the neighbourhood. - -"Miss Devereux," said Godfrey, as they approached the wood, "at the risk -of offending you, I must say that I don't altogether care about the look -of that horse. I should say, from his appearance, handsome as it is, -that he possesses more than a touch of temper. I do hope you will be -careful what you do with him to-day." - -"You needn't be afraid," she answered, as she flashed a sharp glance at -him. "I think we understand each other perfectly. He hasn't been with -hounds for some time, and he's naturally a little excited. It will wear -off, however, before the day is done." - -"I sincerely hope it may," Godfrey continued. "In the meantime I can not -help wishing that we could exchange mounts." - -"You think that you could manage him better than I?" she said. "If that -is a challenge we will see. Now, let us watch what goes on, for I want -to be well away." - -At that moment three blasts of the horn were heard from the right, and, -before Godfrey could have counted twenty, the hounds were out of cover -and streaming away in the direction of the village--only to change -their course after the first quarter of a mile. - -"It looks as if we were in for a fast thing," said Miss Devereux; and -the words had scarcely left her lips when the chestnut gave a violent -plunge in the air and was off at a racing pace. - -"If he goes on like that, the brute will pull her arms out, if he -doesn't do anything worse," Godfrey muttered to himself. - -But so far the girl had got him well in hand. Sitting back in the -saddle, she let him have his head, taking a gradual pull at him as they -neared the first hedge. Whatever his other faults may have been, he was -certainly a jumper, for he cleared the obstacle in unmistakable style. -As she had said a few moments before, there could be no doubt that they -were in for a fast thing. The hounds were racing as if their one desire -was to run Master Reynard to earth before he could get into the next -field. Godfrey's own horse, to use a phrase that his mother could never -understand, "was going strong," but he could not live in the same county -with the chestnut. In spite of Miss Devereux's undoubted skill in the -saddle, the horse was gradually becoming the master. At the third fence, -an ugly-looking post and rail, with a bad approach, he took off too -soon, giving his rider the chance of an extremely nasty fall. She saved -the situation, however, by a miracle. They had reached the top of the -hill, and were descending into the valley on the other side, when -Godfrey, whose horse was doing its best, realized that something very -serious was the matter ahead. The chestnut had undeniably got out of -hand, and, scared by some sheep, was edging toward the left. - -"It is just what I expected," he said to himself as he rode along some -half-a-dozen lengths behind the other. "She is losing control over him. -I must follow at all costs." - -Digging his spurs into the horse's side, he endeavoured to race up to -the animal in front of him. He was too late, however. The chestnut had -got the bit in his teeth, and, swerving to the left, was galloping in -the direction of a small wood. Observing this, Godfrey turned his -horse's head and made after him. Fortunately, the paddock over which -they were galloping was a large one; but the chestnut was going at such -a pace that he very soon crossed it. Skirting the wood, he began to -descend the hill on the other side. Then he disappeared altogether from -view. When Godfrey reached the top of the rise, he scarcely dared to -look about him; but when he did so, he saw that the horse had altered -his original course, and was making his way again across the angle, as -if he desired to reach the line the hounds were still following. In a -flash Godfrey realized the situation and took in the fact that the -animal was unconsciously making direct for a large chalk pit, and that -unless something were done at once to prevent him, nothing could save -both horse and rider from a terrible death. - -"God help me to save her!" he cried. "God help me to save her!" - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -For a moment after he realized the true state of affairs Godfrey was -spellbound with terror. Was it just possible that he would be able to -head the horse off from the pit? If he could not, then it would be the -end of all things as far as Miss Devereux was concerned. With the cold -sweat of terror on his brow he watched the girl he loved racing down the -slope on the maddened horse. He saw that she was making a brave fight to -bring him to a standstill; but even at that distance he could tell that -her effort was in vain. A moment later the animal had once more changed -his course and had dashed toward a hedge. He scarcely rose at it; as a -natural consequence he struck it, toppled over, and then both horse and -rider disappeared together. Fearful at what he might find, Godfrey -galloped toward the spot, jumped the gate that separated it from the -neighbouring field, and looked about him for what he should see. The -horse was lying stretched out upon the ground, and one glance was -sufficient to show him that its neck was broken. In the dry ditch below -the hedge he could catch a glimpse of a black figure. He sprang from his -horse and approached it. Lifting her head he supported her in his arms, -and as he did so a little sigh escaped from her lips. - -"God be thanked, she is still alive!" he muttered to himself, and then -he replaced her head upon the bank. - -Taking off his coat he made it into a ball. He placed it beneath her -head, and then set off in search of water. When he had procured a little -in his hat he returned and bathed her forehead and temples with it. -After a while she opened her eyes and looked up at him. - -"I feel better now," she answered, in reply to his inquiries. "Where is -the horse?" - -"Close beside you," he said, and then going to his own animal he took -his flask from the holster and filled the little cup with sherry. - -"Drink this," he said. "It will do you good." - -The wine revived her, and in a few minutes she was so far recovered as -to be able to sit up and discuss matters with him. - -"I am quite well now," she said. "But how am I to get home? Poor papa! -What a state he will be in when he hears! Since my horse is dead I -suppose I must try to walk." - -"You will do nothing of the kind," Godfrey replied, firmly. "I will lift -you into the saddle and you must try and ride my horse. If we can find a -village near here, you can remain there until a carriage is sent from -the Court to fetch you." - -"As I have proved myself incompetent I suppose I must obey you," she -answered, with a touch of her old spirit. "But what is to be done with -my own poor beast?" - -"I will arrange about him when I have attended to your comfort," he -said, and then assisted her to rise and lifted her into the saddle. For -the first hundred yards or so they walked almost in silence. She was the -first to speak. - -"Mr. Henderson," she said, looking down at him, "I owe you an apology. I -was rude to you the other day, and I laughed at you when you told me -this morning that you did not like my new horse. Events have proved that -you were right. Will you forgive me?" - -"I have nothing to forgive," he answered; "but you can have no idea how -nervous I was this morning when I saw how that brute behaved." - -"Why should you have bothered yourself about me?" she asked, not, -however, with quite her usual confidence. - -Here was the very opportunity he had been looking for so long. He felt -that he must take possession of it at once. - -"Because I love you," he answered. "You must have known that I have been -in love with you ever since I first saw you, Molly. Don't you believe -me?" - -"Yes, I know it," she replied, looking at him with the love-light -shining in her own eyes. - -"And your answer, Molly? What can you say to me?" - -"Only that I love you too," she murmured. - -I do not know what my spinster readers will think, but the fact remains -that the paddock they were crossing was a large one, some twenty acres -in extent. It was almost in the centre of this open space that he -proposed to her, and she, brazen creature, at his suggestion, I will -admit, stooped from her saddle and permitted him to kiss her where all -the world might see. - -It was between three and four o'clock that afternoon when Godfrey -reached home. He had waited at the little village inn until the -carriage, which he had sent for to convey her home, arrived from the -Court. Then, when he had promised to ride over in the morning in order -to interview her father, he watched her drive off and had afterward -departed himself to his own abode. - -"Well, Godfrey, and what sort of a day have you had?" asked Miss Kitty, -as they stood in the drawing-room before the fire. - -"Splendid," he answered. "I was awfully cut up at one time, but on the -whole it has been one of the best days in my life." - -"You seem to have enjoyed it. Where did you find?" - -"At Churley Spinney," he answered. - -"And you killed at----?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," was the reply. - -"How long did you run?" - -"I don't know that either." - -"You don't seem to have been very observant. What _do_ you know?" - -"I only know that I am engaged to Molly Devereux. For the present that -seems to me to be quite sufficient." - -In a moment her arms were round his neck. - -"You dear boy, I can not tell you how thankful I am." - -Nor was Mrs. Henderson's pleasure the less sincere. - -To say that Godfrey Henderson was a happy man after his acceptance by -Miss Molly would be too mild an expression altogether. It is my opinion -that for the next few days he could not have been said to be properly -responsible for his actions. He behaved like an amiable lunatic, spent -the greater part of his time, when he was not with his _fiance_, -planning alterations to a house which was already perfect, and vowed -many times a day that he was not nearly good enough for one so angelic. -Every one, with the exception of Sir George Penistone, perhaps, was -delighted with the match. The worthy old baronet gave his consent -immediately almost before it was asked in point of fact, and vowed that -the two properties would run splendidly together. A county dinner was -given to celebrate the engagement. There were folks who prophesied that -the wedding festivities would be on a scale seldom witnessed even by -Midlandshire, which as all the world knows, or should know, is the most -hospitable county in the three kingdoms. The engagement was to be a very -short one, and the happy couple were to leave directly after the -marriage ceremony for the South of France. - -"You are quite sure that you are not anxious to change your mind?" said -Molly to her lover one evening, when they were riding home from hunting. -"Remember, there is still time." - -"If it were not so light, and I had not the best of reasons for knowing -that old Farmer Giles is behind us, and has his eyes glued upon our -backs, I would find a means of making you repent of that speech." Then -he added more seriously: "Darling, whatever may happen in the future, -whatever troubles may be in store for us, you will always believe that I -love you, will you not?" - -"Always," she answered. "Happen what may, I shall never doubt that. But -what makes you suddenly so solemn?" - -"I don't know," he replied. "Somebody walking over my grave, I suppose." - -She gave a little cry of pain. - -"For pity's sake don't talk like that!" she cried. "You have no idea how -it hurts me." - -"In that case I will never do so again," he said. "Forgive me and forget -that I said it, dear." Then to change the conversation, he added: "I -expect this will be our last day's hunting together before we are -married. We shall both be too busy to be able to spare the time." - -"I have no idea how I am going to get through all I have to do," she -said. "I shall practically live in shops for the next month, and I do -detest shopping. Mamma, on the other hand, seems to revel in it. I fancy -she would like to have a wedding to arrange every month in the year. By -the way, Godfrey, have you decided who is going to be your best man?" - -"Yes," he replied. "Victor Fensden. He is my oldest friend, and I heard -from him only this morning that he will be delighted to officiate in -that capacity. He is in Paris just now, but returns to England at the -end of the week, when I have invited him to come down here for a few -days. I hope you will like him." - -"I am certain to like any friend of yours," she replied. "I shall be -very interested in Mr. Fensden. I came across a volume of his poems the -other day. It was very strangely bound and illustrated in an -extraordinary manner by himself." - -"That's his own idea. And did you like the poetry?" - -"Well, if I must be candid, and I'm sure you won't mind, I must confess -that I did not understand much of it. It seems so confused. Not a bit -like Tennyson, or Keats, or Shelley." - -"I quite agree with you," said Godfrey. "Fensden is very clever, too -clever for me, I'm afraid. One or two literary people rave about his -work, I know, but for my part I like less words and a little more human -nature. Give me 'Gunga Din,' or the 'Charge of the Light Brigade,' for -my money, and anybody else can have all the nymphs and satyrs, and odes -to Bacchus and Pan that were ever crammed into the realms of poetry." - -Loath as I am to say it, such was the infatuation of this girl that she -positively agreed with him. Fate, with that characteristic kindness for -which it is celebrated, had been good enough to endow them with minds of -similar calibre, which, of course, was very desirable, and just as it -should be. - -On the Wednesday morning following the conversation I have just -described Molly and her mother departed for London, where the former -was to be handed over to the tender care of Madame Delamaine and her -assistants. They were to be away for three days, returning home on the -Friday evening, and, as a little compensation for their absence, it was -agreed that Godfrey should meet them in town on the Thursday and take -them to a theatre. - -Accordingly the morning train conveyed him to the Metropolis. He had the -pleasure of the vicar's society on the way up, and the latter, not being -restrained by his wife, was able to give him his opinion on matters in -general and the immediate stress on politics in particular. In -consequence, as Godfrey admitted afterward, he spent two such hours of -boredom as he hopes never to experience again. On his arrival in London -he drove to his tailors and ordered his wedding garments, going on -afterward to a well-known firm of jewellers in Regent Street, from whom -he bought a wedding-ring with as much care as he would have given to the -purchase of Crown jewels, and a diamond necklace with little more -concern than if it had been a pair of gloves. From Regent Street he -drove to his club for luncheon. He was late, but that did not matter, -for he felt that the morning had been well spent. On entering the -dining-room he looked about him for a vacant table. He had chosen one, -and was proceeding toward it when a well-known voice behind him said: - -"Come and sit here, Godfrey." - -He turned round to find himself face to face with no less a person than -Victor Fensden. - -"My dear old fellow, this is indeed a surprise," he said as he shook -hands. "I thought you were still in Paris. How long have you been in -London?" - -"I crossed this morning," Victor replied. "I am tired of travelling and -want to settle down." - -"And you have enjoyed yourself?" - -"Fairly well," Victor replied. "I have met a lot of people whom I hope -never to see again, and have tasted, I should say, every example of -villainous cookery in Europe. I am thinking of bringing out a new guide -book, which I shall name 'The Tourist's Vade Mecum'; or, 'Where _not_ to -go in Europe.'" - -Considering that it was to Godfrey's generosity that he owed the long -holiday he had been able to take, this was scarcely a grateful speech, -but the latter did not comment on it. He was too happy himself and too -glad to see his friend once more to take offence. He noticed that in his -dress Victor was even more artistic than before. His hair was a shade -longer, his tie a trifle larger (he wore it tied in a bow with ends -flying loose), and the general tone of his costume a little more -pronounced. - -"And the future Mrs. Henderson?" he said, airily. "How is she? As you -may suppose, I am all anxiety to make her acquaintance." - -"You will do so on Saturday," Godfrey replied, "for I presume you are -coming down to me then?" - -"I shall be delighted," said Fensden. "An English country house will be -soothing after the caravansaries I have been domiciled in lately. I -never knew how much I detested my brother Briton until I met him in a -foreign hotel." - -The sneer on his face as he said this was not pretty to watch. - -"And now that you are at home once more, I presume you will resume your -old habit of searching the slums for foreign eating houses?" said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "Do you remember how and where we met Teresina?" - -"Perfectly," Victor replied shortly, and then changed the conversation -by inquiring how long Godfrey intended remaining in town. - -"I go back to-morrow morning," was the other's reply. "And now that I -come to think of it, why shouldn't you come down with me? It would be -just the thing for you. We shall be very pleased to see you if you care -to come." - -"Impossible," the other answered. "I have such a lot to do. I could not -possibly manage it before Saturday." - -"Let it be Saturday then," said Godfrey, with an imperturbable good -humour that contrasted very strongly with the other's peevishness. -"There's a first-rate train which gets you down in time for afternoon -tea. I'll meet you at the station." - -When Godfrey had finished his lunch he paid a visit to his saddler and -his bootmaker, and then to fill in the time, inspected the stables of a -well-known horse-dealer. He would have liked to go round to Eaton Square -where Molly and her mother were staying with an old maiden aunt, but he -thought better of it, and contented himself by strolling down Bond -Street on the off-chance that he might meet them. He was not successful, -however, so he returned to his hotel to dress and dine. - -At ten minutes to eight he was to be seen standing in the vestibule of -the Lyceum, waiting for the ladies to put in an appearance. When their -carriage drove up he hastened forward to greet them, and conducted them -forthwith to the box he had engaged. Nothing that could tend to their -comfort had been omitted by this extravagant young man, and he found his -reward in the tender little squeeze Molly gave his hand when he removed -her cloak. During the evening he did not concern himself very much with -the play; he watched his future wife's pretty face and the expressions -that played upon it. As soon as they were married he was determined to -paint a life-size portrait of her, which he prophesied to himself would -be the best piece of work he had ever accomplished. But even the -happiest evenings must come to an end, and this particular one was no -exception to the rule. When the curtain fell on the last act, he -re-cloaked his two charges, and escorted them downstairs once more. -Then, bidding them wait in the vestibule, he himself went out in search -of their carriage. When he had placed them in it, he bade them -good-night, and came very near being knocked over by a hansom as he -watched them disappear in the traffic. - -The night was bitterly cold, and snow was falling. Reflecting that it -would be wiser not to stand still, he turned up the collar of his coat, -and wondered what he should do next. Should he go back to his hotel and -to bed, or should he stroll on to his club and see who was there? He -eventually decided in favour of the hotel, and accordingly set off along -the Strand in the hope that he might presently be able to pick up a cab. - -He had reached Exeter Hall, when, with a cry of astonishment, he found -himself standing face to face with the one person of all others he had -least expected to see in England. It was Teresina! - -"Teresina!" he ejaculated, in surprise. "What on earth does this mean? -How long have you been in England?" - -"Nearly a month," she answered, looking away as if she desired to avoid -his eyes. - -"And why did you not let me know that you were coming?" he asked, -reproachfully. "You must surely remember that you promised to do so?" - -"I did not like to trouble you," she replied, still in the same -curiously hard voice. "You were not in London, and I thought you would -be too busy to have time to spare for me." - -"You know that is not true," he answered. "I should be a mean brute if I -did not find time to look after my friends. Where are you living? In the -old house?" - -She paused for a moment before she replied. He noticed her -embarrassment, but did not put the right construction upon it. - -"Near the Tottenham Court Road," she said at last. "I don't think you -would know the street if I told you." - -"And your mother, how is she?" - -He saw the look of pain which spread over her face, and noticed that her -eyes filled with tears. - -"My mother is dead!" she answered, very quietly. "She died in Naples two -months ago." - -"And you are alone in the world? My poor child! This will never do. You -must let me help you if I can." - -"No, no!" she cried, this time almost fiercely. "I do not require any -help. I can support myself quite well." - -"I shall have to be convinced of that before I let you go," he answered. -"London is not the sort of place for a young girl to be alone in, -particularly when one is a foreigner and poor." - -"You were always kind to me," she replied, "but I can not let you do -more. Besides you are going to be married. Is that not so?" - -"It is quite true," he answered; "but how did you hear of it?" - -She looked confused for a moment. - -"I can not tell you," she replied. "Perhaps I saw it in the newspapers. -You are famous, and they write about you. Now I must be getting home." - -An empty cab happened to pass at that moment, and Godfrey hailed it. - -"Get in," he said, when the vehicle had drawn up beside the pavement. "I -am going to see you home. This is not the hour for you to be alone in -the streets." - -"No, no," she protested, even more vehemently than before. "I can not -let you do this. I can walk quite well. It is not far, and I have often -done it." - -"Teresina, you must do as I tell you," said Godfrey, firmly. "I insist -that you get in and that you give me your address." - -She hesitated for a moment before she replied. Then she said: - -"No. 16, Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road." - -Having given the address to the driver, Godfrey took his place beside -the girl. He was thankful, indeed, that he had met her, but the -circumstances under which he had found her distressed him more than he -was able to say. As they drove along he endeavoured to elicit some -information from her concerning her present life. She was not -communicative, however. That there was some mystery at the back of it -all, he could see, and the more he thought of it, the more unhappy he -became. Poor little Teresina! He remembered her as she was when she had -first sat to him for the picture which had made his name; and as he -looked out upon the falling snow and the miserable streets with the dark -figures scurrying along the pavement on either hand, and thought of her -future, his heart sank within him. He wondered whether he could persuade -her to accept a sufficient sum of money from him to enable her to return -to her own country and to live in comfort there? He was rich, and after -all it was not only his duty but his pleasure to help an old friend. As -she seemed so distressed at meeting him, he resolved to say nothing on -the subject then, however; nevertheless, he was determined in his own -mind that he would write to her on the morrow and make the offer, -whether she accepted it or not. At last they came to a part of the -Strand which was more brilliantly illuminated than elsewhere. As they -came within the circle of the light, Teresina put up her hand to push -back her hair, and Godfrey noticed that she wore a wedding-ring upon her -third finger. This gave him food for reflection. - -"Teresina," he said, "why did you not tell me that you were married? I -thought you said you were alone in the world." - -"My husband is dead," she answered, with what was almost a note of -despair in her voice. - -"Your husband dead, and your mother dead too?" he repeated, almost -incredulously. "Teresina, my dear child, are you telling me the truth?" - -"Why should you doubt me?" she cried. "You have no reason for doing so." - -"Because I feel that you are hiding something from me," he said. "Is it -any use my imploring you to confide in me? You know that I am your -friend, and that I would help you to the best of my ability." - -"I know you would," she answered. "You were always a good and kind -friend to me. All I ask of you now, however, is to leave me alone. I am -unhappy enough as it is. Do not seek to add to my misery." - -"Heaven knows I have no desire to do that," said Godfrey. "But if you -think I am going to leave you, as you are now, you are much mistaken. If -you would only be brave and tell me everything, it might simplify -matters." - -"Impossible," she cried. "Have I not told you there is nothing to tell? -Oh, why did I not go another way home!" - -"Because it was to be," he answered. "You were in trouble, Providence -sent me to help you. Believe me, that is the explanation." - -A few moments later the cab turned from the Tottenham Court Road into a -narrower and darker street. Half--way down this dingy thoroughfare it -came to a standstill--before a house on the right-hand side. It was by -no means a cheerful dwelling, and at that hour it was wrapped in -complete darkness. They descended from the cab, and Godfrey, who had no -desire that the cabman should overhear his conversation with Teresina, -paid him off with a liberal _largesse_, and allowed him to go on his way -rejoicing. - -"Is it any use my again asking you to tell me your trouble?" he said to -the girl beside him, when the vehicle had disappeared and a policeman -had passed, after taking a long survey of them. - -"Not in the least," she answered. "Please do not ask me." - -"In that case, will you make me a promise, Teresina? If you will do so, -I will ask no further questions for the present." - -"What is it I am to promise?" - -"That you will not leave this house without first letting me know -whither you are going?" - -"I will do that," she answered. "I will let you know when I leave this -house." - -"Here is my card then. You had better take care of it. A letter or -telegram will always find me. And now good-night, my poor girl. -Remember, I am your friend." - -"Good-night, and may God bless _you_." - -So saying, she disappeared into the house, while he, in his turn, after -taking the bearing of the house, in case he should want to find it -again, set off in the opposite direction to that by which he had entered -the street. - -Meanwhile Teresina, choking down her sobs, climbed the stairs to the -room she occupied in that ramshackle tenement. Unlocking the door, she -entered and started to cross the floor in search of a box of matches she -remembered having left upon the chimney-piece. She had not advanced more -than three steps, however, before she was seized by the throat from -behind, while at the same time a keen-bladed knife was driven, as far as -the handle, between her shoulders, only to be withdrawn and thrust in -again and again, until she fell with a little gasp upon the floor. - -When her assassin had made sure that she was dead, he lit the gas and -knelt beside her for a few minutes. Then he rose, placed something in a -box upon the table, turned off the gas once more, picked up the box, and -went out, relocking the door behind him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - -After leaving Teresina, Godfrey made his way back to his hotel. As he -strode along he meditated as to what he should do to help her. That the -girl was in serious trouble, he had not the least doubt; but since she -would not allow him to assist her in any form, what could he do? - -He had been through a good deal that day, and by the time he reached his -hotel he was quite worn out. The night porter who admitted him noticed -his haggard appearance. - -"You don't look very well, sir," he said, sympathetically; "is there -anything I can do for you?" - -"If you could manage to get me a brandy and soda, I should be very much -obliged," Godfrey said, as he dropped into one of the seats in the hall. - -"I will do so with pleasure, sir," the man replied, and disappeared at -once in search of the refreshment, which he very soon brought back. -Godfrey drank it off, and then announced his intention of proceeding at -once to bed. - -"Poor little Teresina!" he said to himself as he wound up his watch; -"poor little girl, it seems a shame that she should suffer so!" - -Little did he guess that at that moment Teresina's troubles were over, -that she would never know sorrow or poverty again. - -Next morning he returned to Detwich by an early train. Though he had -only been absent from it a little more than twenty-four hours, it seemed -to him that he had been away for years. - -"You look tired out, Godfrey," said his mother, as they stood together -in the hall. - -"I did not have a very good night last night," he said, "and I had a -hard day's running about yesterday. That is all. You needn't worry about -me, mother; I'm as strong as a horse." - -He went on to tell his mother of his meeting with Fensden, and informed -her that the latter intended coming to stay with them next day. - -"That will be very nice," she said. "You will enjoy having him. I shall -put him up in the south wing in order that he may be near you. The -wall-papers are more subdued there. I know, of old, how he notices these -things." - -"I don't think he will bother himself very much about wall-papers," said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "He declares that he is so tired of travelling -that the quiet of an English country house will brace him up again." - -"I have no doubt it will," said the old lady: "I remember when your -father took me to Paris for our honeymoon, the mere sound of the French -language gave me a headache. I never hear it now without thinking of -that time. And now tell me about Molly. Did she enjoy the play you took -her to see?" - -"Immensely," he replied. "She sent her love to you, and bade me tell you -that she would be very pleased to come over to meet Fensden on Saturday. -I only hope that she won't be knocked up by all this shopping." - -His mother shook her head. - -"I don't think you need have any fear on that score," she said. "When a -girl is about to be married to the man of her heart, the collection of -her _trousseau_ becomes a labour of love. She will make a beautiful -bride, worthy of my boy. I can't say more than that." - -"You shouldn't say so much," said Godfrey. "If your boy were to believe -all the compliments you pay him, he would become insufferably conceited. -And now I must go round and see how things have been progressing in my -absence." - -The following morning witnessed Molly's arrival at the Hall. It was the -first time she had stayed there since her engagement, and in consequence -she was received with rapturous delight by her lover. Though they had -only been parted for a day, they seemed to have a hundred things to tell -each other. There were, moreover, certain important matters to be -discussed connected with the internal arrangements of the house of which -she was so soon to be mistress. I believe, so infatuated was the young -man that, had she expressed a desire to have the whole fabric pulled -down, and rebuilt in another fashion, he would have set about the work -at once. - -"You are quite sure there is nothing else you would like to have done?" -he asked, when they had made the tour of inspection, and were -approaching to the drawing-room once more. - -"You have done too much already," she replied, looking affectionately at -her lover. "I very much doubt if ever there was a girl so spoilt as I. -You will have to make up for it by ruling me with a rod of iron -afterward." - -"God forbid that I should ever do that," he said seriously. "I hope I -shall always be an indulgent husband to you." - -"Not too indulgent," she said. "For my own sake, you must not be. I -don't want to be like a spoilt child." - -"You will never be that," he said. "To me you will always be the -most----" - -"Hush!" she said, holding up her finger in warning. "I think we must -make it a rule to avoid every sort of compliment. I have had more than -is good for me already." - -"I shall find it difficult to obey you, but I will try," he returned. -"And now come with me to the studio; I have one thing left to show you." - -"What is that?" - -"You must wait and see for yourself," he replied, and led the way -through the conservatory to the room of which he had spoken. They found -the easel covered with a cloth. This he drew aside. - -"It is my present to you," he said, referring to the picture he had -revealed, "to be hung in your own room." - -"Oh, Godfrey, how good of you! What a splendid likeness!" - -It was, in fact, a portrait of himself upon which he had been working -hard ever since his engagement had been announced. He had intended it as -a surprise, and in the pleasure he gave her, he felt that he had been -amply repaid for the labour it had cost him. - -"I shall treasure it all my life long," she said, and rewarded him in a -manner that would have turned many folks green with envy. - -"And now," she said, when she had gazed her full upon it, "I want you to -show me a photograph of your friend, Mr. Fensden, if you have one. -Remember I have no idea what he is like." - -"That can very easily be remedied," he said. "I have a photo which was -taken in Rome, and a small portrait that I painted myself." - -So saying, he crossed the room to his writing-table, and, having opened -a drawer, took from it a packet of cabinet photographs. They were, for -the most part, likenesses of old friends, and when he had selected one -of Victor from the number, he placed it before her. - -"So that is Mr. Fensden?" she said, seating herself in what he called -his business chair. - -For some moments she studied it attentively. Then she replaced it on the -writing-table. - -"Well, now that you have seen the portrait, what do you think of him?" -Godfrey asked, as he turned over some canvases on the other side of the -room. - -"I scarcely know what to say," she replied, slowly. "It is a refined -face, a clever one, if you like; but, if I may be allowed to say what I -think, there is something in it, I can not tell what, that I do not care -about. I fancy the eyes are set a little too close together." Then she -added more quickly: "I hope I have not offended you, dear. I should not -have spoken so candidly." - -"Why shouldn't you?" he inquired. "Perhaps, now you speak of it, the -eyes are a little too close together. But you must wait until you have -seen the man himself before you judge him. I assure you he can be a -charming companion." - -"I gathered as much from his photograph," she answered, taking it up and -looking at it again, "At what time does he arrive to-day?" - -"In time for afternoon tea," said Godfrey. "I am going to drive in to -meet him." - -Molly made a little _moue_; with the selfishness of love, she did not -approve of Godfrey leaving her, if only for so short a time. And, if the -truth be confessed, I fear she was a little jealous of the man who was -to be responsible for his absence. It is not always that a sweetheart is -any too well disposed toward her lover's bachelor friends. For some -reason, Fensden's photograph had prejudiced her against him. She was -resolved to be just; but she felt convinced in her own mind that she -would never be able to say that she really liked or trusted the man. She -did not tell Godfrey this. - -In accordance with the arrangements he had made, that afternoon, at -about three o'clock, Godfrey drove off to the station to meet his -friend. He was looking forward to seeing him, if only that he might show -him how great was the difference between the sketch the other had drawn -of his future wife that night in the desert, and the reality. I fancy if -England had been searched through that day, a happier young man than the -master of Detwich would have been difficult to find. Yet, though he -could not guess it, the climax of his life was only a few hours' -distant. - -As he drove along, he thought of Molly and the happiness that was to be -his portion in the future. Then his thoughts turned to Teresina. While -he had prospered in the world, she had lost what little happiness she -had ever possessed. He determined to discuss her affairs with Fensden on -the first available opportunity, when doubtless the latter would be able -to suggest a way in which he might assist her. By the time he had -arrived at this reflection, he had reached the station, and the groom -was standing at the horse's head. Having placed the reins under the -patent clip, he descended from the cart and went on to the platform. The -station-master saluted him respectfully, and informed him that the train -had already been signalled. Indeed, the words had scarcely left that -functionary's lips before a whistle was heard in the cutting, and a -moment later it came into view. As the train swept past him Godfrey -caught a glimpse of the man he had come to meet, gathering together his -travelling things, in a first-class carriage. - -"How are you, my dear old fellow?" he cried, as he turned the handle of -the door. "You don't know how glad I am to see you! I am afraid you have -had a cold journey. Let me take some of your things." - -Victor graciously permitted the other to assist him with his luggage, -and then he himself descended from the carriage. They shook hands and -afterward strolled in the direction of the gate. Victor was attired in a -magnificent travelling ulster, and a neat deer-stalker's hat. An -orange-coloured tie peeped from the opening under his beard, and his -hands were as daintily gloved as a lady's. Altogether, as he walked down -the platform, he presented as artistic a figure as Detwich had seen for -a very long time. - -"What have you been doing since I saw you?" Godfrey inquired as they -took their places in the dog-cart. - -"Repairing the ravages of time and Continental travel," Victor replied, -somewhat ambiguously. Then he added politely: "I hope Miss Devereux is -well?" - -"Very well, indeed," said Godfrey, "and most anxious to see you. She has -read your poems and has seen your portrait; all she requires now is to -be introduced to the original." - -"In that case I fear she will be disappointed," said Victor, with what -was almost a sneer in his voice. "Since she is with you, I presume your -mother and sister are at the Hall. Do they look forward to the idea of -turning out?" - -"They are a pair of foolish women who would do anything, or give up -anything in order to make me happy," the other replied. "As a matter of -fact, I don't know that they altogether mind. They both prefer London, -and when they return from their travels, I believe it is their intention -to take a flat and settle down somewhere in the neighbourhood of -Kensington." - -"While you are assimilating the bucolic virtues. Well, it's a pretty -picture, and if I had fifteen thousand a year and a fine estate I might -be tempted to do the same. As I haven't the money or the property I -remain what I am." - -"And that is?" - -"A trifler," Victor replied, with unusual bitterness. "One who might -have done and who did not--who dropped the substance in an attempt to -grasp the shadow." - -"Nonsense," said Godfrey, who did not like to hear his friend abuse -himself in this fashion. "If you are going to talk like that I shall -have to prescribe a long dose of country air." - -Then, in an attempt to change the other's thoughts, he talked of their -travels together, and of the curious characters they had met, which -lasted until they had passed through the lodge gates and were well on -their way across the park. Even in the sombreness of winter the place -looked very beautiful, and Victor expressed himself delighted with it. - -"I had no idea it was so fine," he said, as they swept round the drive -and came into view of the house. "I can very well understand your liking -for a country life when you possess an estate like this. Your uncle did -you a kind action when he made you his heir." - -"Nobody is more sensible of that fact than I am," Godfrey replied. "I -only wish I could let the old fellow know how grateful I am. I often -think that during his lifetime he was disappointed in me because I took -to painting instead of becoming a country gentleman. I wonder what he -would say if he could see me now? I don't know what you may think, but -to my mind there are times when one likes to imagine that the dead are -near us." - -Victor gave a violent start, followed by a shiver. - -"Good Heavens! What an idea!" he cried. Then, dropping back into his old -cynical tone, he continued: "I am afraid that if your idea were possible -our human affairs would become somewhat complicated. For my own part I -am quite content that the matter should stand as it is." - -As he finished speaking they drew up before the steps and the two men -descended from the cart. The ladies were waiting in the hall to receive -them. - -"How do you do, Mr. Fensden?" said Mrs. Henderson, coming forward to -meet him. "It is a long time since we have met, and you have been a -great traveller in the meantime." - -"Thanks to your son," said Victor as he took her hand. "How do you do, -Miss Kitty? Events advance too quickly with all of us, but they seem to -have taken giant strides with you." - -"You mean that when last we met I was still on the other side of that -line which is only crossed by a girl when she performs the mysterious -operation called 'putting her hair up,'" answered that sharp-tongued -young lady. - -"Now, Victor," said Godfrey, when Kitty had been annihilated, "let me -have the pleasure of introducing you to Miss Devereux." - -The couple bowed to each other, and Victor offered her his -congratulations. - -"And now you must come and have your tea," said Mrs. Henderson, -hospitably. "You must need it, I am sure, after your long journey." - -"Or perhaps you would prefer something more substantial," put in -Godfrey. "I noticed that you shivered as we came up the drive." - -"I really think I should," said Victor. "After the warmth of the East -our English winters are not to be trifled with." - -Godfrey led the way to the dining-room and placed the spirit-stand -before his friend. - -"I don't think I have ever been so cold in my life before," said Victor, -as he poured out an amount of brandy for himself that made Godfrey open -his eyes in astonishment, for he had always looked upon the other as an -exceedingly temperate man. - -"Now, tell me, would you prefer to see your room first?" Godfrey -inquired, when the other had tossed off his refreshment, "or shall we -join the ladies?" - -"Perhaps I had better make myself presentable first," Victor answered, -glancing complacently at himself in the mirror above the chimney-piece. - -Godfrey accordingly led the way to the room which had been set apart for -his friend's use, and to which the latter's luggage had been conveyed. -It was a pleasant apartment, looking out on what was called the Ladies' -Garden, and thence across the park to a high and wooded hill. Victor -went to the window and studied the prospect. - -"You have a charming home," he said, with what was almost a sigh; "you -are about to marry a beautiful girl; you have wealth, success, and -everything else that can make life worth living, Godfrey. You should be -a happy man." - -"I am happy," Godfrey replied, "and, please God, I'll do my best to make -others so. And that reminds me, Victor, I want to have a talk with you. -Do you know that on Thursday night I met Teresina in the Strand?" - -Victor had turned from the window, and was brushing his hair at the -time. As he heard what Godfrey said, the brush fell from his hand upon -the floor. As he picked it up and continued his toilet, he said in -surprise: - -"Teresina in London? Surely you must have been mistaken. I thought she -was still in Naples?" - -"She is in London," Godfrey repeated. "I could not have been mistaken, -for I spoke to her." - -"At what time did you see her?" - -"Just about midnight," his friend replied. - -"Are you aware that the signora is dead and that Teresina is married?" - -"How should I be likely to?" said Victor. "You know that I have not seen -her since I bade her good-bye in your studio before we went abroad. And -so the pretty model is married? Well, I suppose the proper thing to say -is that one hopes that she will be happy." - -"But she is not happy, far from it. Her husband as well as her mother is -dead." - -"I believe there are some wives who would consider that fact to be not -altogether a matter for sorrow. But what makes you think that Teresina -is unhappy?" - -"Because she told me so, though she would not tell me anything further. -The poor girl seemed in terrible distress." - -"And you gave her money, I suppose?" said Victor. "That is usually the -way one soothes trouble of her kind. I hope she was grateful." - -"I wish to goodness you wouldn't be so cynical," said Godfrey, almost -losing his temper. "I wanted to help her, but she would not let me. -Every time I offered my assistance she implored me to leave her. She -broke down altogether when we reached her house." - -"Then you took her home?" said the other. "Do you think that was wise?" - -"Why should I not have done so?" - -"Well, you see," said Victor, putting his brushes back into their case, -"circumstances have somewhat changed with you. Miss Devereux might not -altogether approve." - -"Miss Devereux is too good and kind a girl to object to my doing what I -could to comfort an old friend in trouble." - -"But when that old friend in trouble happens to be an extremely -beautiful girl the situation becomes slightly changed. However, don't -think that I am endeavouring to interfere. And now shall we go -downstairs?" - -"But, confound it, Victor, you don't mean to say that you take no more -interest in Teresina's fate than this? I thought you liked her as much -as I did." - -"_Mon cher ami_," said Victor, rearranging his tie before the glass, -"that is scarcely fair, either to yourself or to me. Have you forgotten -a little discussion we had together, and which eventually resulted in -our leaving England for a time? Had you not taken such an interest in -Teresina then, I doubt very much whether I should have seen Cairo or -Jerusalem, or a lot of other places. But still, my dear fellow, if there -is anything I can do to help your old model you may be sure I shall be -only too glad to do it." - -"I knew you would," said Godfrey, placing his hand affectionately on the -other's shoulder. "We must talk it over some time and see what can be -done. It will never do to let her go on as she is now." - -"You have no idea, I suppose, of the origin of the trouble?" - -"Not the least. She would tell me nothing. She tried to make me believe -that she had plenty of work, and that she did not stand in need of any -assistance. I knew better, however." - -"And where is she living?" - -"In Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road. It is a miserable -place, mainly occupied by foreigners. The house is on the right-hand -side." - -"Very well," said Victor. "When I go back to town I will look her up. It -will be hard if we can't arrange something." - -Then they descended the stairs together and entered the drawing-room. - -"My dear Godfrey, are you aware that you will have one wife in a -hundred?" said Kitty, pointing to a table on which some twenty packages -of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions were arranged. - -"How so?" said Godfrey. "What new virtue have you discovered in her?" - -"I have found that she can subordinate curiosity to a sense of duty," -said the young lady. "These presents arrived for you just after you left -for the station, and yet she would not open them herself or allow me to -do so until you returned. I have been consumed with a mad desire to -explore them, particularly that foreign-looking box at the end." - -"Well, your curiosity shall very soon be satisfied," he said. "But we -must begin with the most important-looking packages." - -"Let us pray that there are no more Apostle spoons, serviette-rings, or -silver sweet-dishes," said Molly. "We have already some two dozen of -each." - -Package after package was opened in its turn and the contents displayed. -As they were for the most part presents to the bridegroom individually, -they were mainly of a nature suited to his tastes: hunting flasks, -silver sandwich cases, cigar and cigarette holders, and articles of a -similar description. At last they came to the curious-looking box to -which Kitty had referred. It was oblong in shape, and bore the name of a -Vienna firm stamped on the end. It was tied with cord, and the label was -addressed in an uneducated handwriting to "Mr. Godfrey Henderson, -Detwich Hall, Detwich, Midlandshire." - -In his own mind he had no doubt that it emanated from Teresina, who, as -he was aware, had been informed as to his approaching marriage. Having -untied the cord, he prized the lid, which was nailed down, with a dagger -paper-knife, which he took from a table close at hand. An unpleasant -odour immediately permeated the room. A folded sheet of newspaper -covered the contents, whatever they were, and this Godfrey removed, -only to spring back with a cry of horror. In the box, _the fingers -tightly interlaced, were two tiny hands_, which had been severed from -the body, to which they had once belonged, at the wrist. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - -It would be impossible to picture, with any hope of success, the horror -which accompanied the ghastly discovery described at the end of the -previous chapter. Save for the cries of the ladies, who shrank from the -box and covered their faces with their hands, and a muttered ejaculation -from Godfrey, some seconds elapsed before any one spoke. Fensden was the -first to recover his presence of mind. Picking up the sheet of paper -which had fallen to the ground, he covered the box with it, thus -shutting out all sight of the dreadful things it contained. - -"Perhaps it would be as well, ladies, if you were to leave the room," he -said. "Godfrey and I must talk this matter over, and consider how we are -to act." - -"Come, mother," said Kitty, and she led the old lady in a semi-fainting -condition from the room, closely followed by Molly. - -When the door had closed behind them, Godfrey spoke for the first time. - -"Good Heavens, Victor!" he said. "What does this mean? Am I mad or -dreaming?" - -"I fear it is no dream," replied the other. "Who could have done it? Is -it a case of murder, or what? Did you recognise the--the hands?" - -Godfrey crossed to the chimney-piece and covered his face. A suspicion, -so terrible that he dared not put it into words, was fast taking -possession of him. - -"Come, come," said Victor, crossing to him, and placing his hands upon -his shoulder, "we must look this matter squarely in the face. Be a man, -and help me. The upshot may be even more serious than we suppose. Once -more I ask you, did you recognise what you saw?" - -"I fear so," said Godfrey, very slowly, as if he were trying to force -himself to speak. "There was a little scar, the result of a burn, -half-an-inch or so above the knuckle of the second finger of the right -hand." - -He had painted those beautiful hands too often not to remember that -scar. Without a word, he crossed to the table in the middle of the room -upon which the box stood, surrounded by the cases containing the other -wedding presents, and once more removing the lid and the paper, -carefully examined what he saw there. No, God help him! there could be -no sort of doubt about it; the hands were those of Teresina Cardi, his -model and friend. When he had satisfied himself as to their identity, he -closed the box and turned to Fensden once more. - -"It is too horrible," he said; "but what does it mean? Why should the -murderer have sent the hands to me in this dreadful way?" - -"That is what I have been asking myself," Fensden replied. "The man, -whoever he was, must have borne you a fiendish grudge to have done such -a thing. Is there anything about the box that will afford a clew as to -the identity of the sender? Let us look." - -He examined the box carefully, but, beyond the printed name of the firm -who had originally used it, there was nothing that could serve as a -clew. It had come by train from Euston, and had been sent off on the -previous evening. That for the present was all there was to know about -it. - -"Once more, what are we to do?" inquired Fensden. - -"Communicate with the police," said Godfrey. "In the meantime, I think I -will send a note to my future father-in-law, asking him to come over. I -should like to have his help and support in the matter." - -"A very proper course," said his companion. "I don't think you could do -better. I should send a man away at once." - -Accordingly Godfrey went to a writing-table in the corner of the room, -and wrote the letter, then rang the bell, and bade the servant who -answered it see that the note was despatched without delay. When the man -had disappeared, he turned to Fensden once more. "And now," he said, "I -think it would be better if we removed the box to the studio." - -They did so, by way of the new conservatory, of which mention has been -made elsewhere. Then, in something less than an hour, Godfrey's future -father-in-law arrived. Godfrey received him in his studio, and -introduced Fensden to him as an old friend. - -"It is very good of you to come so quickly, Sir Vivian," he said, -motioning him to a chair. "I took the liberty of sending for you because -I want your advice in a very serious matter. How serious it is you will -understand when you have heard what we have to tell you. We have had a -terrible experience, and I am not quite sure that I am capable of -looking at the matter in a temperate light at present." - -"You alarm me, my dear boy," said the old gentleman. "What can have -happened? Tell me everything, and let me see if I can help you." - -"If I am to do that, I must tell you a story. It will simplify matters, -and it won't take very long. As you are aware, before my uncle's death, -I might have been described as a struggling artist. I was painting my -biggest work at that time, and was most anxious to find a model for the -central figure. I had hunted London over, but without success, when Mr. -Fensden here happened to discover an Italian model whom he thought might -be of use to me. I saw her, and immediately secured her services. In -company with her mother, she had been in England for some little time, -and was glad to accept my offer of employment. When the picture was -finished and hung, I still retained her services, because I liked the -girl and found her useful to me in some other work I had on hand. Then -my uncle died, and I came into the estate. Mr. Fensden and I immediately -agreed to travel, and we accordingly set off together for Egypt and the -East, intending to be away about a year. At the same time, it must be -borne in mind, the girl and her mother had returned to Italy. While we -were at Luxor, I received a letter from her, forwarding me her address -in Naples, in case I might desire to communicate with her concerning -future work. Some three weeks later my mother was taken ill, and I was -telegraphed for to come home at once. I left Port Said in a mail -steamer, intending to take the overland express from Naples to England. -Having some hours to spend in the latter city, I thought there could be -no harm in my discovering the mother and daughter. I did so, we dined -together at a small restaurant, and went on to the Opera afterward." - -"You did not tell me that," said Fensden, quickly. - -"I did not deem it necessary," said Godfrey. "I should have done so when -we came to discuss the matter at greater length. But to continue my -story. After the Opera I escorted them back to their dwelling, but I did -not enter. On my way to my hotel afterward, I was nearly stabbed by a -lover of my former model, a man, so she had informed me, who was -extremely jealous of any one who spoke to her. Fortunately for me, he -did not succeed in his attempt. I knocked him down, and took his dagger -from him." - -As he said this, he took the small poniard, with which the Italian had -attempted his life, from a drawer, and handed it to the old gentleman. - -"Next morning I left Naples, to find, on reaching England, that my -mother was decidedly better, and I need not have abandoned my tour. Then -I met your daughter, fell in love with her, and in due course our -engagement was announced. From the moment I said good-bye to her in -Naples, until last Thursday night, I had neither seen nor heard anything -of or from my former model." - -"You saw her on Thursday night?" repeated the old gentleman. "In that -case she must have returned to England?" - -"Yes," Godfrey replied. "It was after the theatre, and when I had seen -Lady Devereux and Molly to their carriage. I was walking down the Strand -in search of a cab to take me back to my hotel, when I met her. She -recognised me at once, and informed me that her mother was dead, that -she had married, she did not say whom, and that her husband was also -dead. Though she seemed in great distress, for reasons of her own she -would not let me help her. Feeling that she ought not to be in the -streets at such an hour, I took a cab and drove her to her home, which -was a house in a narrow street leading out of the Tottenham Court Road. -I bade her good-bye on the pavement, and having once more vainly -endeavoured to induce her to let me help her, walked back to my hotel." - -As he said this, he crossed to the table on which the box had been -placed, and once more removed the lid and paper. - -"A number of wedding presents have arrived to-day," he continued, "and -this box came with them. We opened it, and you may see for yourself what -it contained." - -Sir Vivian approached the table and looked into the box, only to start -back with an exclamation of horror. His usually rubicund face turned -ashen gray. - -"My dear boy, this is more terrible than I supposed!" he gasped. "What -does it mean?" - -"I am afraid that it means murder," said Godfrey, very quietly. "My poor -little Italian friend has been brutally murdered, by whom we have yet to -discover. But why these hands of hers should have been sent to me, I can -not for the life of me understand." - -"Are you sure they are her hands?" - -"Quite sure. There can be no doubt about it. Both Fensden and I -recognised them at once." - -"One thing is certain: the man who committed this dreadful deed must -have been jealous of you, and have heard of your kindness to the girl. -Is there any one you suspect?" - -"I have it," said Fensden, suddenly, before Godfrey could answer. "The -man in Naples, the lover who tried to assassinate you. He is the man, or -I am much mistaken. We have the best of reasons for knowing that he was -in love with her, and that he would not be likely to stop at murder. If -he would have killed you, why should he not have killed her? You told me -upstairs, when we were speaking of her distress, that the street was -occupied by foreigners; what is more likely, therefore, than that he -should have lived there too? Possibly, and very probably, he was her -husband." - -"But she told me her husband was dead," Godfrey asserted. - -"She may have had some reason for saying so," Fensden replied. "There -are a hundred theories to account for her words. It is as likely as not -that she did not want you to see him. He is a Neapolitan. For all we -know to the contrary he may be an Anarchist, and in hiding. She might -have been afraid that if you saw him it would lead to his arrest." - -"There certainly seems a good deal of probability in Mr. Fensden's -theory," said Sir Vivian; "but the best course for you to adopt appears -clear to me. You must at once communicate with the police and cause -inquiries to be made. I have seen no mention in the papers of a woman's -body having been found under such circumstances. The discovery of a body -so mutilated would have been certain to have attracted a considerable -amount of public attention." - -"I think you are right," said Godfrey, after a moment's hesitation. "In -the meantime what are we to do with these poor relics?" - -"They must be handed over to the police," said Sir Vivian. "It is only -through them that we can hope to unravel the mystery. If I were you I -should send for the head constable at once and give them into his -charge." Then he added kindly: "I can not tell you how sorry I am, -Godfrey, for your trouble. It must be a terrible blow to you." - -"No one can tell what a blow it is, Sir Vivian," said Godfrey in a husky -voice. "A more cruel murder has never stained the annals of crime. The -girl was an honest, kindly creature, and that she should have met her -death in this manner shocks me inexpressibly. If any reward can secure -the arrest of the murderer I will gladly pay it. No effort on my part -shall be wanting to bring him to justice." - -"You may be sure that he is a cunning fellow," said Fensden, "and that -his plans were deeply laid. For my own part, if I were you I should -place it in the hands of Scotland Yard and patiently await the result. -You may be quite sure that they will do all in their power, and if they -can not bring about his arrest, nobody else will be able to do so." - -"Even if they do not succeed in capturing him I should not abandon the -search," said Godfrey. "Poor little Teresina shall not go unavenged. -There must be several private detectives in London who know their -business almost as well as the officials of Scotland Yard. I will find -the cleverest of them and put them on the trail without delay. If a -promise of a thousand pounds can stimulate him to greater exertions it -shall be paid." - -"You will be only throwing your money away," said Fensden. "He will be -paid by the hour, with expenses, and he will fool you with bogus clews -from first to last." - -"I must risk that," Godfrey replied. - -A message was thereupon despatched to the head of the local -constabulary, who very soon put in an appearance at the Hall. He was a -little man, with a pompous manner and a great idea of his own -importance. It appeared to be his opinion that Detwich was the centre of -civilization, and he the custodian of its peace and safety. On his -arrival he was shown into the studio, where he found the three gentlemen -waiting for him. He saluted Sir Vivian with the deepest servility, -Godfrey respectfully, and Victor Fensden good-naturedly, as if the -latter, not being a landowner in the district, was not entitled to -anything more than a nod. - -"We have sent for you, Griffin," said Sir Vivian, "in order to inform -you that a serious crime has been committed, not in this neighbourhood, -but in London." - -"A good many serious crimes happen there every day, Sir Vivian," -remarked the official. "May I ask the nature of this particular one?" - -"Nothing short of murder!" Sir Vivian replied; "and as Mr. Henderson -here has been brought into it we have adopted the course of sending for -you at once in order that you may acquaint the proper authorities." - -"A very proper proceeding, sir, I have no doubt," said the officer, -diving his hand into his pocket and producing a pencil and an enormous -pocket-book. "I shall be glad, sir, if you will give me the -particulars." - -For the third time that afternoon Godfrey told his story, while the -officer made notes. By the time the contents of the box were shown to -him the man's interest was thoroughly aroused. It had always been his -ambition to be mixed up in some big affair, and now his chance had come. -That being so, he was resolved to make the most of it. - -"There can be no doubt, sir," he said, addressing Sir Vivian, "that it -is likely to be a very serious matter. So far as I can understand, the -disappearance of the woman has not been noticed, nor has her body been -discovered. I will report the facts of the case to Scotland Yard at -once, and in the meantime I will take possession of this box and its -contents. So far as I can see at present it doesn't look as if it should -be very difficult to lay our hands upon the murderer." - -"In that case, I suppose your opinion tallies with ours," said Fensden, -who had just started another cigarette. "You suspect the Neapolitan -lover." - -"I do, sir," the man replied with dignity, as if his suspicions were not -things to be treated lightly. "I only wish I had the conducting of this -case throughout. But, there, I suppose it will go elsewhere and others -will get the credit of the job. There is nothing else you wish to see me -about, I suppose, gentlemen?" - -"I think not," said Godfrey. "But I should be glad if you would let us -know all that goes on. As I have told you, the poor girl was an old -friend, and her cruel death is naturally a great blow to me." - -"I will let you know as soon as I hear anything," the man replied. "I -shall telegraph to Scotland Yard as soon as I get back to the station, -and I expect they will be on the move within the hour. Let me see that I -have got the name and address right, sir. Teresina Cardi, No. 16, -Burford Street, Tottenham Court Road. That is correct, I suppose?" - -"Quite correct," said Godfrey. "It is a tall house and there is a -lamp-post exactly opposite the door." - -These additional facts having been duly noted, the officer was about to -withdraw, when the butler entered with the evening papers. He handed -them to his master, who made as though he would place them on one side, -as being irrelevant to the matter at issue, when Sir Vivian stopped him. - -"One moment," he said. "Before you go, Griffin, let us make sure that -there is no reference in the evening papers to the crime. Will you look, -or shall I?" - -In answer Godfrey opened the first paper. It was as well that he did so, -for on the middle page was this announcement in large type: - - TERRIBLE MURDER OF A GIRL! - - REVOLTING DETAILS! - -"I thought as much," said the police officer in a tone of bitter -disappointment. "Just my luck again. I was in hopes of being able to put -them on the scent, but it seems that they have found it out without me. -Might I be so bold, sir, as to ask what it says?" - -"I will read the account," said Godfrey. - -"At an early hour this morning it was reported to the authorities at -Scotland Yard that a murder of an unusual nature had been committed in -the vicinity of the Tottenham Court Road. The victim is an Italian -woman, known as Teresina Cardi, an artist's model, who, it is stated, -has been living in the house in Burford Street, in which her body was -discovered, for upward of a fortnight. It might be mentioned that the -house is let out in flats, the occupants being in the main of foreign -nationality. The girl herself was of a reserved disposition, and did not -associate with the other tenants of the building. She was last seen -alive at seven o'clock on the evening of Thursday, when she was observed -descending the stairs dressed for going out. The hour of her return is -not known, nor was her absence remarked on Friday. Early on Saturday -morning, however, the occupant of a neighbouring room, a German -cabinet-maker, named Otto Grunther, noticed a small stream of dark-red -fluid under the door. His suspicions being aroused, he informed the -owner of the house of what he had seen, who called in the assistance of -the policeman on the beat. Together they ascended to the room in -question to find that the door was securely locked. Their knocks having -elicited no response, a key was obtained and the door opened. On -entering the room it was discovered that the woman was lying dead upon -the floor between the table and the door. Her throat was cut and she -had been stabbed in several places. More horrible still, her hands had -been severed at the wrists and were missing. Though the police are -naturally reticent as to the matter, we are led to believe that they -have not succeeded in finding a clew. Needless to say the revolting -crime has caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood." - -"Later News.--Up to the moment of going to press, the most diligent -inquiries have been made by our own representatives as to the identity -of the murdered woman. Teresina Cardi, it would appear, sat as a model -for the central figure in Mr. Godfrey Henderson's famous picture 'A -Woman of the People,' which attracted so much attention in the Royal -Academy Exhibition of last year. She was a Neapolitan by birth, but has -spent a considerable time in this country. It has also come to light -that on the evening in question she returned home shortly after midnight -and was seen talking to a gentleman in evening dress on the pavement in -front of the house. - -"The police hope very shortly to be able to discover the identity of -this mysterious individual, when doubtless further light will be thrown -upon the tragedy." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey. "They surely don't think that I know -anything more about it than I have said?" - -"You must set the matter right without delay," said Sir Vivian. "Does it -say when the inquest will be held?" - -"On Monday," Godfrey replied, after he had once more consulted the -paper. - -"Then you had better communicate with the coroner at once, telling him -that you are the person referred to, and offering him all the -information it is in your power to give. You owe it to yourself, as well -as the community at large, to do this at once." - -"I will do so to-night," Godfrey replied. "In the meantime, Griffin, you -will communicate with Scotland Yard yourself and tell them what we have -discovered. The man who murdered her must have seen us together that -night, and in the madness of his jealousy have sent the evidence of his -crime on to me." - -When he had wrapped up the horrible box the police officer took his -departure, leaving the others to discuss the matter and to endeavour to -come to some understanding about it. At last, when there was nothing -further to be said, Godfrey proposed that they should go in search of -the ladies. He had scarcely opened the door of the studio, however, when -there was the sound of a heavy fall. Turning round, he discovered that -Victor Fensden had fallen in a dead faint upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - -In the previous chapter I described to you how Victor Fensden had fallen -in a dead faint just at the moment when the gentlemen were about to go -in search of the ladies, in order to reassure them after the terrible -shock they had received. Immediately on hearing his friend fall, Godfrey -hurried to his assistance, asking Sir Vivian meanwhile to go in search -of brandy. The latter had scarcely left the room, however, before Victor -opened his eyes. - -"My dear old fellow," said Godfrey, "I am indeed thankful to see that -you are better. I knew very well that this terrible business had upset -you more than you were willing to admit. Never mind, it will all be put -right in the end. How do you feel now?" - -"Much better," Victor replied. "I can not think what it was that caused -me to make such an idiot of myself." - -At this moment Sir Vivian returned with a glass of brandy and water. -Victor sipped a little. - -He had not been feeling well of late, he explained, and this shock, -coming on the top of certain other worries, had unmanned him altogether. - -"This has been a terrible day," said Godfrey, "and a poor welcome for -you to Detwich. Now, perhaps, you would rather rest a little before -joining the others." - -"I think I should prefer to do so," said Victor, and he accordingly -retired to his room, while Sir Vivian and Godfrey went on to explain -matters as best they could to the ladies, who were in the dining-room, -awaiting their return with such patience as they could command. - -"My dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, hastening forward to greet Godfrey -as he entered the room, "you must know how we all feel for you. This has -been a terrible experience. Have you been able to arrive at any -understanding of it?" - -"I think I can," said Godfrey, who dreaded another explanation. "It will -be time enough, however, for me to explain later on. It is sufficient at -present to say that a terrible murder has been committed in London, and -that the assassin, knowing that I had endeavoured to be a good friend to -his victim, has played a ghastly practical joke upon me. As you may -suppose, the circumstance has upset me terribly; and when I tell you -that you will make me happier if you will spare me further conversation -upon the subject for the present, I am sure you will do so." - -"I think it would be better," said Sir Vivian. "We have placed the -matter in the hands of the police, and I am sure that Griffin will do -all that lies in his power to prevent Godfrey from being unduly worried -by the affair." - -Godfrey felt a small hand steal into his. - -"I am so sorry for you," whispered Molly. - -The touch of her soft warm hand was infinitely soothing to him. It did -him more good than any amount of verbal sympathy. - -"But where is Mr. Fensden?" inquired Mrs. Henderson. - -"The shock has proved too much for him," Sir Vivian explained. "He -informed Godfrey that he would prefer to go to his room to rest for a -while. I have never met your friend before, Godfrey, but I should say -that he is not very strong." - -"I am afraid he is not," the other replied, and the subject dropped. - -A quarter of an hour later Sir Vivian announced his intention of -returning home, and when his carriage had come round, took Godfrey on -one side. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my boy," he said. "The man who committed the -crime will certainly be captured before very long, and then the poor -girl will be avenged." - -Then the kindly old gentleman drove away. When he had seen him depart, -Godfrey went into the house and made his way upstairs to inquire after -Fensden's welfare. Somewhat to his surprise, he found him apparently -quite himself once more. - -"I can not think what made me behave in that foolish fashion," said -Victor, as he rose from the sofa on which he had been lying. "I am not -given to fainting fits. Forgive me, old fellow, won't you?" - -"There is nothing to forgive," said Godfrey. - -As he spoke the dressing gong sounded, and after having asked Fensden -whether he would prefer to come down, or to have his meal sent to him, -and having received an answer to the first in the affirmative, Godfrey -left him, and proceeded along the passage to his own room. When he -reached it he passed to the further end and stood before the original -sketch of his famous picture, "A Woman of the People." It was only a -mere study, roughly worked out; but whatever else it may have been, it -was at least a good likeness of the hapless Teresina. - -"And to think that that beautiful face is now cold in death," he said to -himself, "and that the brute who murdered her is still at large. God -grant that it may be in my power to bring him to justice!" - -Before he dressed, he sat down at his writing-table and composed a -letter to the coroner, informing him of all he knew of the case, and -promising him that he would be present at the inquest in order to give -any evidence that might be in his power to supply. It was only when he -had finished the letter and sealed it that he felt that he had done a -small portion of his duty toward the dead. He also wrote to his -solicitor giving him an account of the affair, and telling him that he -would call upon him on Monday, prior to the inquest, in order to discuss -the matter with him. - -Then he rang for his valet and gave instructions that the letters should -be posted without fail that evening. Then he began to dress with a heart -as heavy as lead. He remembered how much he had been looking forward to -this dinner ever since the idea had first occurred to him. In his own -mind he had endeavoured to picture the first meal that Victor and his -betrothed should take together. He had imagined his friend doing his -best to amuse Molly with his half-cynical, half-burlesque conversation, -with Kitty chiming in at intervals with her sharp rejoinders, while he -and his mother listened in quiet enjoyment of their raillery. How -different the meal was likely to prove! - -His dressing completed, he descended to the drawing-room, where he had -the good fortune to find Molly alone. It was plain that she had been -there long enough to read the evening paper, for there was a look of -horror upon her face as she came forward to meet her lover. - -"Godfrey, darling," she said, "I see by this paper that a terrible -murder has been committed in the neighbourhood of the Tottenham Court -Road, and that the victim was once your model. I can now understand why -it has affected you so much. Those hands were hers, were they not? I see -also that it says that some one, a gentleman in evening dress, was seen -talking to her about midnight on the pavement outside her house. Do you -think that that man had anything to do with the crime?" - -"I am quite sure he had not," Godfrey answered. "For the simple reason -that that man happened to be myself." - -"Yourself? You, Godfrey?" she inquired, looking up at him with startled -eyes. "But that was the night on which we were at the theatre together?" - -"Yes, dear, the same night," he answered. "Perhaps it would be better if -I were to tell you the whole story." - -"Tell me nothing more than you wish," she said. "I am content to trust -you in everything. If I did not, my love would scarcely be worth having, -would it?" - -And then he told her of his association with the unhappy woman; told her -of Teresina's sorrow, and of his own desire to assist her. Molly's heart -was touched as she listened. - -"You were right," she said, "to try and help her, poor girl! If I had -known, I would have endeavoured to have done something for her for your -sake. Now, unhappily, it is too late. But you must not think too much of -it, Godfrey dear. Try to put it away from you, if only for a time." - -At this moment Victor Fensden entered the room. It was plain that he had -recovered his former spirits. He apologized in an easy fashion for his -weakness of the afternoon, and ascribed it to his recent travels, which, -he said, had proved too much for his enfeebled constitution. - -"I am not like Godfrey, Miss Devereux," he said. "He seems capable of -bearing any amount of fatigue, plays cricket and football, tennis and -golf, while on a summer's day I sometimes find it impossible even to -lift my head." - -It was a sad little party that sat down to dinner that evening. Godfrey -was in the lowest spirits, and Molly was quiet in consequence. Fensden -was accepted, on his own showing, for an invalid, Mrs. Henderson was -naturally of a silent disposition, while Kitty, finding that her efforts -were unappreciated, lapsed into silence after a time, and thus added to -the general gloom. After dinner there were music and polite conversation -in the drawing-room until ten o'clock, followed by a retirement to the -billiard-room for a game at pool. It did not prove a success, however. -No one had any heart for the game, and before the first three lives had -been lost it was voted failure, and the cues were accordingly replaced -in the rack. The memory of two white hands, tightly clinched in despair, -rose continually before every eye, and when, at half-past ten, Mrs. -Henderson proposed that they should retire for the night, every one -accepted the situation with a feeling that was very near akin to relief. - -The next day was scarcely better. For the first time since he had been -master of the house Godfrey rose early on a Sunday morning, and, having -ordered his dog-cart, drove into the village. It was scarcely seven -o'clock when he reached the police-station to discover that the head -constable had not yet risen from his bed. He waited in the small office -while the other dressed, finding what consolation he could in a case -above the chimney-piece in which several sets of manacles were -displayed. The constable in charge was plainly overwhelmed by the -squire's presence, and to cover his confusion poked the fire almost -continuously. At last, after what seemed like an hour, Griffin put in an -appearance, and with many apologies invited Godfrey to accompany him to -his own private sanctum where breakfast was being laid. - -"It's the first time for many a long day that I have overslept myself, -sir," he hastened to remark; "but I have been so thinking of this 'ere -case that I did not get to sleep until this morning, and I am mortal -sorry, sir, that I should have kept you waiting." - -"You have communicated with Scotland Yard, of course?" said Godfrey, -after the other had finished his apology. - -"I telegraphed to them last night, sir, and forwarded my written report -at the same time. The post isn't in yet, sir, but I expect I shall get -some instructions when it comes." - -He visibly swelled with importance as he made this remark. He felt that -in having the Squire of Detwich for his ally he could scarcely fail to -be noticed, particularly when the most valuable evidence in the case -would be given by the gentleman in question. - -Finding that the man had no further news to give him, Godfrey drove -sorrowfully home again, feeling that both his early rising and his visit -to the village were alike of no avail. All through the service in the -little church afterward, despite the fact that Molly worshipped beside -him for the first time, he was ill at ease. Victor had excused himself -from attending the service on the plea of a bad headache, saying he -would go for a walk instead. When they emerged from the sacred edifice -afterward Sir Vivian took his place by Godfrey's side. - -"You have heard nothing more, I suppose?" he asked. "Griffin promised to -communicate with you at once on receipt of any intelligence, did he -not?" - -"He did," said Godfrey. "But when I saw him at the station this morning -there was nothing to tell. In any case I go up to town to-morrow -morning, when I shall first call upon my own solicitor, to whom I have -already written, and afterward attend the inquest as I have promised. -Fensden says he's coming up, too, in order that any evidence he may have -to give may be accepted." - -"One moment, Godfrey," said the old gentleman, stopping him and allowing -the others to go on ahead. "I am going to put a question to you which -may probably offend you. But whether it does or does not, it must be -asked." - -"Anything you ask me, sir, you may be sure will not offend me," said -Godfrey. "What is this particular question?" - -"I want to know how long you have known your friend?" the old man -inquired. "You see I am going to be perfectly candid with you. You may -think me absurd when I say so, but I have come to the conclusion that -Mr. Fensden does not like you." - -"In that case, sir, I am sure you are mistaken," said Godfrey. "Victor -and I were at school together, and we have been companions ever since. -He may be a little cynical in his humour, and inclined to be affected in -his dress and speech, but, believe me, in his inmost heart he is a -thoroughly good fellow." - -Sir Vivian was silent for a moment. - -"If that is so," he went on, "then I am wrong in my conclusions. I must -confess, however, that I was not favourably impressed with Mr. Fensden -yesterday. I noticed that when he was looking at you and you were not -watching him, there was a curious expression upon his face that was -either one of malice or something very like it. If I were asked my -opinion about this affair I should say that he knew more about it than -you and I put together, and more than he either cares, or is going, to -tell." - -"I can not help disagreeing with you, sir," said Godfrey, warming in -defence of his friend. "I happen to know that Victor has not seen -Teresina since the day we left England. It was he who induced me to get -rid of her because he was afraid that she, being a pretty woman, might -possibly induce me to fall in love with her. You see, I am quite candid -with you." - -"I am glad that you are," the other rejoined. "Nevertheless obstinacy is -proverbially an old man's failing, and I still adhere to my opinion -concerning the gentleman in question. Whether I am right or wrong time -will prove. In the meantime you say that you go up to town to-morrow -morning." - -"Yes, to-morrow morning, first thing," said Godfrey. "We shall leave -Detwich by the 10.18." - -"In that case I am going to ask a favour of you," said the other. "Will -you allow me to accompany you? Remember that, as you are going to marry -my daughter, your interests are, and must be, as my own." - -"I shall be only too glad if you will come, sir," said Godfrey, -gratefully. "It is a kindness I did not like to ask of you. I am sure it -will make Molly happier to know that you are with me, while it will -prove to the world, if such a proof is needed, that you believe my -interest in this miserable affair to be only what I have stated it to -be." - -"We all believe that, Godfrey, of course," Sir Vivian replied. "The man -who thinks otherwise would be insane. And now we turn off here. It is -agreed, therefore, that we meet at the railway station to-morrow morning -and go up to town together?" - -"With all my heart, sir," Godfrey replied, and then the kindly old -gentleman turned off with his wife at the path that led across the -fields to the court. When they were out of sight Godfrey informed Molly -of her father's decision. - -"With father and Mr. Fensden beside you, the newspapers will not dare to -hint at anything more." - -Then for the first time in his life Godfrey felt a vague distrust of -Victor Fensden. - -He put the suspicion from him, however, as being not only dishonourable -to his friend, but also to himself. - -"I have known Victor for a good many years," he muttered, "and I should -surely be familiar with his character by this time." - -Yet, despite his resolve to think no ill of the man, he felt that the -idea was gaining ground with him. - -When they reached the house they found Fensden in the drawing-room, -comfortably ensconced in a large chair before a roaring fire. He had -changed his mind, he asserted, and had not gone for a walk after all. He -certainly did not look well. His face was paler than usual, while he was -hollow-eyed, as if from want of sleep. As the party, radiant after their -walk through the sharp air, entered the room, he looked up at them. - -"How nice it must be to be so energetic," he said, languidly. "Godfrey -looks disgustingly fit, and more like the ideal country squire than -ever. You should paint your own portrait in that capacity." - -This time there was no mistaking the sneer. It may have been the -thoughts that had occupied his brain as he walked home, but even _he_ -could not help coming to the conclusion that the man he had known for so -long, whom he had trusted so implicitly, and for whom he had done so -much, was no longer well disposed toward himself. He said nothing, -however, for Victor was not only his guest, but he had troubles enough -of his own just then to look after, without adding to the number. Molly -had noticed it also, and commented on it when she and her lover were -alone together. - -"Never mind, dear," said Godfrey. "It doesn't matter very much if he -has taken a dislike to me. I think the truth of the matter is he is not -quite himself. Though he will not show it, I have an idea he is as much -cut up by this terrible business as I am myself. He is very highly -strung, and the shock has doubtless proved too much for his nerves. You -won't see very much more of him, for he will bring his visit to a close -to-morrow morning, as he has decided to go abroad again immediately -after the inquest." - -"But I thought he was tired of travelling, and that he had stated his -desire never to see a foreign hotel again?" - -"I thought so too, but it appears we were mistaken. However, do not let -us talk about him just now. Can you realize, dearest, that in ten days' -time we are to be married?" - -"I am beginning to realize it," she answered. "But this terrible affair -has thrown such a shadow over our happiness for the last twenty-four -hours that I have thought of little else." - -"The shadow will soon pass," he answered. "Then we will go to the sunny -South and try to forget all about it." - -In his own heart he knew that this was likely to be easier said than -done. Ever since he had seen it on that memorable Thursday night, -Teresina's piteous face had been before him, and now with the -recollection of what had followed so close upon their interview to -deepen the impression, it was more than likely that some time would -elapse before he would be able to forget it. - -That night, when he went to bed, he found it difficult to get to sleep. -It was as if the events of the morrow were casting their shadows before, -and when he did sleep he was assailed with the most villainous dreams. -He saw himself in a garret room with Teresina kneeling before him -holding up her hands in piteous entreaty; then he saw her lying dead -upon the floor, her glassy eyes looking up at him as if in mute -reproach. A moment later he was sitting up in bed staring at Victor -Fensden, who was standing beside him, holding a candle in his hand, and -with a look upon his face that showed he was almost beside himself with -terror. - -"Good Heavens, man, what is the matter?" cried Godfrey, for the other's -face frightened him. It was as white as paper, while in his eyes there -shone a light that was scarcely that of reason. - -"Let me stay with you, let me stay with you!" he cried. "If I am left -alone I don't know what I shall do. I have had such dreams to-night that -I dare not even close my eyes. For God's sake give me brandy! I must -have something to bring back my courage. Look, look! Can't you see, man, -how badly I need it?" - -Needless to say, Godfrey saw this. Accordingly bidding him remain where -he was, he went off to procure some. When he returned he found Victor -seated on the settee at the foot of the bed. Apparently he had recovered -his self-command. - -"I am afraid you must think me an awful fool, Godfrey," he said. "But I -have really had a deuce of a fright. You don't know what awful dreams I -had. I could not have stayed alone in that room another minute." - -It must indeed have been a fright, for Godfrey noticed that, though he -pretended to have recovered, he was still trembling. - -"Well, I am glad to see that you are feeling better," he said. "Drink -some of this, it will make a new man of you." - -"If it could do that I'd drink a hogshead," he said bitterly. "If -there's one man in this world of whose society I am heartily sick, it is -Victor Fensden. Now I'll go back to my own room. Forgive me for -disturbing you, won't you, but I could not help myself." - -So saying, he took up his candle once more and returned to his own room, -leaving Godfrey to put what construction he thought best upon the -incident. - -"I am beginning to think that poor Victor is not quite right in his -head," said the latter to himself as he blew out his candle and composed -himself for slumber once more. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - -The first train that left Detwich for London next morning had for its -passengers Sir Vivian Devereux, Godfrey Henderson, and Victor Fensden. -Inspector Griffin was also travelling by it, not a little elated by the -importance of his errand. On reaching Euston, after promising to meet -them at the inquest, Fensden drove off to his club, while Sir Vivian and -Godfrey made their way to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where they were to have -an interview with Mr. Cornelius Bensleigh, of the firm of Bensleigh and -Bensleigh, solicitors. That gentleman had already received a letter from -Godfrey, written on the Saturday night, giving him an outline of the -affair, and acquainting him of the part the latter had played in the -mystery. - -"I am afraid this will be calculated to put you to a considerable amount -of inconvenience, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, after they had -discussed the matter for a few moments. "From what I can gather, you -were the last person to see the poor woman alive, and as Sir Vivian -Devereux says, for that reason we must be particularly careful that no -breath of scandal attaches itself to your name. Now, as cases like this -are somewhat foreign to our experience, I have made up my mind, always, -of course, with your permission, that I will introduce you to a -gentleman who makes them his particular study. Of course, should you -desire it, I will put precedent on one side, and do all I can for you; -but, if you will be guided by me, you will place your case in the hands -of Mr. Codey, the gentleman to whom I refer, and whose name is doubtless -familiar to you. His office is not far from here, and if you will -accompany me, I shall be only too pleased to escort you to it, and to -introduce you to him." - -This course having been agreed upon, they accompanied him to the office -of the lawyer in question, and, after a few moments' delay, were -conducted to his presence. He looked more like a trainer of racehorses -than a criminal lawyer. He was the possessor of a sharp, keen face, a -pair of restless eyes, a clean-shaven mouth and chin, while the whiskers -on his cheeks were clipped to a nicety. The elderly lawyer introduced -Sir Vivian and Godfrey to him, and explained the nature of their visit. - -"Ah, the Burford Street murder," said Mr. Codey, as soon as he heard the -name of the case. "I was wondering how long it would be before I was -drawn into it. And so, Mr. Henderson, you have the misfortune to be -connected with it? As a matter of fact, I suppose you are the gentleman -in evening dress who was seen speaking to the girl on the pavement -outside the house." - -"I am; but how do you know it?" Godfrey asked, in considerable surprise. - -"I merely guessed it," said the lawyer. "I see from the papers that the -deceased was once your model. Now you come to me for help. I simply put -two and two together, with the result aforesaid. Perhaps you will be -kind enough to tell me all you know about it. Be very sure you keep -nothing back; after that I shall know how to act." - -Thus encouraged, Godfrey set to work, and told the tale with which by -this time my readers are so familiar. The lawyer listened patiently, -made a few notes on a sheet of paper as the story progressed, and when -he had finished asked one or two more or less pertinent questions. - -"You say that you returned to your hotel immediately after your -interview with the deceased?" - -"Immediately," Godfrey answered. - -"Did you take a cab?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "it was a cold night, and I thought the walk would -do me good." - -"But you drove to the house in a cab?" - -"I did, and dismissed it at once." - -"That was unfortunate. Do you think the driver would know you again?" - -"I should think it very probable," said Godfrey. - -"You were standing under the lamp-post, of course, when you paid him, -with the light shining full upon your face?" - -"I suppose so, as the lamp is exactly opposite the door; but I did not -think of that." - -"No; but, you see, I must think of these things," said the lawyer. "And -when you returned to your hotel?" - -"I called for a brandy and soda, and, having drunk it, went to bed." - -When he had learned all he desired to know, it was arranged that Mr. -Codey should attend the coroner's court, and watch the case on Godfrey's -behalf; after which they left the office. On reaching the club where Sir -Vivian and Godfrey had elected to lunch, they found that the murder was -the one absorbing topic of the day. This was more than Godfrey had -bargained for; for, when it was remembered that the deceased woman had -been his model, he was cross-questioned concerning her on every hand. So -unbearable did this at last become, that he proposed to Sir Vivian that -they should take a stroll in the park until it should be time for them -to set off to the business of the afternoon. - -When they reached the building in which the inquest was to be held, they -discovered that a large crowd had collected; indeed, it was only with -difficulty, and after they had explained their errand, that they could -gain admittance to the building. Fensden was awaiting them there, still -looking pale and worried; also Mr. Codey, the lawyer, appearing even -keener than he had done at his office. - -"Public curiosity is a strange thing," said the latter, as he looked -round the packed court. "Probably not more than five persons now in this -room ever saw the dead girl, and yet they crowd here as though their -lives depended upon their not losing a word of what is said about her." - -At this moment an official came forward, and said something to Godfrey -in a low voice. The latter immediately followed him from the room. When -he returned he was very white, and he seemed visibly upset. - -Then the coroner entered, a portly, dignified gentleman, and took his -seat, after which the proceedings were opened in due form. - -The landlord of the house, in which the deceased had resided, was the -first witness called. He deposed as to the name she was known by in the -house, stated that she was supposed to be an artist's model, and that, -to the best of his belief, she had been a quiet and respectable girl. At -any rate, her rent had invariably been paid on the day on which it had -become due. He had identified the body as being that of his lodger. -During the time she had been with him he had never known her to receive -a visitor; as a matter of fact, she had kept to herself; scarcely -speaking to any one save when she returned their salutations on the -stairs. He was not aware that she had received a letter, and, as far as -he knew, she had not a friend in London. - -The next witness was the German cabinet-maker, who had been the first to -discover the murder. He gave evidence through the medium of an -interpreter, and described how he had seen the congealed blood under -the door and the suspicions it had given rise to. In answer to a -question put by a superintendent of police, who represented the -commissioner, he stated that he had never spoken to the deceased, for -the reason that he knew no English or Italian, and she was not -acquainted with German. He had heard her go out on the night in -question, and return shortly after midnight, but whether she was -accompanied by any one he could not say. He also deposed to the position -of the body when they opened the door, and to the mysterious fact that -the hands were missing. - -The next witness was the police-constable on the beat, who had been -called in by the landlord. He gave evidence as to the opening of the -door, and the discovery then made. He was followed by the doctor, who -had made the post-mortem examination, and who described the nature and -situation of the various wounds, and the conclusions he had drawn -therefrom. Then came the first sensation of the afternoon, when the -well-known artist, Godfrey Henderson, was called. In answer to the -various questions put to him, he deposed that he had known the deceased -for upward of a year; that he had employed her for the model of his -picture, "A Woman of the People," and had always found her a quiet and -eminently respectable girl. He had been compelled to dismiss her, not -because he had any fault to find with her, but because he was going -abroad. This was not the last he had heard of her, for, while on the -Nile at Luxor, he had received a letter from her, informing him of her -address, in view of any future work he might have for her. At Naples he -had again met her, when he was on his way back to England, and had taken -her to the Opera in her mother's company. On the night of the murder, he -had again met her in the Strand, quite by accident, when, finding that -she was in serious trouble, he had offered to help her. She would not -accept his assistance, however. Noticing that she was in a most unhappy -state, and not liking to leave her alone in the streets, he had called a -cab and escorted her to her abode in Burford Street. He did not enter -the building, however, but bade her good-bye in the street, after which -he returned to his hotel. He was unable to assign any motive for the -crime, and added that the only person he could have believed would have -committed it, was a man named Dardini, an Italian, who was in love with -the girl, and who had attempted his (the witness's) life in Naples, on -the night of the visit to the Opera. Whether the man was in England he -was unable to say. Whether she had been in want of money at the time of -his last seeing her, he also was unable to say. She had declared that -she was in work, that was all he knew of the matter. - -"On hearing that she was married, did you not inquire the name of her -husband?" asked the coroner. - -"I did," Godfrey replied, "but she refused to tell me." - -"Did not that strike you as being singular?" - -"No," Godfrey replied. "When she informed me that he was dead, I did not -press the matter." - -"You are quite sure, I suppose, that she was not married when you met -her at Naples?" - -"I feel convinced that she was not; but I could not say so on my oath." - -"And when you opened the box, which you say was sent you at your country -residence, were you not shocked at the discovery you made?" - -"Naturally I was!" - -"And what conclusions did you come to?" - -"I gathered from it that my old friend had been murdered." - -"What caused you to recognise her hands?" - -"A certain mark above the knuckle of the second finger, the result, I -should say, of a burn." - -At this point, Mr. Codey, who had already informed the coroner that he -was appearing on behalf of the witness then being examined, asked an -important question. - -"On making this terrible discovery, what was your immediate action?" - -"I sent for my prospective father-in-law, Sir Vivian Devereux, and for -the police officer in charge of Detwich. It was at once agreed that we -should communicate with the authorities and that I should render them -all the assistance in my power." - -"Pardon my touching upon such a matter, but I believe you are about to -be married, Mr. Henderson?" said the coroner. - -"I hope to be married on Thursday next," said Godfrey. - -"I do not think I need trouble you any further," the coroner then -remarked. - -The next witness was a police officer, who informed the Court that -inquiries had been made in Naples concerning the man Dardini, with the -result that it was discovered that he had been arrested for assault upon -a foreigner a fortnight before the deceased's return to England, and -that he was still in prison. This effectually disposed of his -association with the crime, and added an even greater air of mystery to -it than before. - -When this witness had stepped down, Mr. Victor Fensden was called. He -stated that he was also an artist, and a friend of Mr. Godfrey -Henderson. It was he who had first discovered the deceased, and he had -recommended her to his friend for the picture of which she was afterward -the principal figure. She had always struck him as being a quiet and -respectable girl. When asked why she had received her notice of -dismissal, Victor answered that it was because his friend, Mr. -Henderson, had suddenly made up his mind to travel. - -"I understand you to say _suddenly_," said the superintendent in charge -of the case. "Why was it Mr. Henderson suddenly made up his mind to go -abroad?" - -"I do not know that this question is at all relevant to the case," said -Victor, appealing to the coroner. "It was purely a private matter on Mr. -Henderson's part." - -"But anything that bears on the question at issue can scarcely be -irrelevant," said the coroner. "I think it would be better if you would -answer the question." - -Fensden paused for a moment while the Court waited in suspense. - -"I repeat my question," said the superintendent. "Why did the deceased -so suddenly lose her employment?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Godfrey looked at him in surprise. Why did -he not go on? - -"We decided to travel on account of a conversation Mr. Henderson and I -had concerning the girl." - -"What was that conversation?" inquired the coroner. - -Once more Fensden seemed to hesitate. - -"Did the conversation refer to the deceased?" - -"It did!" - -"I gather from your reluctance to answer that you were afraid Mr. -Henderson might become attached to her, so you used your friendly -influence in order to hurry him away as quickly as possible? Am I right -in so supposing?" - -Another pause, during which Victor's face was seen to express great -emotion. - -"That was so." - -"You are sure that Mr. Henderson was attached to the deceased?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"Did you know that Mr. Henderson was aware of the deceased's return to -Naples?" - -"I was aware that he was in correspondence with her," said Victor; "but -he said nothing to me of his intention to visit her in Naples." - -"Had you known this, would you have endeavoured to dissuade him from -such a course?" - -"I do not know what I should have done; but I should think it very -probable that I should have endeavoured to prevent their meeting." - -"When did you become aware of the deceased's return to England?" - -"When Mr. Henderson informed me of it on my arrival at his house at -Detwich Hall." - -"You were naturally very much surprised to hear that he had met her, I -suppose?" - -"Very much," Victor replied. - -"Did you say anything to him upon the subject?" - -"I warned him against the folly of being drawn into another entanglement -with her, particularly when he was to be married in ten days' time." - -"You say _another_ entanglement with her? Are we, therefore, to -understand that there had been an entanglement before?" - -Again Victor paused before he replied. - -"I withdraw the word 'another,'" he said, hurriedly. "I did not mean it -in that sense. I merely suggested to Mr. Henderson that his _fiance_ -might not care to know that he had been seen driving through the streets -of London after midnight with an Italian girl, who had once been his -model." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey to himself. "And this is the man whom I -have trusted and who has called himself my friend for so many years!" - -At this point the coroner, addressing the jury, stated his intention of -adjourning the inquiry until the following Wednesday morning at eleven -o'clock. He had excellent reasons for keeping it open until then, he -said, and these reasons he had communicated to the foreman of the jury, -who was completely satisfied. The Court thereupon adjourned, and -Godfrey presently found himself in the street with Mr. Codey on one side -and Sir Vivian Devereux on the other. Victor Fensden was waiting for -them on the pavement, and, as soon as they emerged, he approached them -with a face that still bore the traces of violent emotion. - -"Godfrey," he began, in a faltering voice, "after what they dragged out -of me, I scarcely know what to say to you." - -"In any case, I beg that you will not say it," said Godfrey, coldly. -"You have said quite enough already." Then, turning to the others, he -continued: "Come, gentlemen, let us find a cab. I suppose we had better -go back to your office, Mr. Codey?" - -"I think it would be better," said that gentleman. "I must have a talk -with you upon this matter." - -Then, hailing a cab, they entered it, leaving Fensden on the pavement -looking after them. Godfrey's face was still very pale. It was -impossible for him to be blind to the fact that his kindness to Teresina -had been the means of bringing down grave suspicion upon himself. Yet, -even with that knowledge before him, he knew that he would not, or -could not, have acted otherwise than he had done. - -When they reached the lawyer's private office, the door was shut and -they sat down to business. - -"Well, Mr. Henderson," said Mr. Codey, "what is your opinion now?" - -"I think that the public mind is already jumping to the conclusion that -I am responsible for the murder," Godfrey answered, without fear or -hesitation. - -"I am very much afraid that you must accustom yourself to look upon it -in that light," the other replied. "The man Fensden's evidence, given in -such a manner as he gave it, was unnecessarily damaging." - -"He is a black-hearted scoundrel," said the old baronet, wrathfully. "I -told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I didn't trust him, and that I felt -sure he bore you some ill-will. And yet, do you know, Mr. Codey," he -added, turning to the lawyer, "Mr. Henderson has done everything for -that man. He has practically kept him for years past, he took him on a -tour round Europe only a few months ago, and this is the result. It -makes one sick with humanity." - -"When you have seen as much of humanity as I have, you will not be -surprised at anything," said the lawyer. "The greater the obligation in -many cases, the deeper the ingratitude. We are wandering from the point, -however. Now I am going to be plain-spoken. Tell me, Mr. Henderson, did -you ever, under any sort of circumstance, make love, or suggest love, to -the woman who is now deceased?" - -"Never," said Godfrey, firmly. "The man who declares that I did, lies." - -"Very probable, but that won't prevent his saying it. When you left her -in Burford Street, did you meet any one near the house?" - -"Not a soul. The street, so far as I could see, was empty." - -"I think you said this morning that the night porter let you in at your -hotel? Did you make any remark to him respecting the time?" - -"Yes, I said to him when he had opened the door, 'I'm afraid I'm rather -late,' then, looking at my watch, I added, 'Why, it's half-past -twelve!'" - -"If he's blessed with a good memory, he will recollect that," said -Codey. Then with his usual abruptness, he continued, "Which way did you -walk from Burford Street?" - -"Through the Tottenham Court Road, along Oxford Street, and down Bond -Street." - -"A man shall walk it quickly to-morrow morning in order to see how long -it will take. If only that hall porter has a good memory, and can be -relied upon, this should prove an important point." - -"But surely, my good sir," put in Sir Vivian, "you do not for a moment -suppose that Mr. Henderson will be accused of having killed this woman?" - -"I should not be at all surprised," said the lawyer, quietly. "Let us -regard the facts of the case. Some months back, Mr. Henderson employed -this girl as his model, and retained her services when he really had no -need for them. He was on such familiar terms with her that his friend -felt compelled to remonstrate with him. As a result they left England -hurriedly, the girl following them to Naples. No, no, Mr. Henderson, I -beg that you will be silent. Remember, I am telling the story as I -should tell it if I were against you instead of for you. As I have said, -the girl left for Naples, and I insinuate that she followed you. It can -be proved that she corresponded with you, and that you sent your friend -on his way to travel alone; always bearing in mind that he was the man -who had persuaded you to give the girl up. You, in the meantime, -returned to Naples, in order to visit her again. You may dispute the -motive, but you can not deny that you took her out to dinner and to a -theatre afterward." - -"But her mother was with her," said Godfrey hurriedly, his face flushing -angrily at the imputation put upon his action by the other. - -"That point is immaterial," the lawyer replied calmly. "It is sufficient -for the purposes of the prosecution that you met her there. Then you -proceeded to England, and, after a little while in the country, became -engaged to the daughter of Sir Vivian, now present. The Italian girl had -also gone to England. Why? To be with you, of course. You, however, see -nothing of her. Therefore, she is unhappy. Why? Because you are about to -be married." - -"But that is only supposition," said Godfrey. "As a matter of fact, she -herself was already married." - -"To whom? Why not to yourself?" - -"Good Heavens, man," said Godfrey, starting from his seat, "you don't -surely mean to say that you believe I had married her?" - -"I believe nothing," he replied, still with the same coolness. "But you -will find that the counsel for the prosecution will consider it more -than likely. Let me continue my story. I was saying that she was unhappy -because you were about to be married. It is only natural. Then you came -up to town, visited the theatre, and afterward, quite by chance, met her -in the Strand, at midnight. At midnight, and by chance, mark that! Does -that meeting look like an accidental one? Could you convince a jury that -it was? I doubt it. However, let us proceed. The girl is in trouble, and -you take her home in a hansom. The policeman and the cabman will -certainly identify you, and, for the reason that you say the street was -empty when you bade her good-bye, no one will be able to swear that you -did not go into the house with her. Now, Mr. Henderson, I ask you to -look these facts in the face, and tell me, as a thinking man, whether -you consider the public is to be blamed if it regards you with -suspicion?" - -"As you put it, no," said Godfrey. "But it can surely be proved that I -had nothing whatsoever to do with it, beyond what I have said." - -"Exactly; and that is what we have got to do. But I don't mind telling -you candidly that I fancy we shall have our work cut out to do it. You -see, we have to remember that, beyond your own evidence, there is -absolutely nothing for us to argue upon. The two strongest points in -your favour are the facts that you were at Detwich when the box -containing the dead woman's hands was sent off at Euston, and that there -would not be sufficient time between the moment when the policeman saw -you in Burford Street and the time when you arrived at your hotel, for -you to have committed the crime. What we have to do is to find the -person who despatched the box from London, and to make sure of the hall -porter. In the meantime go back to Detwich, and be sure that you don't -stir from home until you hear from me." - -"One more question, Mr. Codey. I should like you, before we go any -further, to tell me honestly whether, in your own heart, you believe me -to be innocent or guilty?" - -"I believe you to be innocent," said the lawyer; "and you may be sure I -shall try to prove it." - - - - -CHAPTER X - - -A more miserable home-coming than Godfrey's, after the events described -in the previous chapter, could scarcely be imagined. They had taken a -cab from the lawyer's office to Euston Station, and during the drive, -neither of them referred in any way to the interview they had just had -with Codey. It was not until they were seated in the railway carriage, -and the train had started upon its journey, that they broke their -silence. - -"Sir Vivian," said Godfrey, "I can not express to you my thanks for the -kindness which you showed me in standing by me to-day. Believe me, I am -very sensible of it." - -"You must not speak of it;" said the worthy old gentleman; "and as for -the affair itself, it is a piece of ill-luck that might have happened to -the best of us. At the same time, I should very much like to have an -opportunity of telling that wretched Fensden what I think of him." - -"Do not let us talk of him," said Godfrey. "His own feelings must be -sufficient punishment for him. There is one thing, however, that I must -say to you before we go any further." - -"And what is that?" - -"It concerns my wedding," Godfrey replied. "I am afraid it will be a -terrible blow to poor Molly; but until this charge, which I have no -doubt will be brought against me, is disproved, she must not think any -more of me." - -Sir Vivian stared at him in astonishment. - -"Nonsense, my dear lad," said he. "I know that you love my girl, and -that she loves you. It is her duty, therefore, to stand by you and to -comfort you when you are in trouble. Believe me, she will have no doubt -as to your innocence." - -"I know that," said Godfrey; "but I do not think it would be fair for me -to allow her name to be linked with mine under such painful -circumstances." - -"It will be linked with it whether you like it or not," was the reply. -"If I am prepared to stake my honour on your innocence, you may be very -sure that she will stake hers. Molly isn't a fair-weather friend." - -"She is the truest and best girl in the world," said Godfrey. "No one -knows that better than I." - -"Then wait until you have seen her and talked it over with her alone. -Put the question to her, and see what she will say. I know her well -enough to guess what her answer will be." - -"God bless you for your trust in me!" said Godfrey, in a shaky voice. "I -fear I have done very little to deserve it." - -"It is sufficient that I know you for what you are," the other answered. -"I knew your uncle and grandfather before him, and I am as certain that -you would not do anything dishonourable as I am of my own name. What we -have to do is to put our wits to work and to endeavour to find out, as -Codey says, the sender of the box. Then I believe we shall be on the -track of the real criminal. It was a very good suggestion on Mr. -Bensleigh's part that we should employ that man; we could not have had a -better. I never saw such eyes in my life. He seems to look one through -and through. I pity Mr. Fensden when he comes to be cross-examined by -him." - -The old gentleman chuckled over the thought and then lapsed into -silence. - -When they reached Detwich, they became aware that Griffin had travelled -from London by the same train. Godfrey beckoned to him. - -"Of course you heard the evidence to-day, Griffin," Godfrey began when -the other approached. - -"Yes, sir, I did," said the police official, gravely. - -"And you must have drawn your own conclusions from it?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Well, Griffin, what I wanted to say to you is that, if I am wanted for -anything, I shall not leave the Hall until Wednesday morning; then I -shall go up to the inquiry again." - -"I will bear the fact in mind, sir," said the man. "But there's one -thing I should like to say, if you don't mind." - -"What is it? Say it by all means." - -"It's this, sir. Whether it's going against my duty or not--and there's -nobody here to hear it if it is--whatever verdict they may bring in, I -don't believe for a moment that you had any more to do with that poor -girl's death than I had. You will excuse my saying so, I hope, sir?" - -"On the contrary, I am very much obliged to you for your good opinion," -Godfrey replied, holding out his hand which the other took. "I am afraid -that it's going to be a very unpleasant business for me. That can't be -helped, however. Good-night." - -"Good-night, sir," the man answered. - -Then Godfrey joined Sir Vivian and, as had been arranged, they drove off -to the Hall together. The moon was rising above the hill as they went -through the park, and as Godfrey looked on the peaceful scene around him -and thought of the terrible suspicion that was growing in people's minds -concerning himself his heart sank within him. If only little Teresina -could speak, how easily she could clear up all the dark charges against -him! She was dead, however, brutally murdered, and he, the only man who -had ever befriended her, was suspected of having caused her death. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my lad," said Sir Vivian, as they alighted from -the carriage and ascended the steps. "Think of the ladies, and don't -make them any more unhappy than you can help." - -The door was opened by the ancient butler who had served his uncle -before him, and Godfrey entered his home, but how different a man from -the young fellow who had left it that morning! - -"The ladies are in the drawing-room, sir," said the servant, when he had -relieved them of their hats and coats. - -They accordingly proceeded thither, one of them at least with a sinking -heart. - -"We have just been wondering when we should see you," said Kitty. - -There was a look of anxiety on Molly's face as she came forward to meet -her lover. She placed her hand in his, and they sat down together. - -"Well, my dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, "what have you to tell us? -What was the result?" - -There was no need for her to say to what she referred. Their minds had -been too much occupied with it that day to leave room for any -uncertainty upon the point. - -"Nothing is decided yet," said Sir Vivian, who took upon himself the -part of spokesman. "The inquiry is adjourned until Wednesday." - -"That means that you will have to go up again," said Molly. "Why -couldn't they settle it at once?" - -Godfrey knew, but he dared not tell her the reason. - -"They are searching for more evidence, I fancy," said Sir Vivian. "You -must remember that the matter is, at present, shrouded in the greatest -mystery. Until that can be cleared up, nothing can be done." - -"And Mr. Fensden, where did you leave him?" asked Mrs. Henderson. - -"We parted outside the Court," said Godfrey. "I have no idea where he is -staying to-night." - -Though he tried to speak unconcernedly, Molly felt certain in her own -mind that there had been trouble between the two men. She said nothing -to him about it, however. She knew that he would tell her in good time. - -That night, when Sir Vivian's carriage was announced, Godfrey -accompanied him to the front door. Before leaving, the old gentleman -took him on one side out of earshot of the servants. - -"Keep up your spirits, my dear lad," he said, as he had done so many -times before. "Remember that you have many friends and that I am not the -least of them. Should anything occur, send for me at once, and I will be -with you as fast as horses can bring me. In the meantime do not alarm -the ladies more than you can help." - -"You may rely upon my not doing so," said Godfrey, and then Sir Vivian -entered his carriage and drove away. - -Later, when Godfrey bade Molly good-night, she looked up at him with -sorrowful eyes. - -"I feel sure," she said, "that there is something you are keeping back -from me. I beg of you not to do so. You know how I love you, and how -earnest is my desire to share both your joys and your sorrows with you. -Will you not confide in me and tell me everything?" - -"When there is anything worth the hearing, you may be sure I will tell -you, dear," he answered, not daring to let her know the truth that -night. "In the morning we will talk the whole matter over and you shall -give me your advice. And now you must go to bed and try to obtain a good -night's rest, for I am sure you did not sleep well last night." - -"I did not," she answered. "I was thinking of you all night, for I knew -how you were dreading going up to-day." - -He did not tell her that he dreaded going up on Wednesday a great deal -more. He preferred to take her in his arms and kiss her, calling her his -good angel, swearing that he would love her all his life long, and that -even death itself should not separate them. Then he went to his room, -prepared to spend what he knew would be a sleepless night, and he was -not destined to be wrong. Hour after hour he tumbled and tossed upon his -bed, going over the day's proceedings again and again, and speculating -with never-ceasing anxiety as to what was to happen in the future. At -last, unable to bear it any longer, he rose from his bed and went -downstairs to his studio, where he lighted his fire and smoked and read -until daylight. Then a cold bath somewhat refreshed him, and, as soon as -he had dressed, he set off across the park to the home farm. He was -always an early riser, and his presence there at that hour excited no -comment. He watched the sleek, soft-eyed cows being milked, saw the -handsome cart-horses, of which he had once been so proud, set off upon -their day's work, had a quarter of an hour's conversation with his -head-keeper at his cottage gate, and then returned home through the -plantations to breakfast. It was his mother's habit to read prayers to -the household immediately before the meal, and, as he knelt by Molly's -side, and listened to the old familiar words, his heart ached when he -thought of the misery that any moment might bring upon them. - -As the first train from London did not arrive until somewhat late, the -morning papers were delivered with the letters, which usually reached -the Hall about half-past nine. When they arrived Godfrey selected one, -and took it with him to his studio. With a feeling that he had never -before experienced when opening a paper, he turned the crisp pages in -search of the column which he knew he would find. Then he saw in large -type: - - THE BURFORD STREET MURDER - - * * * * * - - EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE - - * * * * * - -There was no need for him to wonder what that evidence was: he knew -before he began to read. The prominence given by the paper to the case -was a proof of the excitement the inquiry had aroused in the public -mind. At last he forced himself to read. Every word rose before his eyes -as vividly as though it had been traced in letters of fire. Set down in -cold print, the affair presented a very sinister aspect, so far as he -was concerned. Every portion of the evidence seemed to point to himself -as being the man who had committed the dastardly deed. He could well -imagine what the feeling of independent persons would be who read it, -and how readily they would arrive at a conclusion unfavourable to -himself. He had just perused it for the second time, when he was -startled by a faint tap upon the door. - -"Come in," he cried, and in response Molly entered the room. - -"I have been looking for you," she said, with the parody of a smile upon -her face. - -"I should have come in search of you in a few moments," he replied. "The -fact is, I have had certain things to do which could not very well be -left undone. Will you forgive me, dear?" - -"Of course I will," she answered. "It is impossible for you to be always -with me, and yet I am selfish enough to grudge you the time you spend -upon anything else." - -He was quick-witted enough to see that what she said was only an attempt -to gain time. She, on her side, knew that he stood in need of comfort, -and she had come to give it to him. - -"Molly," he said, rising from the chair in which he had been sitting and -going toward her, "I feel that I must tell you everything. God knows, -this is the crisis of my life, and to whom should I turn in my sorrow, -if not to the woman I love, and whom I know loves me? Have you read the -account of the inquest in the papers?" - -"No," she answered, "I would not read it, lest I should derive a false -impression from it. I am quite willing to hear what you have to say -about it, and to accept your version as the truth." - -"God bless you, dear, for your trust in me!" he replied; "but it is -necessary that you should hear what other people have to say upon the -matter. Read it carefully, and, when you have finished, tell me what you -think about it." - -He gave her the paper, and for a moment she stood as if undecided. - -"Do you really wish it?" she asked. - -"It is better that you should do so, believe me," he said. "In that -case, no one can say that I kept anything back from you." - -"I will read it," she said, and went toward the window-seat to do so. - -While she was reading, he stood before the fire and watched her. He -noticed the poise of the beautiful head, the sweet hands holding the -paper, on one finger of which sparkled the engagement ring he had given -her, and the tiny foot just peeping from beneath the dark green skirt. -She was a woman worth fighting all the world for, and, as he reflected -how easy it would be for false evidence to separate them, he experienced -a fear such as he had never known in his life before. - -When she had finished, she crossed the room with the paper in her hand. -Deliberately folding it up and laying it upon the table, she went to -him, and placed her hands in his. Looking up into his face with trustful -eyes, she said: - -"I told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I believed in you. I tell you -again, that, whatever the world may say with regard to this dreadful -affair, it will make no difference in my love. I feel as convinced as I -am of anything that, by whatever means, or at whose hand, that poor girl -met her death, you were in no sort of way responsible for, or connected -with it. You believe me, don't you?" - -"I do," he answered, with tears in his eyes. "And I thank God for your -trust. Do you know, yesterday I suggested to your father that, situated -as we are, it would be better if I were to give you back your freedom -until my innocence is proved?" - -"I would not take it," she answered, firmly. "When I gave myself to you, -it was not to be your bride in fair weather alone; it was to be your -partner in the rough seas of life as well as in the smooth. No, come -what may, Godfrey, I will not let you give me up. Promise me that you -will never mention such a thing again? It hurts me even to think of it." - -"Your mind is made up?" - -"Quite made up," she answered. "I should not change, even if you were -what--(here she shuddered)--what that paper would seem to suggest. No, -darling, I am your wife, if not in the law, at least in God's sight." - -"I thank you," he answered, earnestly. "The knowledge that you still -trust me will be my most precious consolation." - -"And now tell me of this Mr. Codey, the lawyer you have employed. Is he -a clever man?" - -"One of the cleverest in the land, I should say," Godfrey replied. "He -has had great experience in these sort of cases, and, if any man can -render me assistance, I should say he is that one." - -"Oh, how thankful I shall be," she said, "when everything is settled! -How little we dreamt, when we were so happy together last week, that -within a few days we should be made so miserable! Perhaps, after all, it -is only our love being tried in the crucible of trouble. And when it is -over, and we have come out of it, we shall know each other's real worth. -That is the best way to look at it, I think." - -"Quite the best," he answered, and kissed her on the forehead. - -Then, adopting a brighter tone, he suggested that they should go for a -walk together, in order, if possible, to dispel, for the time being at -least, the dark clouds that had settled upon them. It was a clear, -bright morning, and as they crossed the park, and mounted the hillside -toward the plantation, where the rabbits were playing, and the -pheasants, who of late had not received the attention their merits -deserved, were strutting about on the open grass land, Godfrey found it -difficult to believe that the situation was really as desperate as he -imagined. Their walk lasted for upward of two hours; indeed, it was -nearly lunch-time before they reached the house once more. When they -did, Molly went upstairs to her room to prepare herself for luncheon, -while Godfrey made his way to his mother's sitting room, where he found -the old lady quietly knitting by the fire. - -"Thank goodness you have come in at last, dear!" said Mrs. Henderson. "I -have been wanting so much to have a talk with you! Godfrey, I have read -the evidence given at the inquest, and it frightens me." - -"I am sorry for that, mother," he said, seating himself by her side. -"What do you think of it?" - -She placed her hand upon his arm, and looked at him with her loving -eyes. - -"I think my boy is too noble to have done anything of which his mother -would have had reason to be ashamed." - -Godfrey rose from his chair and walked to the window. These constant -proofs of the love in which he was held was unmanning him. He could not -trust himself to speak. When his own little world believed in him so -implicitly, how could the greater world be so censorious? - -When they went into luncheon, Godfrey soon saw that the ancient butler -and his subordinate had become aware of the state of affairs. Attentive -to his wants as they always were, on this particular occasion, they -were even more so than usual. It was as if they were endeavouring in -their own kindly way to show that they too believed in him, and were -desirous of proving their sympathy with him. Never before had his own -home struck him in the same light. His heart was too full for speech, -and, in spite of his sister's well-meant attempt to promote -conversation, the meal passed almost in silence. - -After luncheon the bailiff sent in word that he should like to speak to -him. The man was accordingly admitted to the smoking-room, where he -discussed various matters connected with the estate with his master for -upward of an hour. Labouring as he was, under the weight of greater -emotions, Godfrey found it difficult to pin his attention to the matters -at issue, and when the other went his way, after respectfully touching -his forelock, for the first time since he had known the old fellow, he -heaved a sigh of relief. At half-past four he joined the ladies in the -drawing-room for afternoon tea. To add to his pain, another consignment -of wedding presents had arrived, and in order that he should not be -thought to be unduly nervous about the future, he was compelled to -appear delighted with the attentions he had received from his friends. - -"That makes the fifth pair of asparagus tongs we have received," said -Molly, as she closed the case and placed it with its fellows upon the -table. "And what is this? Well, I declare, it's another set of sweet -dishes. That brings the number up to twenty-seven!" - -At that moment the sound of carriage wheels outside reached them, -followed, a few seconds later, by the ringing of the front door-bell. - -"Visitors, I suppose," said Kitty. "It may be rude, but I must say that -I trust it is not the vicar." - -They waited in suspense until Williamson, the butler, entered the room -and informed Godfrey that a gentleman had called to see him, and was -waiting in the library. - -"Who is it?" Godfrey asked. "Did he not give his name?" - -"His name is Tompkins, sir," the butler replied. "He said he should be -glad if you could spare the time to see him for a few moments." - -"I will do so at once," said Godfrey, and, asking the ladies to excuse -him, left the room. - -On entering the library, he found himself face to face with a -middle-aged individual, who at first glance resembled a sporting parson. -He was dressed in black, and carried a black silk hat in his hand. - -"What can I do for you?" Godfrey inquired. "I am not aware that I have -ever seen you before." - -"Very likely not, sir," the man replied. "My name is Tompkins, and I am -a Scotland Yard detective. I hold a warrant for your arrest on a charge -of wilfully murdering Teresina Cardi in Burford Street on the night of -Thursday last. I had better tell you that anything you may say will be -used against you." - -The blow had fallen at last! - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - -For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from -town to arrest him, as if he were stunned. Though he had half expected -it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate -his position. At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession. - -"You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me," -he said to the detective. "But I have no wish to complain to you; you -are only doing your duty. Where is it you desire to take me?" - -"We must go up to town to-night," said the man, civilly enough. "As you -may remember, sir, the adjourned inquest is to be held to-morrow -morning, and it will be necessary for you to be present." - -"In that case we had better catch the 6.10 train from Detwich. It is an -express and gets to Euston at eight. Is your cab waiting, or shall I -order one of my own carriages to take us?" - -"I told the man to wait," the other replied. "He is a station cabman." - -"In that case, if you will allow me, I will tell my servant to put up a -few things for me. I suppose I shall be allowed to take them?" - -"There is no objection to it." - -Godfrey rang the bell, and, when the butler appeared in answer to it, -bade him tell his man that he intended going up to London at once, and -that he wanted his bag prepared without a moment's delay. Then, with a -fine touch of sarcasm, he added: "Tell him also that I shall not require -my dress clothes." - -The detective smiled grimly. It was a joke he could appreciate; he also -liked the other's pluck in being able to jest at such a time. - -"That's the thing with these swells," he said to himself. "They never -know when they're beaten." - -"In the meantime," said Godfrey, "I suppose you will permit me to say -good-bye to my family? I will give you my word, if you deem it -necessary, that I will make no attempt to escape." - -"I will trust you, sir," said the man. "I know it's hard lines on you, -and I want to make it as pleasant for you as I can, provided, of -course, you don't get me into hot water." - -"I will endeavour not to do that," said Godfrey. "And now I'll go to the -drawing-room. If you think it necessary you can wait in the hall." - -"No, sir, thank you. I am quite comfortable here," said the man; "but I -shouldn't make the interview longer than I could help if I were you. -These things are always a bit trying for the ladies. I know it, because -I've seen it so often." - -Having ordered a glass of brandy and water for him, the man's favourite -tipple, and handing him an illustrated paper, Godfrey left him and -returned to the drawing-room. He had an agonizing part to play, and he -wanted to spare his women folk as much pain as possible. As he entered -the room they looked up at him with startled faces. - -"What is it, Godfrey? What is it?" asked his mother, while the two girls -waited for him to speak. - -"It is a man from London who has come down to see me with regard to the -murder," Godfrey began, scarcely knowing how to break the news to them. -"It appears that the authorities are desirous of seeing me prior to the -inquest to-morrow, and so I am going up to-night." - -"Godfrey," cried his mother, springing to her feet and running toward -him, "I see it all. They have arrested you on a charge of murder! Oh, my -boy, my boy, I can not let you go! They shall not take you away." - -"It is only a matter of form, mother," he said, soothingly. "On the face -of yesterday's evidence, they could do nothing else. All well, I shall -be down again to-morrow. It is only a little temporary inconvenience; -for my lawyer, who is one of the cleverest men of his profession, feels -certain that he can disprove the charge." - -"It is monstrous even to suspect you of it," said Kitty. "If they only -knew you, they would not dare even to hint at such a thing." - -Molly said nothing. But he knew what her thoughts were. - -"I must send a note to your father, dear," he said. "He anticipated this -and made me promise to communicate with him directly it should come to -pass." - -He thereupon went to a writing-table in the corner of the room and wrote -a hurried note to Sir Vivian, after which he rang the bell and gave -orders that it should be taken to the Court without a moment's delay. - -"Now," he said, when he had examined his watch and found that it was -nearly half-past five, "I must bid you good-bye. Do not be anxious about -me. I am proudly conscious of my own innocence, and I feel sure that, by -this time to-morrow, the public will be aware of it also." - -But his mother was not to be comforted. She clung to him with the tears -streaming down her cheeks, as if she could not let him go. - -"Mother dear," said Kitty, "you must be brave. Think of Godfrey, and -don't send him away more unhappy than he is." - -"I will be brave," she said, and drew his face down to hers and kissed -him. "Good-bye, my dear boy. May God in His mercy bless you and send you -safely back to us!" - -When Kitty had kissed him, she drew her mother back into the ingle nook -in order that Godfrey and Molly might say good-bye to each other in -private. - -Then Godfrey took Molly in his arms. - -"Good-bye, my own dearest," she said. "I shall pray for you continually. -Night and day you will be in my thoughts." - -He could not answer her, but kissed her passionately. Then, disengaging -himself from her embrace, he left the room. - -Returning to the library, he informed the detective that he was at his -disposal, at the same time telling him that, if they desired to catch -the 6.10 at Detwich, they had no time to lose. - -"We had better be going, then," said the man, and leaving the library -they proceeded into the hall. Godfrey's bag had already been placed in -the cab, and the gray-haired old butler, Williamson, was standing at the -foot of the stairs holding the door open. - -"Good-bye, Williamson," said Godfrey. "I know that I can safely leave -everything in your hands." - -"You can, sir," the man replied, simply; and then for the first time in -his life he allowed himself to become familiar with his master, and -laying his hand on his arm he added, "May God bless you, sir, and send -you back to us soon!" - -Then the cab rolled away down the drive, and Godfrey's journey to prison -had commenced. - -For the greater part of the drive into Detwich neither of them spoke. -One had too much upon his mind to be in the humour for conversation, -while the other, who was sorry for his prisoner, and who knew a -gentleman when he saw one, had no desire to thrust himself upon him in -his trouble. As it happened when they reached the station they found -that they had some minutes to spare. They accordingly strolled up and -down the platform, while they awaited the coming of the express. On its -arrival they secured an empty compartment, and settled down for the -journey to London. When Euston was reached they took a cab and drove -direct to Bow Street, where Godfrey Henderson, of Detwich Hall, Detwich, -was formally charged with the wilful murder of Teresina Cardi, artist's -model. The usual forms having been complied with, he was placed in a -somewhat superior apartment in another portion of the building. Then the -key was turned upon him, and for the first time in his life was a -prisoner. - -Early next morning it was announced that two gentlemen had arrived to -see him. They proved to be Sir Vivian Devereux and Mr. Codey, the -lawyer. - -"My dear lad, this is indeed a sad business," said Sir Vivian, as they -shook hands. "I can not tell you how sorry I am for you. But, thank -God, we know you to be innocent and are determined to prove it." - -They sat down, and the lawyer, who had been looking round the room, -which doubtless he had seen on many previous occasions, began to ply him -with questions, which Godfrey answered to the best of his ability. When -they had withdrawn, he was left to himself until the time arrived for -him to set off for the coroner's court. When he did so, it was in a cab -with a couple of stout policemen beside him to see that he made no -attempt to escape. On reaching it, he found that it was packed to -overflowing. Victor Fensden was there, seated in the space reserved for -the witnesses, but Sir Vivian noticed that he avoided meeting Godfrey's -eyes. With one exception, the proceedings proved comparatively tame. It -was only when the hall porter referred to Godfrey's haggard appearance -when he returned to the hotel on the Thursday night, that there was -anything approaching excitement. He deposed that Mr. Henderson, who had -been staying at the hotel, and whom he now recognised as being in Court, -returned to the hotel on the night of the murder between a quarter-past -and half-past twelve. He, the porter, was immediately struck by his -strange appearance. In reply to a question put by a juror, he replied -that he looked very much as if he had been upset by something; his face -was deadly white, and he had an anxious, what he should call frightened, -look in his eyes. At the other's request, he had procured him some -brandy, and, as he had had some trouble next morning with the head -waiter about it, the fact was the more vividly impressed upon his -memory. The cabman who had driven them from the Strand to Burford Street -was next called. In answer to questions put to him, he stated that, when -he was hailed by the person now in court, the deceased woman seemed very -reluctant to enter the cab. But the other had at last prevailed upon her -to do so, and he had driven them to the house in the street in question. -He had identified the body, and could swear as to the identity of the -person in court. The police-constable, who had passed a few minutes -before he bade Teresina good-night, was next examined. He remembered -seeing them together, and thought it a strange place for a gentleman to -be in at such a time. His attention was drawn to them because the girl -was crying, while the gentleman seemed somewhat excited. Feeling that, -as he was not appealed to, he had no right to interfere, he passed on -down the street. In answer to the coroner's inquiry, he was unable to -say whether or not the man entered the house. - -Ten minutes later a verdict of wilful murder against Godfrey Henderson -was returned, and he was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant. - -Instead of returning to Bow Street from the coroner's court, Godfrey was -now driven to Holloway Prison, where he was placed in an ordinary cell. -His spirits by this time had fallen to as low an ebb as it would be -possible for those of a human being to reach. What had he done to -deserve this cruel fate? He was not conscious of ever having done any -one an injury; he had always done his best to help his fellow-men. Why, -therefore, was he brought so low? He thought of Molly, and pictured her -feelings when she should hear that he was committed for trial. He could -imagine his mother's despair and could almost hear poor, sorrowing Kitty -vainly endeavouring to comfort her. - -During the afternoon Sir Vivian and Mr. Codey came to see him again. The -former was very plainly distressed; the latter, however, regarded -matters in a somewhat more stoical light. He had seen the same things -so many times before, that he had become in a certain measure hardened -to it. In all the cases upon which he had hitherto been engaged, -however, he had never had one in which the prisoner was a country -gentleman, besides being an artist of considerable repute. "You must not -give way, Mr. Henderson," he said, kindly. "There's plenty of time yet -for us to prove your innocence. Doubtless, when this is all over and you -are free once more, you will regard it as a very unpleasant experience, -certainly, but one which might very easily have been worse. Now, with -your permission, I will tell you what I have done. In the first place, -we must endeavour to find the real murderer. Only a trained hand could -do this, so I have engaged a man with whom I have had a great many -dealings in the past. He is a private detective of an unusual kind, and -has a knack of securing information which neither the Government men nor -the private agents seem to possess. He will be expensive, but I suppose -you will have no objection to paying him well for his services, if he is -successful, as I trust he will be." - -"You may be quite sure I shall have no objection," said Godfrey. "Let -him get me out of this scrape, and I'll pay him double, even treble, -his usual charges." - -"Oh, he won't bleed you as much as that," returned the lawyer. "He is -below now, and if you care to see him, I will obtain permission for him -to come up." - -The necessary authority being forthcoming, Codey presently returned, -accompanied by a burly, rosy-cheeked individual, who might very well -have been the landlord of a well-to-do country inn or a farmer in a -prosperous way of business. A more jovial countenance could scarcely -have been discovered, had one searched England through for it. Merely to -look at it was to be made to feel happy, while to hear his laugh was to -be put in a good humour for the remainder of the day. He was dressed in -a suit of tweeds, more than a trifle pronounced as to colour, a knitted -blue waistcoat covered his portly, bow-windowed presence, while he wore -a spotted blue and white tie, decorated with a large diamond pin. His -feet and hands were enormous, and when he laughed--which he did on every -available opportunity--his whole figure seemed to quiver like a blanc -mange. - -"This is Jacob Burrell, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, when the door -had closed on them. "I have told him that you wish him to take up your -case, and he is prepared to do so without delay." - -"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Burrell," said Godfrey. "Mr. Codey -has told me of your cleverness. If you can discover who it was who -actually murdered the poor girl, you will not only relieve me from a -position of considerable danger, but you will lay me under an -everlasting obligation to yourself." - -"I'll do the best I can, sir," said the man, jovially, rubbing his hands -together, as if he regarded the whole affair as a huge joke. "As Mr. -Codey may have told you, I have unravelled pretty tangled skeins in my -day, and it won't be my fault if I don't do the same here. Now, sir, Mr. -Codey, who knows my ways of work, has given me an outline of the case, -but if you don't mind, I should like to put a few questions to you on my -own account." - -"Ask me whatever you please," said Godfrey, "and I will answer to the -best of my ability." - -Burrell seated himself opposite Godfrey, placed one enormous hand on -either knee, and looked the other full in the face. - -"Now, sir, in the first place, when you had your old studio in London, -before you inherited your present estate, and when you first engaged the -girl, can you remember who were your intimate friends? I mean, the -friends who were in the habit of dropping into your studio pretty -frequently, to smoke their pipes, and perhaps to take a friendly glass?" - -Godfrey considered for a moment. - -"I had not very many friends in those days," he answered at last. "I was -a hard worker, and for that reason didn't encourage men to waste my -time. Besides, I was only a struggling artist, and couldn't afford to -entertain very much." - -"But there must have been some men who came in. Think, sir, and try to -recollect. It's an important point." - -"Well, of course, there was my friend, Mr. Fensden, who practically -lived with me. He used my studio whenever he had anything to do." - -"He is the gentleman who gave the damaging evidence against you on -Monday, is he not?" - -"He is! Then there was a Mr. Bourke, a leader writer on the Daily -Record." - -"I know Mr. Bourke," said the detective. "We may dismiss him from the -case at once." - -"Then there was an artist named Halliday, who occasionally dropped in, -but he is now in Dresden." - -"When did he go?" - -"Nearly two months before I went abroad myself," Godfrey answered. "I -think I have given you the list of my friends. I can remember no more." - -"Now, sir, that box, in which the hands were sent, had you ever seen it -before?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "I am quite certain I had not." - -"When you came home from Egypt, did you make any purchases in Naples?" - -"None at all. I was only there one night." - -"Now, sir, I am given to understand that your friend, Mr. Fensden, -induced you to go abroad for the reason that he feared you were falling -in love with your model. On what sort of terms was Mr. Fensden himself -with the girl in question?" - -"On very friendly terms," said Godfrey. - -"Was he in love with her, do you think?" - -"I am certain he was not," Godfrey replied, shaking his head. "I do not -think he would ever be in love with anybody." - -"And you are quite sure that he saw nothing of the girl from the day he -bade her good-bye in your studio, until Monday, when he inspected her -dead body in the mortuary?" - -"I am sure of it," Godfrey answered. - -"And when did he return to England, for I understand he has been abroad -until lately?" - -"On Thursday morning. I met him at the Mahl Stick Club an hour or two -after his return from Paris." - -"Now, sir, one other question, and the last. The girl, I understand, -told you that she was married, and refused to say to whom. I have had an -opportunity of examining the wedding-ring from her finger. Somewhat to -my surprise, I found that it was of Austrian make. Now, how does it come -about that a girl living in Naples should be married with an Austrian -wedding-ring? It was, moreover, an expensive one. What I want to know -is, was the young woman ever in Vienna?" - -"Never, to the best of my belief," said Godfrey. "At any rate she never -told me so." - -"Now, sir, there's one point I want to clear up, and when I have done -that, I sha'n't be at all certain that I haven't got the key to the -whole mystery. Is it only a singular coincidence, do you think, that -Teresina Cardi, your old model, wore a wedding-ring of Austrian make, -and that the box in which her hands were sent to you the other day -should bear the label of a well-known Vienna firm?" - -He chuckled and rubbed his hands together, as he put this question to -Godfrey. - -"It certainly seems singular," said the latter; "but why should not the -ring have been purchased in Naples, even if it were of Austrian make?" - -"There is not the least reason why it should not, but the coincidence is -worth remarking. Now, sir, I shall leave you to think over what I have -said. I shall telegraph to Naples and Vienna, and meanwhile endeavour to -find out who it was handed the box in at Euston. Allow me to wish you -good-day, gentlemen." - -They returned his salutations, after which he went away, leaving one -little ray of hope behind him. - -"A most remarkable man that!" said Codey, appreciatively, when the door -was once more closed. "He will follow the trail now like a sleuth-hound. -In the meantime, Mr. Henderson, I can not promise you anything very -hopeful for to-morrow. I shall apply to the magistrate for a remand in -order to give Burrell more time to look about him. I shall keep in touch -with him, you may be sure. I have retained Alfred Rolland as counsel for -you. He and I have often worked together, and I don't think you could -have a better man." - -"I place myself in your hands unreservedly," said Godfrey. "Do whatever -you think best, and spare no expense. I have others besides myself to -think of in this matter." - -"You have indeed, poor souls!" said Sir Vivian. "I shall go down -to-night, and try to reassure them, and come up again first thing in the -morning." - -When they left him, half-an-hour later, Godfrey sat himself down on his -bed and resigned himself to his own miserable thoughts. What enemy had -he who hailed from Vienna? He could think of no one among the circle of -his acquaintances who had ever been there. Certainly no one who would be -likely to do him such an irreparable wrong. After that he thought of his -dear ones at home, and broke down completely. His supper was sent away -untouched. He felt as though he could not have swallowed a mouthful, -even had his life depended on it. At last he retired to bed, but not to -rest. When he rose next morning, he felt older by a dozen years. - -"This will never do," he said to himself. "If I go on like this, people -will begin to think from my appearance that I am guilty. No, they shall -see that I am not afraid to look any man in the face." - -Then the door was unlocked, and he was informed that it was time to set -off for the magistrate's court. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - -The preliminary investigation before the magistrate calls for but little -comment. The evidence was, with but few exceptions, that which had been -given before the coroner on the Monday and Wednesday preceding. If it -were remarkable for anything it was for the number of spectators in the -Court. The building, in which the coroner's inquiry had been conducted, -had been crowded, but the police-court was packed, not with the -poorly-clad spectators which one usually meets and associates with that -miserable place, but by well-dressed and even aristocratic members of -society. When Godfrey recovered from his first feeling of shame at -finding himself in such a place and in such a position, and looked about -him, he recognised several people whom he had once accounted his -friends, but who had now schemed and contrived by every means in their -power, to obtain permission to watch, what they thought would amount to -his degradation and final extinction. Pulling himself together he gazed -boldly around him, and more than one person there told himself or -herself that a man who could look at one like that could never be guilty -of such a crime as murder. Mr. Rolland, the counsel who had been -retained by Codey for the defence, was a tall, handsome man, and of -others, little above middle-age. He was the possessor of a bland, suave -manner which had the faculty of extracting information from the most -unwilling and reluctant witnesses. Near him sat Mr. Codey himself, -keen-eyed and on the alert for anything that might tend to his client's -advantage. The curiosity of the visitors was not destined, however, to -be gratified, for, when certain of the witnesses had been examined, the -case was adjourned for a week, and Godfrey returned to Holloway by the -way he had come. - -How the next seven days passed Godfrey declares he is unable to tell, -but at last that weary week came to an end, and once more he stood in -the crowded Court. At first glance it looked, if such a thing were -possible, as if more people had been squeezed into the building than on -the previous occasion. The fashionable world was as well represented as -before, while this time there were even more ladies present than had -hitherto been the case. The cabman who had driven the pair to Burford -Street was examined and repeated his former evidence. He was subjected -to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Rolland, but his testimony remained -unshaken. The police-constable, who had seen them together outside the -house, also repeated his tale. He was quite certain, he assured the -Court, that the woman in question was crying as he passed them. At the -same time he was not sure whether or not the prisoner was speaking -angrily to her. When he left the witness-box Victor Fensden took his -place. He described the life in the studio before Godfrey left England, -and repeated the story of the attempt he had made to induce him to break -off his relations with the girl. When the prosecution had done with him -Mr. Rolland took him in hand and inquired what reason he had for -supposing that his client had ever felt any affection for the deceased -woman. - -"Because he himself told me so," Fensden returned unblushingly. "I -pointed out to him the absurdity of such a thing, and was at last -successful in inducing him to accompany me abroad." - -"You parted where?" - -"In Port Said. I went on to Palestine, while he returned to Naples." - -"_En route_ to England?" - -"I believe so." - -"On what day did you yourself reach London?" - -"On the day of the murder." - -"When did you next see the prisoner?" - -"He lunched with me at the Mahl Stick Club on the same day." - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland, somewhat to the surprise of the Court. -"I have no further questions to ask you." - -It was at this point that the great sensation of the day occurred. When -Fensden had taken his place once more, Detective-sergeant Gunson was -called, and a tall, handsome man, with a short, brown beard entered the -box. He stated that his name was Gunson, and that he was a member of the -Scotland Yard detective force. Two days previous, accompanied by -Detective-sergeant McVickers, he had paid a visit to the prisoner's -residence, Detwich Hall, in the county of Midlandshire. They had made a -systematic search of the building, with the result that, hidden away -behind a bookcase in the studio, they had discovered a long knife of -Oriental workmanship and design. The blade was of razor-like sharpness, -and was covered with certain dark stains. He found nothing else of an -incriminating nature. Detective-sergeant McVickers was next called, who -corroborated his companion's evidence. - -Dr. Bensford, an analytical chemist and lecturer at the Waterloo -Hospital, stated that he was instructed by the Home Secretary to make an -examination of the marks upon the knife in question, now produced, and -had arrived at the conclusion that they were the stains of human blood. -(Great sensation in Court.) - -So overwhelming was the shock to Godfrey, that for a moment he neither -heard nor saw anything. A ghastly faintness was stealing over him and -the Court swam before his eyes. With a mighty effort, however, he pulled -himself together and once more faced the Court. He looked at Sir Vivian -and saw that the baronet's face had suddenly become very pale. - -"Good Heavens!" he thought to himself, "will he suspect me also?" - -The analyst having left the box, Victor Fensden was recalled, and the -knife handed to him. He took it in his daintily gloved hand and -examined it carefully. - -"Have you ever seen that knife before?" asked the prosecution. - -Victor hesitated a moment before he replied. - -"No," he answered, as if with an effort. - -"Think again," said his examiner. "Remember that this is a court of -justice, and it behooves you to speak the truth. Where did you see that -knife before?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Then in a somewhat louder voice he said: - -"In Egypt. In Cairo." - -"To whom does it belong?" - -"To Mr.--I mean to the prisoner. I was with him when he purchased it." - -A greater sensation than ever was produced by this assertion. Godfrey -leaned forward on the rail of the dock and scrutinized the witness -calmly. - -"Your Worship," he said, addressing the magistrate, "with all due -respect I should like to be allowed to say that I have never seen that -knife in my life before." - -The prosecution having finished their case, Mr. Rolland addressed the -Bench. He pointed out how entirely improbable it was that a gentleman -of Mr. Henderson's character and position would commit a murder of such -a cowardly nature. He commented on the fact that it would have been -impossible, had he even desired to do such a thing, for him to have -committed the crime and have walked from Burford Street to his hotel in -Piccadilly in the time counted from the moment he was seen by the police -officer to the time of his arrival at his hotel. Moreover, he asked the -magistrate to consider the question as to whether a man who had -committed such a dastardly deed would have been likely to send the -mutilated remains to himself as a wedding present. It was useless for -him, however, to argue, the magistrate had already made up his mind, and -Godfrey was therefore not surprised when he found himself committed to -stand for his trial at the next Criminal Sessions, to be held in a -month's time. Bowing to the magistrate, he left the dock, entered the -cab that was waiting for him in the yard, and was driven away to -Holloway. - -"It was the finding of that knife that did it," said Mr. Codey -reproachfully, when he next saw him. "Why on earth didn't you tell me -that it was hidden there?" - -"Because I did not know it myself," Godfrey replied. "When I told the -magistrate that I had never seen it before, it was the truth. I did not -buy a knife in Cairo, so how could I have brought one home with me?" - -"But who could have placed it behind the bookcase, if you did not?" -asked the lawyer. - -"That is more than I can say," said Godfrey simply. - -"Look here, Mr. Henderson," said Codey sharply, "I have met a good many -unsuspicious men in my time, but I don't think I have ever met one so -unsuspicious as you are. I have a list of all the people in your house -at the moment when that box arrived. Let us run it over. There was your -mother, your sister, and your _fiance_, Miss Devereux. As our friend -Burrell would say, they may be dismissed from the case without delay. -Your butler and footman are old family servants, as are the housekeeper, -the cook, and the head parlour-maid. They may also be dismissed. The -remainder of the household would be scarcely likely to possess a knife -of that description, so we will dismiss them also. There remains only -yourself and Mr. Fensden. You declare you are innocent, and we will -presume that you are. Now, Mr. Fensden, by his evidence has placed you -where you are. That is certain. You say that he lied as to the fact of -your being in love with the woman who is dead, and also when he said -that you purchased the knife in Cairo. You say that he came to stay with -you on the day that the murder was discovered--why should he not have -placed it behind the bookcase, in order that it should be another -incriminating point against you?" - -"I can not believe that he would do such a thing," said Godfrey. "He -would not be so base." - -"I am not so sure of it," said the astute lawyer. "What is more, I made -a curious discovery to-day. The man in question pretends to be your -friend. He gives his evidence with reluctance. Yet I noticed that when -that knife was produced his face betrayed neither surprise nor emotion. -Had he had your interests at heart, would he have been so callous? -Answer me that! Now you have my reasons for arguing that he knew where -the knife was, and also the man who had placed it there." - -"The suspicions you suggest are too horrible," said Godfrey, rising and -pacing the cell. "What possible reason could he have for doing me such -an injury?" - -"One never knows. There are some men who hate the man who is supposed to -be their best friend, either because he, the friend, has been successful -in money-making, in love, or perhaps he presumes him to be happier than -himself. You are rich; he is poor. You have been successful in your -profession; he has been a failure. His hatred, like hundreds, might have -begun with jealousy and have terminated in this. I have known more -unlikely things." - -"In that case what am I to do?" - -"Leave it to me and to Burrell to arrange. If things were not going -right, my experience teaches me that that astute gentleman would have -shown signs of dissatisfaction before now. He has got his nose on the -trail, you may be sure, and if I know anything about him, he will not -leave it for a moment." - -"But do you think he will be able to prove my innocence?" asked Godfrey. - -"All in good time, my dear sir, all in good time," said the lawyer. -"With me for your lawyer (pardon the boast), Rolland for your counsel, -Dick Horsden and Braithwaite with him, and Burrell for the ferret that -is to make the rabbits bolt, you could not be better served. For my own -part, I wouldn't mind making you a bet--and as a rule I am not a man -who gambles--that the last-named gentleman has already acquired -sufficient information to secure your return to Detwich with an -unblemished character." - -"Then do so by all means," said Godfrey. "I will take it with the -greatest pleasure in the world." - -"Very well then," answered the lawyer. "I'll tell you what we'll do. -I've a junior clerk who has the making of a man in him, but who is in -consumption. The doctors tell me that, unless he is sent for a long sea -voyage to the other side of the world, he will not live a year. I have -promised to send him to the South Seas, and, if you like, this shall be -our bet: If you get off scot-free, you pay all his expenses--something -like five hundred pounds--and also give him five hundred pounds to go on -with. If you don't, then I pay. Will you agree to that?" - -"With all the pleasure in the world," Godfrey replied. - -"Then it's settled. And now I must be going. Good-bye." - -They shook hands, and then the lawyer took his departure, leaving -Godfrey happier than he had been for some time past. - -The month that separated the magistrate's inquiry from the Sessions at -the Old Bailey seemed to Godfrey like an eternity. Day after day crept -slowly by, with but little, if anything, to relieve the monotony. He -took his daily exercise, kept his cell in spotless order, received -visits from the lawyer, who came to report progress, and from Sir -Vivian, who brought messages of hope and encouragement from the folk at -home. - -On one red-letter day he was informed that visitors had arrived to see -him, and he was accordingly conducted to the room where he had on -several occasions interviewed his lawyer. The warder opened the door and -he entered, to be nearly overwhelmed by surprise. Standing by her -father's side, at the farther end of the room, and waiting to receive -him, was no less a person than Molly herself. She ran forward and threw -herself into his arms. - -"Molly, Molly," he faltered, "what does this mean? Why are you here? You -should not distress yourself like this." - -"I could not help it," she answered. "I had to come, I could stay away -from you no longer. You do not know how I have suffered. It seems as if -a lifetime had elapsed since we parted. At last I managed to persuade -papa to bring me up. My poor boy, how ill you look! How you must have -suffered!" - -"Never mind about that, dear," said Godfrey. "If it all comes right in -the end, we can afford to suffer a little. Now tell me of yourself; you -don't know how hungry I am for news." - -"No, don't let us talk of myself," she answered. "I want to talk about -you and your affairs. Do you know that this morning I saw Mr. Codey, -your lawyer, for the first time? He was introduced to me by papa." - -"And what did he say to you?" Godfrey inquired, with natural interest. - -"I am afraid there is not much to tell," said Molly. "When I asked him -if he thought we should be able to prove your innocence, he said, -'That's a thing we shall have to see about; but I don't mind going so -far as to promise you, that, unless there's anything else that I don't -know of, you and Mr. Henderson will eat your Christmas dinner together -next year!' I asked him and implored him to tell me more, but I could -not get anything else out of him." - -Godfrey felt his heart beat more hopefully. It was something, indeed, to -know that Codey took such a bright view of the case. Then Molly went on -to give him the latest news of his mother and sister. The old lady, it -appeared, was suffering a great deal on her dear boy's account; but she -firmly believed that in the end he would be acquitted. - -"It makes me so sad to see her," said Molly. "As you may suppose, I -spend the greater part of my time there now, and I think we help and -comfort each other." - -"God bless you for your goodness to them, dear!" replied Godfrey. "I -know what it must mean to them to have you with them." - -"And now, Molly," said Sir Vivian, rising from his chair, "I am afraid -we must go. We were only allowed a short time with you, and we must not -exceed it. Good-bye, my boy, and may God bless you! Don't be -down-hearted; we'll prove your innocence yet." - -"You still believe in me, Sir Vivian?" he asked. - -"As firmly as ever," the other answered. "I should not be here if I did -not. And now, Molly, you must come along." - -Godfrey kissed his sweetheart, and wished her good-bye. When she had -left the room, all the sunshine seemed to have gone out of it, and with -a heavy heart he went back to the gloom of his prison life again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - -Jacob Burrell sat in his comfortable armchair and took counsel with -himself. He was a bachelor, and like many other bachelors was wedded to -a hobby, which in some respects was more to him than any wife could -possibly have been. In other words he was an enthusiastic philatelist, -and his collection of the world's stamps was the envy of every -enthusiast who came in contact with them. For Jacob Burrell they -possessed another interest that was quite apart from their mere -intrinsic value. A very large number of the stamps so carefully pasted -in the book had been collected, or had come into his possession, in the -performance of his professional duties. A very rare 1-1/4 schilling blue -Hamburg was picked up by the merest chance on the same day that he ran a -notorious bank swindler to earth in Berlin; while a certain blue and -brown United States, worth upward of thirty pounds, became his property -during a memorable trip to America in search of a fraudulent trustee, -whose whereabouts the officials of Scotland Yard had not been able to -discover. Well-nigh every page had a story of its own to tell, and when -Burrell was in the humour, he could, with the book before him, reel off -tale after tale, of a description that would be calculated to make the -listener's hair stand on end with astonishment. At the present moment he -was occupied, as he very well knew, with one of the most knotty problems -he had ever tackled in his life. His face wore a puzzled expression. In -his right hand he held a large magnifying glass and in his left a -Canadian stamp of the year 1852. But whether it was the case he was -thinking of or the stamp it would have been difficult to say. - -"Genuine or not?" he asked himself. "That's the question. If it's the -first, it's worth five pounds of any man's money. If it's a fudge, then -it's not the first time I've been had, but I'll take very good care -that, so far as the gentleman is concerned who sold it to me, it shall -be the last." - -He scrutinized it carefully once more through the glass and then shook -his head. Having done so he replaced the doubtful article in the -envelope whence, he had taken it, slipped the glass back into its -chamois-leather case, tied the tape round the handle as deliberately as -if all his success in life depended on it, put both book and glass away -in a drawer, and then proceeding to the sideboard on the other side of -the room, slowly and carefully mixed himself a glass of grog. It was -close upon midnight and he felt that the work he had that day completed -entitled him to such refreshment. - -"Good Heavens," he muttered as he sipped it, "what fools some men can -be!" - -What this remark had to do with the stamp in question was not apparent, -but his next soliloquy made his meaning somewhat more intelligible. - -"If he had wanted to find himself in the dock and to put the rope round -his neck he couldn't have gone to work better. He must needs stand -talking to the girl in the Strand until she cries, whereupon he calls a -cab and drives home with her, gets out of it and takes up a position in -the full light of a gas lamp, so that the first policeman who passes may -have a look at his face, and recognise him again when the proper time -comes. After that he hurries back to his hotel at such a pace that he -arrives in a sufficiently agitated condition to stand in need of -brandy. Why, it's an almost unbelievable list of absurd coincidences. -However, he didn't commit the crime, that's quite certain. I've had a -bit of experience in my time, and I don't know that I've ever made a -mistake about a human face yet. There's not a trace of guilt in his. -To-morrow morning I'll just run round to the scene of the murder and -begin my investigations there. Though the Pro's have been over the -ground before me, it will be strange if I can not pick up something that -has not been noticed by their observant eyes." - -A perpetual feud existed between the famous Jacob Burrell and the -genuine representatives of the profession. His ways were unorthodox, the -latter declared. He did not follow the accustomed routine, and what was -worse, when he managed to obtain information it was almost, if not -quite, impossible to get him to divulge it for their benefit. Such a man -deserved to be set down on every possible opportunity. - -True to the arrangement he had made with himself on the previous -evening, Burrell immediately after breakfast next morning set out for -Burford Street. On reaching No. 16 he ascended the steps and entered the -grimy passage, and inquired from a man he found there where the -landlord was to be discovered. In reply the individual he interrogated -went to the head of a flight of stairs that descended like an abyss into -the regions below, and shouted something in German. A few moments later -the proprietor of the establishment made his appearance. He was a small -sallow individual with small bloodshot eyes, suggestive of an undue -partiality for Schnapps, and the sadness of whose face gave one the -impression that he cherished a grievance against the whole world. His -sleeves were rolled up above the elbows, and he carried a knife in one -hand and a potato in the other. - -"Vat is dat you vant mit me?" he inquired irritably, as he took stock of -the person before him. - -"I want you to show me the room in which that Italian girl, Teresina -Cardi, was murdered," Burrell replied, without wasting time. - -The landlord swore a deep oath in German. - -"It is always de murder from morning until night," he answered. "I am -sick mit it. Dat murder will be the ruin mit me. Every day der is -somebody come and say 'Where is dot room?' Who are you that you ask me -that I should to you show it?" - -Burrell, to the best of his ability, explained his motive for proffering -such a request. This must have been satisfactory, for in the end the -landlord consented to conduct him to the room in question. From the day -of the murder it had been kept locked, and it must be confessed that -since no one would inhabit it, and it did not in consequence return its -owner its accustomed rent, he had some measure of excuse for the -irritation he displayed in connection with it. - -"Dere it is," he said, throwing the door open, "and you can look your -full at it. I have scrubbed all dot floor dill my arms ache mit it, but -I can not get der blood marks out. Dot stain is just where she was -found, boor girl!" - -The man pointed, with grizly relish, to a dark stain upon the floor, and -then went on to describe the impression the murder and its attendant -incidents had produced upon him. To any other man than Burrell, they -would probably have been uninteresting to a degree. The latter, however, -knowing the importance of little things, allowed him to continue his -chatter. At the same time his quick eyes were taking in the character -of the room, making his own deductions and drawing his own inferences. -At last, when the other had exhausted his powers of description, Burrell -took from his pocket his favourite magnifying glass, cased in its -covering of chamois leather. Having prepared it for business, he went -down on his hands and knees and searched the floor minutely. What he was -looking for, or what he hoped to find, he did not know himself, but a -life's experience had taught him that clews are often picked up in the -most unexpected quarters. - -"I've known a man get himself hanged," he had once been heard to remark, -"simply because he neglected to put a stitch to a shirt button and had -afterward to borrow a needle and thread to do it. I remember another who -had the misfortune to receive a sentence of fifteen years for forgery, -who would never have been captured, but for a peculiar blend of tobacco, -which he would persist in smoking after the doctors had told him it was -injurious to his health." - -So slow and so careful was his investigation, that the landlord, who -preferred more talkative company, very soon tired of watching him. -Bidding him lock the door and bring the key downstairs with him when he -had finished, he returned to the culinary operations from which he had -been summoned. Burrell, however, still remained upon his knees on the -floor, searching every crack and crevice with that superb and -never-wearying patience that was one of his most remarkable -characteristics. It was quite certain, as the landlord had said, that -the floor had been most thoroughly and conscientiously scrubbed since -the night of the murder. He rose to his feet and brushed his knees. - -"Nothing there," he said to himself. "They've destroyed any chance of my -finding anything useful." - -Walking to the fireplace he made a most careful examination of the -grate. Like the floor, it had also been rigorously cleaned. Not a -vestige of ash or dust remained in it. - -"Polished up to be ready for the newspaper reporters, I suppose," said -Burrell sarcastically to himself. "They couldn't have done it better if -they had wanted to make sure of the murderer not being caught." - -After that he strolled to the window and looked out. The room, as has -already been stated elsewhere, was only a garret, and the small window -opened upon a slope of tiled roof. Above the eaves and at the bottom of -the slope just mentioned, was a narrow lead gutter of the usual -description. From the window it was impossible, unless one leaned well -out, to look down into the street below. - -"Just let me think for a moment," said Burrell to himself, as he stood -looking at the roofs of the houses opposite; "the night of the murder -was a warm one, and this window would almost certainly be open. I -suppose if the people in the houses on the other side of the way had -seen or heard anything, they would have been sure to come forward before -now. The idea, however, is always worth trying. I've a good mind to make -a few inquiries over there later on." - -As he said this he gave a little start forward, and leaning out of the -window, looked down over the tiles into the gutter below. A small -fragment of a well-smoked cigarette could just be descried in it. - -"My luck again," he said with a chuckle. "If some reporter or sensation -hunter didn't throw it there, which is scarcely likely, I may be on the -right track after all. Now who could have been smoking cigarettes up -here? First and foremost I'll have a look at it." - -On entering, he had placed his walking stick on the table in the middle -of the room. He turned to get it, and as he did so he took from his -pocket a small housewife. His multitudinous experiences had taught him -the advisability of carrying such an article about with him, and on this -occasion it promised to prove more than ordinarily useful. From one -compartment he selected a long, stout needle which he placed in a hole -in the handle of the walking stick. Then returning once more to the -window, and leaning well out, he probed for the cigarette lying so -snugly five or six feet below him. Twice he was unsuccessful, but the -third attempt brought the precious relic to his hand. Taking it to the -table, he drew up a chair and sat down to examine it. It was sodden and -discoloured, but the rim of the gutter had in a measure protected it, -and it still held together. His famous magnifying glass was again -brought into action. Once upon a time there had been printing on the -paper, but now it was well-nigh undecipherable. As I have already -remarked, however, Burrell was a man gifted with rare patience, and -after a scrutiny that lasted some minutes, he was able to make out -sufficient of the printing to know that the maker's name ended with -"olous," while the place in which the cigarette had been manufactured -was _Cairo_. - -"I wonder," said the detective to himself, "if this is destined to be of -any service to me. At first glance it would appear as if my first -impression was a wrong one. Mr. Henderson, who is accused of the murder, -has lately returned from Cairo. Though, perhaps he never purchased any -tobacco there, it would certainly do him no good to have it produced as -evidence, that the butt end of a cigarette from that place was found in -the gutter outside the window of the murdered woman's room." - -After another prolonged inspection of the room, and not until he had -quite convinced himself that there was nothing more to be discovered in -it, he descended to the lower regions of the house, returned the key to -the landlord, and immediately left the building. Crossing the street, he -made his way to the house opposite. The caretaker received him, and -inquired the nature of his business. He gave his explanation, but a few -questions were sufficient to convince him that he must not expect to -receive any assistance from that quarter. The rooms, so he discovered, -from which it would have been possible to catch any glimpse of what was -going on in Teresina's apartment in the opposite house, were tenanted -only in the daytime. - -"Nothing to be learned there," said Burrell to himself, when he had -thanked the man and had left the house. "Now the question to be decided -is, what shall I do next?" - -He stood upon the pavement meditatively scratching his chin for a few -moments. Then he must have made up his mind, for he turned sharply round -and walked off in the direction of the Tottenham Court Road. Taking a -'bus there, he made his way on it to Oxford Street, thence, having -changed conveyances, he proceeded as far as Regent Street. It was a -bright, sunny morning, and the pavements of that fashionable -thoroughfare were crowded with pedestrians. As the burly, -farmerish-looking man strode along, few, if any, of the people he passed -would have believed him to be the great detective whose name had struck -a terror, that nothing else could have inspired, into the hearts of so -many hardened criminals. When he was a little more than half-way down -the street, he turned sharply to his left hand, passed into another and -shorter thoroughfare, then turned to his left again, and finally -entered another street on his right. He was now in the neighbourhood of -quiet-looking houses of the office description. There was nothing about -them to indicate that their occupants were the possessors of any great -amount of wealth, and yet one could not help feeling, as one looked at -them, that there was a substantial, money-making air about them. Having -reached a particular doorway, Burrell paused, consulted the names -engraved upon the brass plate on the wall outside, and then entered. He -found himself in a small hall, from which a narrow flight of -linoleum-covered stairs led to the floors above. These stairs he -ascended, to presently find himself standing before a door on which the -names of Messrs. Morris and Zevenboom were painted. Disregarding the -word "Private," which for some inexplicable reason was printed -underneath the name of the firm, he turned the handle and entered. A -small youth was seated at a table in the centre of the apartment, busily -engaged making entries in a large book propped up before him. He looked -up on seeing Burrell, and, in an off-hand fashion, inquired his -business. - -"I want to see Mr. Zevenboom if he's at home," said the latter. "If he -is, just tell him, my lad, that I should like to speak to him, will -you?" - -"That's all very well," said the boy with an assurance beyond his years, -"but how am I to do it if I don't know your name? Ain't a thought -reader, am I?" - -"Tell him Mr. Burrell would like to speak to him," said the detective -without any appearance of displeasure at the lad's impertinence. "I -fancy he will know who I am, even if you don't!" - -"Right you are, I'll be back in a moment." - -So saying, the lad disappeared into an inner apartment with an air that -seemed to insinuate that if Mr. Zevenboom might be impressed by the -stranger, it was certainly more than he was. His feelings received -rather a shock, however, when his employer informed him in a stage -whisper that Mr. Burrell "_was the great detective_" and made him show -him in at once and not keep him waiting. Jacob was accordingly ushered -in, with becoming ceremony, and found himself received by a little man, -whose beady black eyes and sharp features proclaimed his nationality -more plainly than any words could have done. - -"Ah, mein dear friend," said he, "I am glad to see you. It is long since -we have met, and you are looking as well as ever you did." - -"I am all right, thank you," said Burrell genially. "Thank goodness, in -spite of hard work, there's never very much the matter with me." - -Before he seated himself the other went to a cupboard at the back of his -desk and, having unlocked it, took from it a cigar box, one of a number -of others, which he placed upon the table at his guest's elbow. - -"Try one of these," he said, "you will smoke nothing better in all -Europe. I pledge you the word of Israel Zevenboom to that." - -"I can quite believe you," said Burrell, and then mindful of the -business that had brought him there, he added, "if there's one man in -all London who knows a good cigar I suppose you are that one." - -The little man grinned in high appreciation of the compliment. - -"Cigars or cigarettes, I tell you, it's all the same to me," he said, -spreading his hands apart. "There is no tobacco grown, or upon the -market, that I can not put a name to." - -"And you are familiar with all the best makers, I suppose?" - -The other again spread his hands apart as if such a question was not of -sufficient importance to require an answer. - -"I know them all," he continued pompously. "And they all know me. Morris -and Zevenboom is a firm whose name is famous with them all." - -A pause of upward of half a minute followed this remark, during which -Burrell lit his cigar. - -"And now what can I do for you, my friend?" the other inquired. "I shall -be most happy to oblige you as far as lies in my power. You were very -good to me in de matter of----" - -He paused for a moment. Then he thought better of it and came to a -sudden stop. - -"Well, in the matter that we both remember," he added finally. - -"I want a little information from you, that I believe it is in your -power to give," said Burrell, taking a note book from his pocket and -from it producing the scrap of cigarette he had taken from the gutter of -the house in Burford Street. He placed it on the desk before his -companion. - -"I want you to tell me if you can who are the makers of these -cigarettes, and whether they can be obtained in England?" - -The other took up his glasses and perched them on the end of his -delicate nose, after which he held the charred fragment of the cigarette -up to the light. This did not seem to satisfy him, so he took it to the -window and examined it more closely. He turned it over, smelt it, -extracted a shred of the tobacco, smelt that, and at last came back to -the table. - -"That cigarette was made by my good friend Kosman Constantinopolous, of -Cairo, a most excellent firm, but as yet they have no representatives in -England. Some day they will have." - -"Where is the nearest place at which these cigarettes can be obtained?" -asked Burrell. - -"In Paris--if you like I will give you the address," the other replied, -"or better still I will get some for you should you desire to have some. -They are expensive but the tobacco is good." - -"I won't trouble you to procure me any just now, thank you," Burrell -answered. "I only wanted to try and fix the maker's name. It comes into -some important business that I am just now at work upon. I suppose I -can rely upon your information being correct? It will make a big -difference to me." - -"My good friend, you may be quite sure of that," the other answered with -pride. "I am Israel Zevenboom, the expert, and after fifty years' -experience, should not be likely to make a mistake in such a simple -matter as that." - -Then, at Burrell's request, he thereupon wrote down the address of the -firm in Paris, after which the detective thanked him heartily for his -trouble and bade him good-bye. - -"To-morrow," said Burrell to himself, "if all goes well, I will take a -run down to Mr. Henderson's country seat and make a few inquiries there. -After that it looks as if Paris is likely to be the scene of my next -operations. There are one or two little preliminaries, however, that -must be settled before I leave England." - -He was as good as his word, and the mid-day train next day landed him -upon the platform at Detwich. He inquired how far it was to the Hall, -and on being informed of his direction, set off along the High Road at a -swinging pace. He was a man who never rode when he could walk, and, had -he not chosen another profession, it is possible he might have made a -name for himself in the athletic world as a pedestrian. - -"It seems a sad thing," he said to himself, as he turned in through the -lodge gates and began to cross the park, "that a young gentleman owning -such a beautiful place as this should be clapped into limbo on a charge -of murder. But here I suppose is what the literary gentlemen call the -'Irony of Fate.' However, it's my business to get him out of the scrape -he's in if I can, and not to bother my head about anything else." - -Having reached the house he sent his name in to Mrs. Henderson, and -asked for an interview. Her daughter Kitty was with her in the morning -room when the butler entered. - -"Mr. Jacob Burrell?" she said in a puzzled way, looking at the card the -man had handed to her. "I don't know the name, do you, Kitty?" - -"Why, yes, mother, of course I do," the girl replied. "How could you -forget? He is the famous detective whom the lawyers have engaged to take -up the case for poor Godfrey. Tell him that we will see him at once, -Williamson, and show him in here." - -A few moments later Burrell made his appearance and bowed to the two -ladies. That he was not at all the sort of individual they had expected -to see was evident from the expressions upon their faces. - -"Doubtless, ladies, you have heard my name and the business upon which I -am engaged," he said, by way of introducing himself. - -They acknowledged that they had done so, and when they had invited him -to be seated, inquired what success he had so far met with. He shook his -head cautiously. - -"In these sort of cases you must not expect to succeed all at once," he -said. Then observing the look upon their faces he added: "You see, Mrs. -Henderson, a big case, unless the evidence is very clear and -straightforward, is not unlike a Chinese puzzle, being a lot of little -pieces cut out of one big block. Well, all the little cubes are tipped -out upon the floor in confusion, and before you can begin to put them -together it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the rough outlines -of the parts and to make yourself acquainted with the sizes, shapes, and -numbers of the pieces you have to work with. That done you can begin -your work of putting them together." - -"Mr. Burrell is quite right, mother," Kitty remarked. "We must be -patient and not expect too much at first. We ourselves know that -Godfrey is innocent, and Mr. Burrell will very soon demonstrate it to -the world, I am very sure." Then turning to the detective she continued: -"Since you have spared the time to come down here, it is only natural to -suppose that you desire to ask us questions. If so, please do not -hesitate to put them. My mother and I will--only too thankfully--do all -that lies in our power to assist you in your work." - -"Well, miss," said Burrell, "I won't deny that there are certain -questions I should like to put to you. In the meantime, however, if you -will allow me, I'll just take a walk round the place, and if I have your -permission to enter your brother's rooms, it's just possible I may be -able to find something that will be of advantage to him there." - -"Go where you please," said Mrs. Henderson. "Heaven knows at such a time -we should place no restrictions upon any one. If you can save my poor -boy--I shall be grateful to you forever." - -"Be sure, madam, I will do my best. I can't say more." - -Kitty rose from her chair. - -"Perhaps it would be better for me to show you my brother's studio -first," she said. "Will you come with me?" - -Burrell followed her out of the room and down the long corridor to the -room in question. Kitty left him there, and for upward of half-an-hour -he remained in the apartment, busily engaged upon what he called -"forming his own impressions." After that he passed through the French -windows out into the grounds beyond, had a few minutes' conversation -with some of the men, and, when he had exhausted that portion of the -business, returned to the house to find that luncheon had been provided -for him in the library. He thereupon sat down to it and made an -excellent meal. That finished, he was wondering what he should do next, -when Kitty entered the room. - -"I hope you have been well looked after, Mr. Burrell," she said. "You -are quite sure there is nothing else you would like?" - -"Nothing at all, thank you," he answered, "unless I might ask you for a -cigarette?" - -"A cigarette," she replied, with a suggestion of astonishment, for he -did not look like the sort of man who would have cared for anything less -than a pipe or a strong cigar. "That is very unfortunate, for I am -afraid we have not one in the house. My brother Godfrey, you see, never -smokes them, and I remember his saying just before----" she paused for a -moment and a look of pain came into her face, "just before this trouble -occurred," she continued, "that the supply he had laid in for his -friends was exhausted and that he must order some more." Then she -appeared to recollect something, for her face brightened. "Ah!" she -cried, "now I come to think of it, we _do_ happen to have a box which -Mr. Fensden left here before he went away. If you'll excuse me, I'll get -it." - -He thanked her and she left the room, whereupon he walked to the window -and stood looking out upon the lawn, drumming with the fingers of his -right hand upon the pane before him. What his thoughts were at that -moment will in all probability never be known, but when, a few minutes -later, Kitty returned with a box of cigarettes in her hand, he turned to -greet her with as much excitement in his face as he had ever been known -to show about anything. The box in question was flat and square, with -some Arabic writing in gold upon the lid and the inscription Kosman -Constantinopolous et Cie, Cairo. - -Jacob Burrell may or may not have been a cigarette smoker (for my part -I have never seen him with so mild a weed between his lips). I only know -that on this particular occasion he stood with the cigarette in one hand -for some time without lighting it, and the box in the other. - -"Did I understand you to say that Mr. Fensden gave these cigarettes to -your brother?" he inquired at last, after he had turned certain matters -over in his mind. - -"Yes," she replied. "He used to say laughingly that the weakest of all -Godfrey's weak points was his dislike to Egyptian cigarettes, and that -if he would only try to cultivate the taste for that tobacco, he would -be converted from barbarism to comparative civilization. You have seen -Mr. Fensden, of course?" - -"I saw him in Court," Burrell replied, apparently without much interest. -"And now, I think, with your permission, miss, I will return to the -station. I have seen all that is necessary for my purpose here, and am -anxious to get back to town as soon as possible. There are several -matters there that demand my attention." Kitty was silent for a moment. -Then she gained her courage and spoke out. - -"Mr. Burrell," she said, laying her hand upon his arm, "I suspect you -can very well imagine what a terrible time of suspense this is for us. -As I said this morning, we all know that my brother is innocent of the -crime with which he is charged. But how can we prove it? All our hopes -are centred upon you. You have done such wonderful things in the past -that surely you can bring the real perpetrator of this hideous crime to -justice. Can you not give us even a grain of hope to comfort us? My poor -mother is fretting herself to a shadow about it." - -"I scarcely know what I can say just yet," he replied. "I, of course, -have begun to form my own theories, but they are too unsubstantial as -yet for me to be able to pin any faith upon them--much less to allow you -to do so. This, however, I will tell you, and any one who knows me will -tell you that it is something for me to admit. What I say is that up to -the present moment, I have been more successful than I had dared to hope -I should be. Like yourselves, I have a conviction that your brother is -innocent, and you may believe me when I say that it won't be my fault if -we can't prove it. May I ask you to rest content with that? I can not -say more." - -"I can not thank you sufficiently for your kindness," she answered. -"Your words give me fresh hope. May I tell Miss Devereux what you say?" - -"Miss Devereux?" asked Burrell, who for the moment had forgotten the -young lady in question. - -"It is to Miss Devereux that my brother is engaged," Kitty answered. -"You may imagine how sad she is. Yet she has been, and still is, so -brave about it." - -"Not braver than you are, I'll be bound," said Burrell gallantly. "And -now I will wish you good-afternoon." - -He did so, and refusing her offer of a carriage to take him, was soon -striding across the park on his way back to the railway station. As he -walked along he thought of what he had done that day, and of the strange -good fortune that had so far attended his efforts. - -"It is only the merest guess," he said to himself, "and yet it's the -old, old story. It is when they think themselves most secure, and that -detection is impossible, that they are in the greatest danger. At that -point some minute circumstance is sufficient to give them away, and it's -all over. This looks as if it will prove another example of the one -rule." - -It was nearly five o'clock when he reached London. Arriving there he -called a hansom and bade the man drive him with all speed to Mr. Codey's -office. As it happened he was only just in time to catch the lawyer, who -was on the point of leaving. - -"Halloa, Burrell," cried the genial Mr. Codey on seeing him, "you seem -excited. What's the matter now?" - -"I didn't know that I had anything to be excited about," Burrell replied -with a smile at the lawyer's attempt to draw him out. "I only thought I -would drop in upon you, sir, to let you know that I am leaving for the -Continent first thing to-morrow morning. I may be away a week, possibly -a fortnight. I'm not able to put a definite time upon it, for it will -all depend upon circumstances." - -"Then I suppose, as usual, you are beginning to find yourself on the -right track," the lawyer remarked drily. - -"And, just as usual, sir, I reply that that's as may be," said the -other. "I don't deny that I've got hold of a piece of information that -may eventually put me on the proper line--but I've got to sift it -first--before I can act upon it. That's why I'm going abroad." - -"Don't be any longer than you can help about it, then," returned the -lawyer. "You know when the trial comes off?" - -"As well as you do, sir! That's why I want to get away at once. There's -no time to be wasted--that's if we're to be properly posted." - -"Well, then, good-bye, and may good luck go with you." - -Next morning Burrell, acting on the plan he had made, left London for -Paris, with the portion of cigarette in his pocket. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - -The first night of his sojourn in Paris was spent at the residence of a -friend who was also a well-known Stamp Collector. They dined at a -Restaurant together, and spent the remainder of the evening at a Caf -discussing matters connected with their joint hobby. Had one looked in -upon Jacob Burrell then, as he sat sipping a glass of brandy and water, -it would have been difficult to imagine that this man who was so -emphatic and precise about Water Marks, Btonn Papers, Misprints, and -Fudges, was in Paris for the sole reason of elucidating a terrible -crime, and in the hope of bringing the criminal to justice. - -Next morning he was up early and, as soon as was compatible with calling -hours, was on his way to the office of which Zevenboom had given him the -address. Sending his name in to the head of the firm, he asked for an -interview. This was promptly granted him and he was ushered into the -proprietor's office, a charming little apartment fragrant with the odour -of the divine weed. Now Burrell's French is not particularly good, but -Monsieur Zacroft's English was certainly a good deal worse. However, -they managed after a fashion, and with the help of a clerk, to make each -other understand, and that was perhaps all that was wanted. Zacroft -inquired with much solicitude after the bodily welfare of his good -friend Zevenboom, and on being assured that the latter enjoyed excellent -health, so far as Burrell was aware, proceeded to ask in what way he -could be of service to the Englishman. The latter immediately commenced -to explain, speaking in a louder tone than usual and using many -gesticulations, as an Englishman so often does, in the hope of making -his meaning clearer to his auditor. Later on Burrell produced the -charred remnant of the cigarette. The Frenchman admitted that the -cigarette shown to him was of the same brand as that manufactured by -Messrs. Kosman & Constantinopolous of Cairo, of which wealthy firm, he -took care to point out, he was the Parisian representative. He was also -acquainted with Mr. Victor Fensden, and admitted that he had supplied -that gentleman with cigarettes of the brand mentioned for some years -past. - -Burrell admitted to himself that so far this was very good. He hoped -that there would be still better news to follow. - -"Perhaps you can tell me when he obtained his last consignment from -you?" he said, after a short pause. - -The manager begged Burrell to excuse him while he went into his shop to -ask the question. When he returned he laid a piece of paper before the -other. The latter took it up and examined it carefully, though he was -not at all prepared to find that the information would be of much value -to him. The surprise he received, however, almost took his breath away. -It was the work of a moment to whip out his pocket-book and to open it. - -He turned the leaves until he arrived at the entry he wanted. - -"And am I to understand you to say that Mr. Fensden wrote to you from -England for them? Are you quite sure of it?" - -"Quite sure," replied the other, and intimated in exceedingly poor -English that he was prepared to show his customer's letter in proof of -the genuineness of his assertion. He did so, and Burrell examined it -carefully. Ultimately he prevailed upon the other to permit him to keep -the letter. - -"I wouldn't lose it for a thousand pounds," he said to himself. "Good -gracious, this is nothing less than a stupendous piece of luck. It's the -last thing in the world I should have thought of." - -He thanked the little tobacco merchant for his courtesy, and bade him -farewell, promising to remember him most affectionately to Zevenboom -when next he should see him. After that he went off to make arrangements -about his journey from Paris to Naples. - -It was at a late hour of the night when he reached that famous Italian -city. Tired out he betook himself to his hotel, slept the sleep of the -just, and rose in the morning with the pleasant feeling that the day -before him was likely to prove a busy and also an exciting one. After he -had breakfasted, which he made a point of doing in the solid English -fashion, he smoked a contemplative cigar, and interested himself after -his own fashion in the billings and cooings of a young newly married -couple, who were staying at the hotel awaiting the arrival of the -out-going Australian Mail Boat. Then, having discovered the interpreter -whom the hotel manager had found for him, he set off for the street in -which he had been told Teresina Cardi and her mother had dwelt. - -"'See Naples and die' they say," he muttered to himself, as he made his -way out of one into another tortuous and unsavoury street. "It should -have been '_smell_ Naples and die.' A connoisseur could discover a -hundred fresh unsavouries in every hundred yards." - -At last they found themselves in the street in question, and, after some -little hunting, discovered the house in which the murdered girl had -resided with her mother. The interpreter questioned the head of the -family who lived on the ground floor. With many flourishes and bows, the -latter, whose only work in life, it would appear, was to smoke -cigarettes upon the doorstep, informed him that the Signora Cardi was -dead and that the funeral had been a most imposing one. - -"Ask him what has become of the daughter," said Burrell, who was anxious -to discover whether or not the man were aware of the murder. - -"Gone," was the laconic reply. Eventually he condescended to add, "An -Englishman came to see her, and the signorina went away with him. I can -tell you no more." - -He manufactured for himself another cigarette, with the air of a man who -has done everything he could to prove himself hospitable, and is not -quite certain whether he has succeeded in the attempt. At this juncture -Burrell rattled the money in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he thinks he would know the man again if he were to see -him," he said. "Tell him also that I will pay him well for any -information he may give me." - -A vehement debate ensued--which might have lasted from three to five -minutes. At the end the interpreter translated. - -"He says, your Excellency, that he could pick the man out from a -hundred." - -"He's been a jolly long time saying it," said Burrell, and as he spoke -he took from his pocket half-a-dozen photographs which he had brought -with him for that purpose. "However, he shall try!" - -Among the number were likenesses of Fensden and Henderson. There were -also others of men who had nothing whatsoever to do with the case. The -proprietor of the ground floor rooms picked them up one by one and -examined them critically. When he reached Fensden's portrait he held it -up immediately. - -"That is the man," he said to the interpreter. "I need look no farther. -I should know him anywhere." - -Burrell replaced the photographs in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he has any idea where the man he speaks of stayed when he -was in Naples," Burrell remarked to the man, but upon this subject it -appeared that the other could give no sort of information, though he -volunteered for a reward to find out. This help, however, Burrell -declined. After rewarding him, he retraced his steps to the hotel. - -"It should not be difficult," he thought as he went along, "to discover -the Englishman's abode during the time he was in Naples. He is not the -sort of man to put up anywhere but at a good hotel." - -Foreseeing for this reason that the number of the hotels at which the -man he was inquiring about would be likely to stay, were limited, he -resolved to institute investigations that afternoon. He was very soon -successful. At the second at which he called he discovered that Fensden -had resided there and that he had left again on the 3rd of February. The -manager knew nothing of any _liaison_ with a girl of the city, nor could -he say where his guest went after he left Naples. His servants were -equally ignorant, though one of them believed Signor Fensden's -destination to have been Rome. Thanking the manager for his courtesy, -Burrell left the hotel more than a little disappointed, to spend the -remainder of the afternoon securing affidavits as to dates and generally -verifying the discoveries he had made. - -"Well, I suppose there's nothing for it but to try Rome," he said to -himself, when he had considered the matter in all its details. - -Early next morning he accordingly shook the highly scented dust of -Naples from his feet, and in due course reached the Italian capital. He -had been there many times before, and in consequence he was a great -favourite at the hotel where he usually resided. The owner welcomed him -effusively, somewhat as he would have done a long-lost brother of whom -he stood in some little awe, and trusted that he had come to make a long -stay. - -"I am afraid not," said Burrell. "I have got an important piece of -business on hand just now which must be completed as quickly as -possible. I am trying to hunt up the doings of an Englishman, who I have -reason to believe came here from Naples with a Neapolitan girl, in -February last. Possibly he may have stayed with you. Here is his -photograph. See if you can recognise him!" - -He thereupon produced the photograph of Fensden, and laid it on the -table for the manager's inspection. The latter, however, shook his head. -He could not remember the face among his guests. - -"In that case I must begin my rounds of the hotels again, I suppose," -said Burrell. - -After luncheon he did so. The result, however, was by no means -satisfactory. He made inquiries at every hotel of importance, and at -many that were not, but try as he would he could glean no tidings of the -pair whose doings he was so anxious to trace. - -"It's evident I've gone wrong somewhere," he said to himself. "I don't -think I will waste any more time in this place, but go straight on to -Vienna and look about me there. We know that the box hailed from the -Austrian capital and that the wedding ring was manufactured in the same -country. For my own part I don't believe they came to Rome at all." - -Once more he resumed his journey and at length had the satisfaction of -finding himself in Francis Joseph's famous city. He was very fond of -Vienna, partly because he had made two important captures there, and -possibly more so for the reason that one of the best deals in stamps he -had ever effected was brought to a head in that delightful city. On this -occasion he lost no time, but set to work immediately on his arrival. In -this town, however, the search was not destined to prove a difficult -one. He had not been more than twice unsuccessful when he tried the -Hotel National in the Karntner Strasse. The manager himself admitted -that he had a bad memory for faces, but he was quite sure of one thing, -if they had stayed at his hotel, his head waiter would be sure to -recollect them. That functionary was immediately summoned to the -council, and the photograph was placed before him. He had no sooner -looked upon it than he recognised it as being the likeness of the -gentleman who had stayed there with an Italian girl. They had come to -Vienna to be married it was said. - -"To be married?" said Burrell in astonishment. "What do you mean by -that? Weren't they married when they arrived?" - -Before the waiter could answer, light had dawned upon the manager, who -thereupon chimed in. - -"Ah, my friend, I remember now," he said. "That was the gentleman who -was married at the Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse. Now I can -recall the pair perfectly." - -"The Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse, you said, I think," said -Burrell, making a note of the name in his pocket-book for future -reference. "Pray how long did the happy couple remain with you?" - -"For upward of a fortnight," the manager replied, consulting a book. -"But they were not happy all the time!" - -"What do you mean by that? Why were they not happy?" - -"For a very simple reason," the manager replied. "I mean that toward the -end of their stay it was becoming plain to most of us that the gentleman -was a little neglectful of his bride. Yet she was a beautiful girl! Ah! -a beautiful girl!" - -"It was the waning of the honeymoon," said Burrell cynically. "Poor -girl, it didn't last long." He paused for a while to pursue his own -thoughts, then he continued aloud, "Have you any idea where they went -after they left here?" - -The manager reflected for a moment. - -"To Munich, I believe. But of that I am not quite certain. We will ask -Adolphe." - -The head waiter was once more consulted, and corroborated his superior. -The couple had left for Munich with the intention of proceeding later to -Paris. He was sure of this for the reason that he had heard the -gentleman talking to the lady on the subject on the morning of their -departure. - -The next day was spent by Burrell in collecting further evidence. He -interviewed the worthy clergyman who had married them, obtained certain -necessary documents from him, discovered the jeweller who had sold them -the wedding ring, and when he had learned all he wanted to know, took -the train and started for Munich. - -In Munich he discovered the hotel at which they had stayed and sundry -other particulars which might, or might not, prove useful later on. -Thence he continued his journey to Paris, where more discoveries awaited -him. At last, and none too soon, he boarded the steamer which was to -carry him to England. Even this short voyage was not devoid of interest, -and by the time he reached London once more, he felt that there was not -very much standing between him and the end. But what remained was in all -probability more important than the beginning. There was a blank to be -filled in, and filled in it must be, somehow or another, before the -trial commenced. - -His first act on reaching home was to write out a true and complete -record of his doings since he had left London. This done he consulted -the memoranda he had received from the representative of Messrs. Kosman, -Constantinopolous & Co., in Paris, and then set off by train to the -little town of Staines. From Staines to the charming little village of -Laleham is a comparatively short and a most charming walk. It was almost -mid-day by the time he reached the village and began to look about him -for Laburnum Cottage. When he discovered it it proved to be a pretty -little thatched building standing in a garden which in summer would be -bright with hollyhocks, nasturtiums and other homely flowers. A card in -the window proclaimed the fact that apartments could be had within, but -at that particular season of the year this announcement would be little -likely to attract attention. Pushing open the gate, Burrell made his way -up the garden path to the neat little porch where he gave a smart -rat-tat with his stick upon the door. The sound had scarcely died away -before it was opened to him by a stout, matronly person, dressed in -black, and wearing a cap and a neat white apron. - -"Mrs. Raikes?" asked Burrell, to make sure she was the person he desired -to see. - -"That is my name, sir," said the woman. "Perhaps you will tell me what I -can do for you." - -"I want you to give me some information," Burrell answered. "I have come -down from London on purpose to see you." - -"From London, sir," she exclaimed, as if that were rather a remarkable -circumstance. "Will you be pleased to step inside?" So saying, she held -the door open for him to enter. He did so to find himself in a neat -little sitting room, unostentatiously yet comfortably furnished. Three -cases of stuffed birds decorated the walls, together with some pictures -on religious subjects, a bookcase, the latter scantily furnished, and -last, but not least, a Chippendale sofa, and two or three chairs that -would not have disgraced a ducal drawing-room. - -"Kindly take a seat, sir," said Mrs. Raikes, dusting one of the -aforementioned chairs with her apron as she spoke. "If it's apartments -you want I am quite sure I can satisfy you. Of course it's a bad season -of the year, but at the end of the month we shall begin to fill up. -There's some splendid boating on the river, as perhaps you know, and at -night, when the houseboats are all lit up, well, it's quite lively." - -Her desire to impress him with the gaieties of the place was almost -pathetic, and Burrell felt that he was acting meanly in permitting her -to go on, without acquainting her with the real object of his visit. - -"I am sorry to say that I am not in search of lodgings," he said. "My -business is of an altogether different nature. In the first place, I -think I ought to tell you that I am a detective." - -"A detective?" she cried in horror. "Lor', I _do_ hope, sir, there's -nothing wrong?" - -"Not so far as you are concerned, you may be sure," he answered. "I have -come down here to make some inquiries regarding a gentleman who was -known to be staying in your house some time back. His name was Fensden." - -The woman shook her head. - -"I haven't had a gentleman in my house of that name," she answered. "In -fact, the only gentleman I have had since the beginning of the year was -a Mr. Onslow. The name of Fensden I don't remember at all." - -Burrell consulted his pocket-book before he went further. - -"And yet the information I received was most complete," he continued. -"Victor Fensden, Esq., %George Onslow, Laburnum Cottage, -Laleham-on-Thames. There couldn't be anything plainer than that, could -there?" - -"It seems all right, sir," said the woman. "There is only one Laburnum -Cottage, and Mr. Onslow was certainly staying with us. He had his wife -with him, a sweet young thing, which was more than could be said of the -gentleman, I can assure you." - -It was plain from this that she and Mr. Onslow had not been on the best -of terms. Burrell took from his pocket the photograph of Fensden, and -handed it to her. He was beginning to have an inkling of the truth. - -"Is that the likeness of Fensden or of Mr. Onslow?" he inquired. - -"Mr. Onslow, sir, to be sure," she replied, "and a very good one of him -it is too. I hope he's not a friend of yours, because I couldn't abear -him. The way he treated his poor foreign wife of his was enough to make -an honest woman's blood boil." - -"So he had a foreign wife, had he?" said Burrell. "That's interesting. -Tell me all you can about him." - -"There's not much to be told, sir, except about his bullying and nagging -that poor young thing. She was a foreigner, as I have just said, but as -nice a young lady as ever stepped in at my door. When they first came -she told me that Mr. Onslow was an artist, and that they wanted to be -quiet and away from London. They didn't mind putting up with the -roughness of things, she said, so long as they could be quiet. Well, -sir, they had this room and the bedroom above, and for the first few -days everything went as smooth and as nice as could be. Then I noticed -that she took to crying, and that he went away day after day and once -for two days. At last he disappeared altogether, leaving her without a -halfpenny in the world. Oh! I'd have liked to have seen the brute and -have given him a bit of my mind. It would have done him good, I'll -promise him that. I shall never forget that poor young thing in her -trouble. She waited and waited for him to come back, but at last when -there was no sign of him, she came to me in my kitchen there to know -what she should do. 'I know you have not had your money, Mrs. Raikes,' -she said in a kind of piteous foreign way, that went to my heart. 'I can -not stay here any longer, and so, if you'll trust me, I'll go away to -London and try to find my husband. Even if I do not, you shall not lose -by us.' I told her I didn't want the money, and that I was as sorry for -her as a woman could be. Poor dear, I could see that her heart was -nearly broken." - -"And what happened then?" - -"Nothing, sir, except that she went away, and she hadn't been gone a -week before the money that was owing to me was sent in a Post Office -Order. From that day to this I've heard nothing of either of them and -that's the truth. Whether she found her husband I can not say, but if -she'd take my advice she'd never try to." - -"You are quite sure that you'd know the man again?" - -"I am certain I should," the woman replied. "I hope, sir, in telling you -all this, I've been doing no harm?" - -"You have been doing a great deal of good," Burrell replied. "Shortly -after she left you, poor Mrs. Onslow, as you call her, was most brutally -murdered, and I have been commissioned by the friends of the man who is -wrongfully accused of the crime to endeavour to discover the real -criminal." - -"Murdered, sir? you surely don't mean that?" - -"I do! A more abominable crime has not been committed this century." - -The good woman was honestly overcome by the news and during the -remainder of the interview scarcely recovered her composure. Before he -left, Burrell cautioned her most strongly against saying anything about -the case to her neighbours, and this injunction she promised faithfully -to observe. - -"By the way," said the detective, before he left, "do you remember -whether this man Onslow received any letters while he was staying with -you?" - -"Only one, sir, so far as I know," the woman replied. - -"You're quite sure of that?" - -"Quite sure, sir, and why I happen to be so certain is that it caused a -bit of unpleasantness between them. I was brushing the stairs just out -there, when the letter arrived. It was Mrs. Onslow that took it in, and -when she saw the post-mark she asked him who it was that he knew at -Richmond. He snatched the letter from her and told her to mind her own -business. That afternoon he went out and never came back. It's my belief -it was some woman at Richmond as enticed him away." - -"Have you any other reason for supposing that except the post-mark on -the envelope?" - -"Well, sir," returned the woman, "to be candid with you, I have, though -perhaps it's a tale I shouldn't tell. I was so sorry for that poor young -thing that I couldn't get her trouble out of my head, and nothing would -serve but that I must watch him. I saw him sitting down at the head of -the table where you are now, sir, about half-an-hour after he had -spoken so cross to his wife, and she, poor dear, was upstairs crying, -and I noticed that he was writing a telegram. Presently he calls to me. -'Mrs. Raikes,' said he, 'want to send a telegram at once, who can take -it for me?' 'There's Mrs. Hawkins's little boy next door, sir,' says I, -'he's taken messages for gentlemen I've had in the house before now, and -always done it very well. I saw him playing in the field at the back of -the house only this minute.' 'Call him in to me, then,' says he, 'and he -shall have sixpence for his trouble.' I called the lad in, and Mr. -Onslow gave him the message, and then off he went with it, but not so -fast but that I was able to run across to the corner of the field at the -back there, and catch him on the road. 'Tommy,' I said, 'let me have a -look at that telegram.' He was a good little boy, and handed it over to -me without a word. It was addressed to 'Montgomery, 13 Bridgeworth Road, -Richmond.' There was no other name to it, and the only other word was -'yes.' It didn't seem to me that there was anything out of the common -about it, and so I thought no more of it, until you spoke of his having -letters just now." - -"I think I'll make a note of the address in case it should be useful," -said Burrell. "And now I'll be off, thanking you again, Mrs. Raikes, for -the information you have given me." - -On leaving the cottage he walked back to Staines, caught a train to -London, and hastened to his house. Later on he made his way to Euston -Station. Another twenty hours elapsed before he was able to acquire the -information he wanted there--but he had the satisfaction of knowing, -when he had obtained it, that there remained now only one link to be -forged, and then the chain of evidence would be complete. That link was -forged at Richmond, and next day he handed in his report to the -astonished Codey. - -"Good heavens, Burrell," said that astute gentleman, "this is as -marvellous as it is horrible. What do you think?" - -"I think, sir, that we shall be able to prove that Mr. Henderson is -innocent." - - * * * * * - -At last, after all the weary waiting, the great day arrived. The -Sessions had commenced at the Old Bailey. For two or three days prior to -this, Godfrey had been busy with his solicitor and his counsel. It was -not, however, until the afternoon before the commencement that he could -elicit from Codey any information as to Burrell's discoveries. -Immediately he was ushered into the room where Codey was awaiting him, -Godfrey saw from the expression upon the other's face, that there was -something to tell. - -"You--have good news for me," he said, as they shook hands. - -"The very best of news," Codey replied. "My dear sir, you may rest -assured that your innocence is completely established. The whole plot -has come to light, and, when we give the word, the authorities will be -able to lay their hands upon the man who committed the deed." - -"But who is the man?" Godfrey hastened to ask, scarcely able to speak -for excitement. His pulse was beating like a sledge hammer inside his -head, until it seemed as if his brain must burst. - -"Don't ask me that now," said Codey. "Put your trust in me until -to-morrow. Then you shall know everything. Believe me, I have my own -very good reasons for asking this favour of you. Rest assured of one -thing; at latest the day after to-morrow you will be at liberty to go -where and do what you please." - -"But why can not it be settled at once? Why must it be the day after -to-morrow? It is cruel to keep me in suspense!" - -"Don't you understand that we can not bring forward our witnesses until -the proper moment arrives?" said the lawyer. "The English law has its -idiosyncrasies, and even in a case of life and death, the formalities -must be observed. There is one thing, however, I can promise you; that -is, that when the truth comes out, it will be admitted that such a -sensation has not been caused in a Court of Justice before." - -And with this assurance, meagre as it was, Godfrey had perforce to be -content. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -When Godfrey woke on the morning of his trial he lay for some moments -thinking over the strangeness of his position. He had been definitely -assured by Codey that nothing could prevent his being proved innocent, -yet how difficult it was to believe this when he was lying on a prison -bed in a prison cell with all the grim appurtenances of a convict's life -before him. The very books upon the shelf, the spy-hole in the door, -even his bed-clothes, reminded him that he was shut off from his fellow -men. At the usual signal he rose and dressed, and, having done so, -tidied his cell in the customary fashion. After this his breakfast was -served to him, and then he was permitted a short period of exercise in -the prison yard. He had not long returned to his cell before he was -informed that it was time for him to set off to the Court. - -Never, if he lives to be a hundred, will Godfrey Henderson forget the -scene that met his eyes when he entered the Court--the judge and the -sheriffs upon the Bench, the jurymen seated in their box, the rows of -counsel, and the line upon line of eager-eyed spectators. When Godfrey -made his appearance in the dock a sudden silence fell upon the Court. -The Clerk of Arraigns rose and read over the charge preferred against -him, namely, of murdering one Teresina Cardi, and this done he was -called upon in the usual manner to plead. Advancing to the front of the -dock Godfrey looked straight before him and said, in a calm, strong -voice: "Not guilty, my lord." The jury were then sworn, and as soon as -this important business had been completed the counsel for the -prosecution rose and told the story of the crime. He described the -engagement of the dead woman by the prisoner, his employment of her for -some considerable time, and then his hasty departure for the Continent. -It would be shown that he had received a letter from her while in Egypt, -and that almost immediately afterward he had returned to Naples. In the -latter city he had invited her to dine with him, and had taken her to -the Opera afterward. He commented upon the fact that the prisoner had -voluntarily admitted to the police authorities that he had endeavoured -to induce her to return to England. At that time, however, it must be -borne in mind that he had not met the lady he now desired to make his -wife. Whether he had seen anything of the deceased, prior to their -meeting in the Strand, it was as yet impossible to say. The fact, -however, remained that his engagement to the lady in the country was -ultimately announced. Despite that fact, only ten days before the -wedding was to take place, he was known to have met the deceased woman -at midnight, and had taken her to her home in Burford Street, leading -out of the Tottenham Court Road. By the medical evidence he would -presently call, he would prove that less than half-an-hour afterward she -was brutally murdered. Before half-past twelve, that is to say, within -an hour of the cabman picking them up in the Strand, he would prove that -the prisoner returned to his Hotel in Piccadilly, very white and -agitated, and had called for brandy. Since his arrest, an exhaustive -search had been made at his residence, with the result that a -blood-stained knife, which had been identified as having been purchased -by the prisoner in Cairo, had been discovered hidden behind a bookcase -in his studio. As for the motive of the crime he would point out that -the deceased woman wore a wedding ring, that she was known to entertain -a great affection for the prisoner, and that the latter was about to be -married to another lady. What was more probable than that he should wish -to have the other woman out of the way before he could do so? That was -certainly only a conjecture, but it was one that carried a large amount -of probability with it. He would now proceed to call his witnesses. - -The first witness called was the proprietor of the lodging-house, who -had identified the body. He was followed by the German cabinet-maker, -who had made the first and most important discovery. The police officer, -who had been called in when the door had been opened, followed next, -succeeded by the doctor who had made the post-mortem examination. The -question of identity and discovery having been settled, what the counsel -next proposed to do was to connect the prisoner with the crime. The -cabman who had picked them up in the Strand and had driven them to -Burford Street, was called, and the policeman who had seen them talking -together on the pavement there. Victor Fensden next deposed as to the -affection the deceased had entertained for the prisoner, and the efforts -he had made to induce the latter to give her up. He described Godfrey's -receipt of the letter from Teresina when on the Nile, and stated that -the prisoner had said nothing to him concerning his intention to visit -the woman in Naples. His next meeting with the prisoner was at the Mahl -Stick Club, where he had noticed a reluctance on his part to refer to -his association with the woman in the past. This was accentuated on the -following Saturday at the prisoner's residence in Midlandshire. He -recognised the knife produced, and recollected the circumstances under -which it had been purchased by the prisoner. This concluded Fensden's -evidence, and he accordingly sat down. Various other unimportant -witnesses followed, and then the case was adjourned for the day. - -Wrapped in suspense, Godfrey was driven back to the jail to turn the -evidence over and over in his mind all night long. Whatever trust he -might place in Burrell and his discoveries, it was quite certain that -another twenty-four hours would elapse before his deliverance could be -expected. Once more he scarcely slept. The various events connected -with the trial thronged his brain with merciless reiteration. With -phonographic distinctness he could recall almost every word that was -said. He could see the judge upon the Bench making his notes with -pitiless exactness, the various counsel in the well of the Court -whispering together, the importance of the jury, and the -self-sufficiency of the Court servants. Yet he had Codey's assurance -that all was to be put right in the end, and with this knowledge he was -perforce compelled to be content. - -At the same hour as on the previous day he was ordered to prepare -himself for his journey to the Court. The evidence already given against -him was so incriminating that the officials of the jail felt sure that -his condemnation was assured. They already looked upon him as a dead -man, and marvelled among themselves that he could carry himself with so -much assurance. - -Once more the Court was crowded. Fashionable London felt that the end of -one of the most interesting cases of late years was drawing near, and it -was anxious not to lose an opportunity of witnessing the _dnouement_ of -the tragedy. - -"The Court is ready," said the warder, and once more Godfrey ascended -the stairs that had constituted the link between life and death for so -many hundreds of miserable beings before him. He found the judge, stern -and implacable as before, upon the Bench, the various counsel in their -places, and everyone eagerly awaiting his appearance. He bowed to the -judge and took up his position at the rails. He determined that, -whatever else they might think, they should not imagine that he was -afraid. Then, with the customary ceremonial, the case was commenced. - -The counsel for the prosecution having finished his case, Mr. Rolland, -having addressed the Court, prepared to call his witnesses. They were -few in number. The landlord of Godfrey's old studio in London deposed -that his rent had always been paid to the moment, and that he had heard -the deceased talk of the kindness she had received at the prisoner's -hands. "It was always in the language of a dependent," he said, "and in -no way that of a girl who believed her patron to be in love with her." - -When the prosecution had declined to cross-examine this witness, the -counsel for the defence arranged his gown and assumed an even more -important air. It was evident that something was about to happen. A -moment later Victor Fensden was recalled. - -"I am anxious, Mr. Fensden," said the counsel, "to ask you a question -regarding your return from the Continent. You have already told the jury -that you returned on the morning of the murder. Am I to understand that -that was really so?" - -"I arrived on Thursday, the 15th," said Victor, and a close observer -would have noticed that he shifted uneasily on his feet as he gave the -answer. - -"I should be glad also to have your repeated assurance that, from the -moment you saw the prisoner purchase that knife in Cairo, you did not -behold it again until it was handed you at the Magistrate's Court?" - -"That also is quite true," said Victor, who by this time was more at his -ease. - -"That is all I want to ask you. You may sit down," said the counsel. -"Call Simon Updale." - -In response to the summons, a short, stout man, who was the possessor of -a fiery beard and the reddest hair ever seen on a human being, made his -appearance and took up his position in the box. He deposed that his -name was Simon Updale, and that he was an able seaman on a steamer -plying between Dover and Calais. On a certain day, a month before the -murder, he had been made the subject of a complaint to the captain by -the previous witness, Mr. Fensden. He was quite certain of the date and -of the passenger's identity, for the reason that one of his mates had -broken his arm before reaching Dover and he wanted to accompany him to -the hospital. On account of the complaint, however, he was not permitted -to go. - -George Perran, steward on the same boat, was next called. He -corroborated what the previous witness had said, and recognised the -witness Fensden as being the gentleman who had made the complaint. - -"That," said Mr. Rolland, "proves conclusively that the witness in -question has committed wilful and corrupt perjury, inasmuch as that he -was in England a month before he stated in his evidence." - -Every eye in Court was riveted on Victor Fensden, whose face turned as -pale as the paper upon which I am writing. - -"I shall now call James Tidmarsh," said Mr. Rolland, and in response to -the summons a small boy climbed into the witness-box. - -His name, he stated, was James Tidmarsh, and he called himself an errand -boy, though as a rule he spent his time hanging about the vicinity of -Euston Station. He remembered distinctly on the night of Friday, the -16th, meeting a gentleman about eight o'clock outside the station who -carried a small wooden box in his hand. That gentleman stopped him and -asked him if he would care to earn half a sovereign. Upon his eagerly -answering in the affirmative, the stranger gave him the box in question -with the sum of fifteen shillings. "Take it to the station," he said, -"and hand it in at the parcel-office to be despatched to the address -written on the label. It won't cost more than a couple of shillings or -half-a-crown, and you can keep the change for yourself. I'll wait here -until you return to tell me it's all right." - -The boy then declared that he started off, handed the box in at the -parcel-office and paid the money. In taking the money the clerk had -_sauced_ him and he had retaliated to the best of his ability. The -result was that the policeman on the platform gave him a good shaking -and turned him out of the building. He informed the gentleman that he -had sent the parcel off, and he had not seen him since that moment until -he came into Court and had heard the witness Fensden give his evidence. -He, the witness to whom he alluded, was, without a shadow of doubt, the -gentleman who had handed him the box to send to Detwich Hall. - -The excitement in Court by this time may be better imagined than -described. The colour of Fensden's face was a dirty gray, and he seemed -to gasp for breath. The counsel for the prosecution seemed uneasy, and -even the judge leaned farther forward than usual, as if he were afraid -of losing a word of what was said. - -The clerk in the parcel-office was next called, and stated that he -remembered the incident in question. The box was a foreign one, and as -he had placed it on the floor he had remarked, "Another made in -Germany." - -The policeman who had turned the boy out of the station followed him. He -had seen the boy deposit a small box upon the counter and heard him say -something cheeky to the clerk. He thereupon bundled him out of the -station. - -When this witness had finished his tale Mr. Rolland said: "Call Jacob -Burrell." - -On hearing this a stir ran through the Court. The famous detective was -well known to all the officials within the building, and they, in the -light of this new discovery and the knowledge that this individual had -taken up the prisoner's case, began to regard the matter in a somewhat -different light. There was a slight flicker of a smile upon the austere -countenance of the judge when the counsel asked the detective his name. - -"Jacob Burrell," was the reply. - -"I understand," went on the counsel, "that you were instructed by my -friend, the solicitor for the defence, to make an investigation into -this case. In the course of that investigation did you visit Naples?" - -"I did," the other replied. - -"And what did you discover there?" - -"I found that the witness Fensden, although he has denied the matter on -oath, was in Naples three weeks after the prisoner passed through on his -way to England." - -The counsel here informed the jury that five affidavits to this effect -would be produced and read. Addressing the witness once more he said: - -"Are you aware that the witness Fensden spent the greater part of his -time in Naples in the company of the deceased woman?" - -"I found that to be the case. On February 3rd they left Naples together -for Vienna, stayed together at the Hotel National, in the Karntner -Strasse, and were married on the 26th of that month at the Church at -Funfhaus, in the Gurtel Strasse. The wedding-ring, which was still upon -the left hand when it was sent to the prisoner, was purchased at the -shop of Messrs. Radler & Hass, in the Kohlmarkt." - -"The head of that firm is now in Court," said Mr. Rolland, "and will -give his evidence. Call Herr Radler." - -Herr Radler thereupon entered the box which Burrell had vacated, and -stated that he well remembered selling the ring in question to an -Englishman who was accompanied by a beautiful Italian lady. The -gentleman he recognised as the witness Fensden, and from the photograph, -that had been shown to him of the dead woman, he was able to swear that -it was for her the ring was purchased. - -Victor Fensden, at this point, sprang to his feet as if to speak, but -his voice failed him, and he sat down again. - -A sworn copy of the marriage certificate having been produced and read, -and handed up for the inspection of the jury, Jacob Burrell was -recalled. - -"When you had traced the witness and the deceased to Vienna, what did -you do?" - -"I returned to England, _vi_ Paris and Calais," he answered. "On -reaching London I followed up certain clews I had received, and found -that the witness and the deceased lived for a short time together in the -country." - -"At what place?" - -"At the village of Laleham on the River Thames." - -Here the counsel for the prosecution rose to protest. - -"Your lordship," he said, "I must respectfully submit that the question -as to whether Mr. Fensden cohabited with the deceased is not relevant to -the case. We are trying the prisoner at the Bar and not Mr. Fensden." - -His opponent took up the challenge. - -"I respectfully submit that I am in the right," said Rolland. "In -eliciting this information I am leading up to the question of motive, -and I am sure my learned friend will admit that that is an all-important -point. - -"I am afraid I must rule against you," said the judge, addressing the -Prosecuting counsel. "Anything that tends to throw a light upon the -proceedings of the deceased so short a time prior to the murder can -scarcely fail to be relevant." - -Once more readjusting his gown, Mr. Rolland invited Burrell to proceed. - -"How long did witness and the deceased occupy the house at Laleham?" - -"For more than a fortnight. Then Fensden left her in a strange place -without a penny in the world." (Here a murmur of indignation ran through -the Court, which, by the judge's orders, was instantly suppressed.) - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland. "Call Elizabeth Raikes." - -The owner of Laburnum Cottage next entered the box, and, though much -flurried by the novel position in which she found herself, gave evidence -to the effect that the deceased and Fensden had occupied apartments at -her house for the period mentioned by the previous witness. She was -quite sure, from things she had overheard, that they were not happy -together, and she knew that the man treated the woman cruelly. Sometimes -he was away for a couple of days, and one day he disappeared altogether -without paying for anything they had had while in the house, and leaving -his wife totally unprovided for. She had heard the present case talked -about, but had not associated the victim with the Mrs. Onslow who had -occupied rooms at her cottage. - -"I have two more witnesses to call," said Mr. Rolland, when Mrs. Raikes -had stepped down. "Then, my lord, I shall have completed my case. Call -Mrs. Wilhelmina Montgomery." - -A tall, handsome woman, fashionably attired, stepped into the -witness-box and took the oath. In response to the question put her by -the counsel for the defence, she stated that her name was Wilhelmina -Montgomery, and that she was the widow of George Montgomery, late of -Sheffield. "I live at No. 13, Bridgeworth Road, Richmond," she -continued. "I first met the witness, Victor Fensden, at Baden, while -travelling with some friends, in December last. We became very intimate, -and, when he returned to England early in March, he called upon me at -my house. Eventually he asked me to marry him, and after some -hesitation I consented to do so. I have three thousand a year invested -in Consols, and a considerable amount of ready money lying idle at the -bank. This may or may not have been his motive, but I have no knowledge -of that. Mr. Fensden was anxious for an immediate marriage, but to this -I would not consent. I knew that he was in the hands of the Jews, but I -would have paid off his indebtedness after marriage. He stayed at my -house on several occasions, as did others of my friends. One day I went -out to do some shopping, and on my return discovered him in my boudoir. -He held a piece of yellow soap in his hand and a large number of -door-keys were spread out on the table before him. I asked him what he -was doing, and he answered that he was endeavouring to find a key -similar to the one he had lost. My housekeeper had furnished him with -several, and he had at last found one that fitted the imprint in the -soap. On the night of the murder he informed me that it would be -necessary for him to attend an important meeting, and that it was just -possible he would not be back until late. As a matter of fact, it was -considerably after one o'clock, perhaps half-past one, when he -returned. On the Saturday following he left me to go down to -Midlandshire to pay a visit to an old friend, he said, who was about to -be married. Before he went he once more pressed me for an early -marriage, suggesting, knowing that I am fond of travelling, that we -should immediately set off for a long trip round the world." - -The box which had contained the hands was then handed to her, and she -was asked if she recognised it. - -"Yes," she answered immediately. "If you look underneath I think you -will find a large inkstain. (This proved to be the case.) I brought some -things in it from Vienna. How Mr. Fensden obtained possession of it, -however, I do not know." - -The counsel for the prosecution having no questions to ask, the witness -was allowed to stand down. - -"Call Joseph Hodder," said Mr. Rolland, and, to Godfrey's amazement, one -of his own under-gardeners entered the box. Having taken the oath, he -stated, in reply to the counsel's question, that, on the Sunday -following the murder, it was his duty to attend to the stoking of the -fires of the various conservatories at the Hall. He knew that his -master and the ladies had gone to Church, because he had passed them in -the park, and that the strange gentleman had remained at home, because, -when he had passed the drawing-room window on his way to his work, he -saw him sitting before the fire reading. Having attended to the fires in -the vineries and other garden-houses, he returned to the Hall itself to -look after the heat in the new winter garden that Mr. Henderson had -built. From this house in question it is quite possible to see into the -studio, and, to his surprise, he discovered the gentleman visitor was no -longer in the drawing-room, but was kneeling beside the big bookcase -near the fireplace in the studio. It looked as if he were feeling for -something behind it, but what that something was he had no idea. When he -was asked why he had not given information on this matter before, he -replied that he had not attached any importance to it until he had -talked it over with the head gardener on the day following the search by -the police. Then he had gone to Miss Henderson, and had told her. She -had written at once to his master's lawyer, and that was all he knew -about it. - -"The evidence of this man," said Mr. Rolland, "completes my case." - -The words had scarcely left his lips before Victor Fensden was seen to -spring to his feet. Once more he opened his mouth as if to speak, and -once more he failed to utter a word. Then, with a loud cry, he fell -forward in a swoon. Two of the policemen near at hand ran forward to -pick him up. Between them, they carried him out of the Court to an -adjoining room. In the Court itself at that moment, it would have been -possible to have heard a pin drop. Then the judge found his voice. - -"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the jury, "after the astounding -evidence you have just heard, I am thankful to say that, in my opinion, -there is not the least shadow of a reason for continuing the case -against the prisoner at the bar. In this I feel sure you will concur -with me." - -The foreman of the jury entirely agreed with his lordship, and at the -same time desired to express, on behalf of himself and his brother -jurymen, their great regret that a gentleman of Mr. Henderson's position -should, by another man's action, have been placed in such an unhappy -predicament. - -"With that I quite agree," said the counsel for the prosecution. - -This was the signal for general applause in Court, which, somehow, was -not checked by the judge as quickly as is customary in such cases. - -When silence had been restored, the latter addressed Godfrey. - -"Godfrey Henderson," he said, and his voice was very impressive, "by -reason of the false evidence that has been given against you, by a cruel -and vindictive man, you have been brought to the dock of this Court, and -charged with the perpetration of a most cruel and bloodthirsty crime. Of -that crime twelve of your countrymen have declared you to be innocent, -and to their testimony I emphatically add my own. While it is not in my -power to offer you the hope of receiving any return for the anxiety you -have suffered, I can say something that I know you will value much more; -that is, that you leave this Court a free man, and without the shadow of -a stain upon your character." - -"I thank you, my lord," said Godfrey, quietly, and at that moment one of -the ushers of the Court entered and approached the judge. - -"Gentlemen," said the latter, again addressing the Court, "I think it -only right to make it known to you that a Higher Power than that I -represent has intervened, and the wretched man, who has caused all this -misery and suffering, has been suddenly called to appear before a -greater Tribunal. May God have mercy upon his soul!" - -Then the Court was cleared, and Godfrey found himself shaking hands with -Sir Vivian and the men who had worked so hard to prove his innocence. -When he had thanked them from the very bottom of his heart, Sir Vivian -took his arm. - -"Come away now, come away," said the old gentleman. "There are other -people waiting to welcome you." - -Seizing Godfrey by the arm, he hurried him out into the street to a cab -which was waiting there. Ten minutes later he was locked in his mother's -arms. - -"O Godfrey," said Molly, as he embraced her in her turn, "I knew that -God would send you back to me!" - - * * * * * - -A week later Godfrey and Molly were married by special license, and left -England the same day for the South of France. They are now back again at -the Hall, and as happy as two young people could well expect to be. The -clouds that shadowed their lives at one time are now completely -dispersed, but, if Godfrey lives to be a hundred, he will never forget -the agony he suffered in connection with what the newspapers called "The -Mystery of the Clasped Hands." - -THE END - - - - -APPLETONS' TOWN AND COUNTRY LIBRARY. - -PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY. - - - * * * * * - - 1. _The Steel Hammer_. By L. ULBACH. - 2. _Eve_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 3. _For Fifteen Years_. By L. ULBACH. - 4. _A Counsel of Perfection_. By L. MALET. - 5. _The Deemster_. By H. CAINE. - 5-1/2. _The Bondman_. By H. CAINE. - 6. _A Virginia Inheritance_. By E. PENDLETON. - 7. _Ninette_. By the author of Vra. - 8. "_The Right Honourable._" By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 9. _The Silence of Dean Maitland_. By M. GRAY. - 10. _Mrs. Lorimer_. By L. MALET. - 11. _The Elect Lady_. By G. MACDONALD. - 12. _The Mystery of the "Ocean Star."_ By W. C. RUSSELL. - 13. _Aristocracy_. - 14. _A Recoiling Vengeance_. By F. BARRETT. - 15. _The Secret of Fontaine-la-Croix_. By M. FIELD. - 16. _The Master of Rathkelly_. By H. SMART. - 17. _Donovan_. By E. LYALL. - 18. _This Mortal Coil_. By G. ALLEN. - 19. _A Fair Emigrant_. By R. MULHOLLAND. - 20. _The Apostate_. By E. DAUDET. - 21. _Raleigh Westgate_. By H. K. JOHNSON. - 22. _Arius the Libyan_. - 23. _Constance_, and _Calbot's Rival_. By J. HAWTHORNE. - 24. _We Two_. By E. LYALL. - 25. _A Dreamer of Dreams_. By the author of Thoth. - 26. _The Ladies' Gallery_. By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 27. _The Reproach of Annesley_. By M. GRAY. - 28. _Near to Happiness_. - 29. _In the Wire Grass_. By L. PENDLETON. - 30. _Lace_. By P. LINDAU. - 30-1/2. _The Black Poodle_. By F. ANSTEY. - 31. _American Coin_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 32. _Won by Waiting_. By E. LYALL. - 33. _The Story of Helen Davenant_. By V. FANE. - 34. _The Light of Her Countenance_. By H. H. BOYESEN. - 35. _Mistress Beatrice Cope_. By M. E. LE CLERC. - 36. _The Knight-Errant_. By E. LYALL. - 37. _In the Golden Days_. By E. LYALL. - 38. _Giraldi_. By R. G. DERING. - 39. _A Hardy Norseman_. By E. LYALL. - 40. _The Romance of Jenny Harlowe_, and _Sketches of Maritime Life_. - By W. C. RUSSELL. - 41. _Passion's Slave_. By R. ASHE-KING. - 42. _The Awakening of Mary Fenwick_. By B. WHITBY. - 43. _Countess Loreley_. By R. MENGER. - 44. _Blind Love_. By W. COLLINS. - 45. _The Dean's Daughter_. By S. F. F. VEITCH. - 46. _Countess Irene_. By J. FOGERTY. - 47. _Robert Browning's Principal Shorter Poems_. - 48. _Frozen Hearts_. By G. W. APPLETON. - 49. _Djambek the Georgian_. By A. G. VON SUTTNER. - 50. _The Craze of Christian Engelhart_. By H. F. DARNELL. - 51. _Lal_. By W. A. HAMMOND, M. D. - 52. _Aline_. By H. GRVILLE. - 53. _Joost Avelingh_. By M. MAARTENS. - 54. _Katy of Catoctin_. By G. A. TOWNSEND. - 55. _Throckmorton_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 56. _Expatriation_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 57. _Geoffrey Hampstead_. By T. S. JARVIS. - 58. _Dmitri_. By F. W. BAIN, M. A. - 59. _Part of the Property_. By B. WHITBY. - 60. _Bismarck in Private Life_. By a Fellow-Student. - 61. _In Low Relief_. By M. ROBERTS. - 62. _The Canadians of Old_. By P. GASP. - 63. _A Squire of Low Degree_. By L. A. LONG. - 64. _A Fluttered Dovecote_. By G. M. FENN. - 65. _The Nugents of Carriconna_. By T. HOPKINS. - 66. _A Sensitive Plant_. By E. and D. GERARD. - 67. _Doa Luz_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 68. _Pepita Ximenez_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 69. _The Primes and their Neighbors_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 70. _The Iron Game_. By H. F. KEENAN. - 71. _Stories of Old New Spain_. By T. A. JANVIER. - 72. _The Maid of Honor_. By Hon. L. WINGFIELD. - 73. _In the Heart of the Storm_. By M. GRAY. - 74. _Consequences_. By E. CASTLE. - 75. _The Three Miss Kings_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 76. _A Matter of Skill_. By B. WHITBY. - 77. _Maid Marian, and Other Stories_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 78. _One Woman's Way_. By E. PENDLETON. - 79. _A Merciful Divorce_. By F. W. MAUDE. - 80. _Stephen Ellicott's Daughter_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 81. _One Reason Why_. By B. WHITBY. - 82. _The Tragedy of Ida Noble_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 83. _The Johnstown Stage, and Other Stories_. By R. H. FLETCHER. - 84. _A Widower Indeed_. By R. BROUGHTON and E. BISLAND. - 85. _The Flight of a Shadow_. By G. MACDONALD. - 86. _Love or Money_. By K. LEE. - 87. _Not All in Vain_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 88. _It Happened Yesterday_. By F. MARSHALL. - 89. _My Guardian_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 90. _The Story of Philip Methuen_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 91. _Amethyst_. By C. R. COLERIDGE. - 92. _Don Braulio_. By J. VALERA. Translated by C. BELL. - 93. _The Chronicles of Mr. Bill Williams_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 94. _A Queen of Curds and Cream_. By D. GERARD. - 95. "_La Bella" and Others_. By E. CASTLE. - 96. "_December Roses_." By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 97. _Jean de Kerdren_. By J. SCHULTZ. - 98. _Etelka's Vow_. By D. GERARD. - 99. _Cross Currents_. By M. A. DICKENS. - 100. _His life's Magnet_. By T. ELMSLIE. - 101. _Passing the Love of Women_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 102. _In Old St. Stephen's_. By J. DRAKE. - 103. _The Berkeleys and their Neighbors_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 104. _Mono Maclean, Medical Student_. By G. TRAVERS. - 105. _Mrs. Bligh_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 106. _A Stumble on the Threshold_. By J. PAYN. - 107. _Hanging Moss_. By P. LINDAU. - 108. _A Comedy of Elopement_. By C. REID. - 109. _In the Suntime of her Youth_. By B. WHITBY. - 110. _Stories in Black and White_. By T. HARDY and Others. - 110-1/2. _An Englishman in Paris_. - 111. _Commander Mendoza_. By J. VALERA. - 112. _Dr. Paull's Theory_. By Mrs. A. M. DIEHL. - 113. _Children of Destiny_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 114. _A Little Minx_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 115. _Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon_. By H. CAINE. - 116. _The Voice of a Flower_. By E. GERARD. - 117. _Singularly Deluded_. By S. GRAND. - 118. _Suspected_. By L. STRATENUS. - 119. _Lucia, Hugh, and Another_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 120. _The Tutor's Secret_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 121. _From the Five Rivers_. By Mrs. F. A. STEEL. - 122. _An Innocent Impostor, and Other Stories_. By M. GRAY. - 123. _Ideala_. By S. GRAND. - 124. _A Comedy of Masks_. By E. DOWSON and A. MOORE. - 125. _Relics_. By F. MACNAB. - 126. _Dodo: A Detail of the Day_. By E. F. BENSON. - 127. _A Woman of Forty_. By E. STUART. - 128. _Diana Tempest_. By M. CHOLMONDELEY. - 129. _The Recipe for Diamonds_. By C. J. C. HYNE. - 130. _Christina Chard_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 131. _A Gray Eye or So_. By F. F. MOORE. - 132. _Earlscourt_. By A. ALLARDYCE. - 133. _A Marriage Ceremony_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 134. _A Ward in Chancery_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 135. _Lot 13_. By D. GERARD. - 136. _Our Manifold Nature_. By S. GRAND. - 137. _A Costly Freak_. By M. GRAY. - 138. _A Beginner_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 139. _A Yellow Aster_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN ("IOTA"). - 140. _The Rubicon_. By E. F. BENSON. - 141. _The Trespasser_. By G. PARKER. - 142. _The Rich Miss Riddell_. By D. GERARD. - 143. _Mary Fenwick's Daughter_. By B. WHITBY. - 144. _Red Diamonds_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 145. _A Daughter of Music_. By G. COLMORE. - 146. _Outlaw and Lawmaker_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 147. _Dr. Janet of Harley Street_. By A. KENEALY. - 148. _George Mandeville's Husband_. By C. E. RAIMOND. - 149. _Vashti and Esther_. - 150. _Timar's Two Worlds_. By M. JOKAI. - 151. _A Victim of Good Luck_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 152. _The Trail of the Sword_. By G. PARKER. - 153. _A Mild Barbarian_. By E. FAWCETT. - 154. _The God in the Car_. By A. HOPE. - 155. _Children of Circumstance_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN. - 156. _At the Gate of Samaria_. By W. J. LOCKE. - 157. _The Justification of Andrew Lebrun_. By F. BARRETT. - 158. _Dust and Laurels_. By M. L. PENDERED. - 159. _The Good Ship Mohock_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 160. _Nomi_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 161. _The Honour of Savelli_. By S. L. YEATS. - 162. _Kitty's Engagement_. By F. WARDEN. - 163. _The Mermaid_. By L. DOUGALL. - 164. _An Arranged Marriage_. By D. GERARD. - 165. _Eve's Ransom_. By G. GISSING. - 166. _The Marriage of Esther_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 167. _Fidelis_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 168. _Into the Highways and Hedges_. By F. F. MONTRSOR. - 169. _The Vengeance of James Vansittart_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 170. _A Study in Prejudices_. By G. PASTON. - 171. _The Mistress of Quest_. By A. SERGEANT. - 172. _In the Year of Jubilee_. By G. GISSING. - 173. _In Old New England_. By H. BUTTERWORTH. - 174. _Mrs. Musgrave--and Her Husband_. By R. MARSH. - 175. _Not Counting the Cost_. By TASMA. - 176. _Out of Due Season_. By A. SERGEANT. - 177. _Scylla or Charybdis?_ By R. BROUGHTON. - 178. _In Defiance of the King_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 179. _A Bid for Fortune_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 180. _The King of Andaman_. By J. M. COBBAN. - 181. _Mrs. Tregaskiss_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 182. _The Desire of the Moth_. By C. VANE. - 183. _A Self-Denying Ordinance_. By M. HAMILTON. - 184. _Successors to the Title_. By Mrs. L. B. WALFORD. - 185. _The Lost Stradivarius_. By J. M. FALKNER. - 186. _The Wrong Man_. By D. GERARD. - 187. _In the Day of Adversity_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 188. _Mistress Dorothy Marvin_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 189. _A Flash of Summer_. By Mrs. W. K. CLIFFORD. - 190. _The Dancer in Yellow_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 191. _The Chronicles of Martin Hewitt_. By A. MORRISON. - 192. _A Winning Hazard_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 193. _The Picture of Las Cruces_. By C. REID. - 194. _The Madonna of a Day_. By L. DOUGALL. - 195. _The Riddle Ring_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 196. _A Humble Enterprise_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 197. _Dr. Nikola_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 198. _An Outcast of the Islands_. By J. CONRAD. - 199. _The King's Revenge_. By C. BRAY. - 200. _Denounced_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 201. _A Court Intrigue_. By B. THOMPSON. - 202. _The Idol-Maker_. By A. SERGEANT. - 203. _The Intriguers_. By J. D. BARRY. - 204. _Master Ardick, Buccaneer_. By F. H. COSTELLO. - 205. _With Fortune Made_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 206. _Fellow Travellers_. By G. TRAVERS. - 207. _McLeod of the Camerons_. By M. HAMILTON. - 208. _The Career of Candida_. By G. PASTON. - 209. _Arrested_. By E. STUART. - 210. _Tatterley_. By T. GALLON. - 211. _A Pinchbeck Goddess_. By Mrs. J. M. FLEMING (A. M. Kipling). - 212. _Perfection City_. By Mrs. ORPEN. - 213. _A Spotless Reputation_. By D. GERARD. - 214. _A Galahad of the Creeks_. By S. L. YEATS. - 215. _The Beautiful White Devil_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 216. _The Sun of Saratoga_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 217. _Fierceheart, the Soldier_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 218. _Marietta's Marriage_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 219. _Dear Faustina_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 220. _Nlma_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 221. _The Folly of Pen Harrington_. By J. STURGIS. - 222. _A Colonial Free-Lance_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 223. _His Majesty's Greatest Subject_. By S. S. THORBURN. - 224. _Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer_. By A. RAINE. - 225. _A Soldier of Manhattan_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 226. _Fortune's Footballs_. By G. B. BURGIN. - 227. _The Clash of Arms_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 228. _God's Foundling_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 229. _Miss Providence_. By D. GERARD. - 230. _The Freedom of Henry Meredyth_. By M. HAMILTON. - 231. _Sweethearts and Friends_. By M. GRAY. - 232. _Sunset_. By B. WHITBY. - 233. _A Fiery Ordeal_. By TASMA. - 234. _A Prince of Mischance_. By T. GALLON. - 235. _A Passionate Pilgrim_. By P. WHITE. - 236. _This Little World_. By D. C. MURRAY. - 237. _A Forgotten Sin_. By D. GERARD. - 238. _The Incidental Bishop_. By G. ALLEN. - 239. _The Lake of Wine_. By B. CAPES. - 240. _A Trooper of the Empress_. By C. ROSS. - 241. _Torn Sails_. By A. RAINE. - 242. _Materfamilias_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 243. _John of Strathbourne_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 244. _The Millionaires_. By F. F. MOORE. - 245. _The Looms of Time_. By Mrs. H. FRASER. - 246. _The Queen's Cup_. By G. A. HENTY. - 247. _Dicky Monteith_. By T. GALLON. - 248. _The Lust of Hate_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 249. _The Gospel Writ in Steel_. By ARTHUR PATERSON. - 250. _The Widower_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 251. _The Scourge of God_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 252. _Concerning Isabel Carnaby_. By ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER. - 253. _The Impediment_. By D. GERARD. - 254. _Belinda--and Some Others_. By ETHEL MAUDE. - 255. _The Key of the Holy House_. By ALBERT LEE. - 256. _A Writer of Books_. By G. PASTON. - 257. _The Knight of the Golden Chain_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 258. _Ricroft of Withens_. By HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE. - 259. _The Procession of Life_. By HORACE A. VACHELL. - 260. _By Berwen Banks_. By A. RAINE. - 261. _Pharos, the Egyptian_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 262. _Paul Carah, Cornishman_. By CHARLES LEE. - 263. _Pursued by the Law_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - 264. _Madame Izn_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 265. _Fortune's my Foe_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 266. _A Cosmopolitan Comedy_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 267. _The Kingdom of Hate_. By T. GALLON. - 268. _The Game and the Candle_. By RHODA BROUGHTON. - 269. _Dr. Nikola's Experiment_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 270. _The Strange Story of Hester Wynne_. By G. COLMORE. - 271. _Lady Barbarity_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 272. _A Bitter Heritage_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 273. _The Heiress of the Season_. By Sir WILLIAM MAGNAY, Bart. - 274. _A Voyage at Anchor_. By W. CLARK RUSSELL. - 275. _The Idol of the Blind_. By T. GALLON. - 276. _A Corner of the West_. By EDITH HENRIETTA FOWLER. - 277. _The Story of Ronald Kestrel_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 278. _The World's Mercy_. By M. GRAY. - 279. _The Gentleman Pensioner_. By ALBERT LEE. - 280. _A Maker of Nations_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 281. _Mirry-Ann_. By NORMA LORIMER. - 282. _The Immortal Garland_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 283. _Garthowen_. By ALLEN RAINE. - 284. _The Lunatic at Large_. By J. STORER CLOUSTON. - 285. _The Seafarers_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 286. _The Minister's Guest_. By ISABEL SMITH. - 287. _The Last Sentence_. By M. GRAY. - 288. _Brown of Lost River_. By MARY E. STICKNEY. - 289. _The Jay-Hawkers_. By ADELA E. ORPEN. - 290. _The Flower of the Flock_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 291. _A Private Chivalry_. By FRANCIS LYNDE. - 292. _King Stork of the Netherlands_. By ALBERT LEE. - 293. _Path and Goal_. By ADA CAMBRIDGE. - 294. _My Indian Queen_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 295. _A Hero in Homespun_. By WM. E. BARTON. - 296. _A Royal Exchange_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - - * * * * * - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - - - - * * * * * - -FOR NATURE LOVERS AND ANGLERS. - - * * * * * - - -Familiar Fish: Their Habits and Capture. - -A Practical Book on Fresh-Water Game Fish. By EUGENE MCCARTHY. With an -Introduction by Dr. David Starr Jordan, President of Leland Stanford -Junior University, and numerous Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - This informing and practical book describes in a most interesting - fashion the habits and environment of our familiar freshwater game - fish, including anadromous fish like the salmon and sea trout. The - life of a fish is traced in a manner very interesting to Nature - lovers, while the simple and useful explanations of the methods of - angling for different fish will be appreciated by fishermen old and - young. As one of the most experienced of American fishermen, Mr. - McCarthy is able to speak with authority regarding salmon, trout, - ouananiche, bass, pike, and pickerel, and other fish which are the - object of the angler's pursuit. His clear and practical counsel as - to fly-casting, and rods and tackle and their use, and his advice - as to outfits and the various details of camp life, render his book - a most useful companion for all sportsmen and campers. Dr. David - Starr Jordan has read the manuscript, and has lent the weight of - his approval by writing an introduction. The book is profusely - illustrated with pictures and serviceable diagrams. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. - - * * * * * - - -By F. SCHUYLER MATHEWS. - -Familiar Flowers of Field and Garden. - - Illustrated by the Author. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $1.75; - Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $2.25. - -Familiar Trees and their Leaves. - - Illustrated from Nature by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Features of the Roadside. - - With Illustrations by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Life in Field and Forest. - - With many Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - - * * * * * - -The Art of Taxidermy. - - By JOHN ROWLEY. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. - -Insect Life. - - By JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $2.50; - Teachers' and Students' Edition, $1.50. - -The Insect World. - - By CLARENCE M. WEED. 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents. - -Bird-Life. - - A Study of our Common Birds. By FRANK M. CHAPMAN, Assistant Curator - of Mammalogy and Ornithology in the American Museum of Natural - History. Illustrated by Ernest Seton Thompson. 12mo, cloth, $1.75. - With 75 full-page Plates in Colors, 8vo, cloth, $5.00. - -Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. - - By FRANK M. CHAPMAN. With nearly 200 Illustrations. 12mo. Library - Edition, cloth, $3.00; Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $3.50. - - - - - * * * * * - -RECENT FICTION. - - * * * * * - - -The Brass Bottle. - -A Romance. By F. ANSTEY, author of "Vice Versa," etc., With -Frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Not only is the plot of the book novel, like all of Anstey's work, - but he has developed it with rare skill. The rollicking hilarity - and absurdity of the conception are carried off with a gravity and - seriousness that is the very essence of droll fun. The man who - loves to laugh will find 'The Brass Bottle' a fountain of - mirth."--_Brooklyn Eagle_. - -The Eagle's Heart. - -A Story of the West. By HAMLIN GARLAND, author of "A Spoil of Office," -"A Member of the Third House," "Wayside Courtships," etc. 12mo. Cloth, -$1.50. - - "'The Eagle's Heart' is Mr. Garland's best work, considered as a - story of sustained interest, strong characters, and exciting - incidents."--_Cleveland Plain Dealer_. - - "Hamlin Garland may be seen at his best in 'The Eagle's Heart.'... - He has graphically depicted the wild life on the Western plains; - he has added a symmetrical and intensely interesting character - study of the typical plainsman, and through the whole there runs a - dainty love motive. These elements are combined with artistic - skill."--_Chicago Tribune_. - - "Mr. Garland gives us as true a historical novel as any of the - colonial period or the days of the War for Independence. He - presents the dignity of the life and its service to the nation. - 'The Eagle's Heart' is a splendid achievement."--_New York Mail - and Express_. - -The Footsteps of a Throne. - -A Romance. By MAX PEMBERTON. Uniform with "Kronstadt" and "The Phantom -Army." Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "The reader's attention is held breathlessly until the last page - has been turned."--_Boston Journal_. - - "The book trade has all at once had a great revival. Quite ten - thousand copies of Mr. Max Pemberton's new story, 'Footsteps of a - Throne,' have already been issued in this country alone. Of - course, this is generally regarded as by far the best story, as - well as one of the most dramatic, the author has yet - written."--_From a special London cable to the New York Herald_. - - - - - * * * * * - -ADA CAMBRIDGE'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Path and Goal. - -This latest book shows the constant human interest which characterizes -the work of this sympathetic and charming writer. There is an -entertaining plot, and the backgrounds of the varying scenes of action -are sketched most vividly. - -Materfamilias. - -"The story is fragrant with the breath of farms, the aroma of the salt -sea, and the even sweeter essence that exhales from the homely virtues, -practiced amid simple surroundings, where family ties are strong, and -where love, loyal and true, reigns as queen."--_Philadelphia Item_. - -A Humble Enterprise. - -"A restful, sympathetic, domestic story, full of tender pathos, -excellent character drawing, and genuine, lovable human nature--a story -to be read, not once, but again and again."--_London Daily Mail_. - -Fidelis. - -"The original flavor of Ada Cambridge is not lost but enriched by being -ingrafted on a sturdy stock. Her pictures of Australia and of rural -England are as attractive as ever, her story better than ever."--_New -York Evening Post_. - -My Guardian. - -"A story which will, from first to last, enlist the sympathies of the -reader by its simplicity of style and fresh, genuine feeling.... The -author is _au fait_ at the delineation of character."--_Boston -Transcript_. - -The Three Miss Kings. - -"An exceedingly strong novel. It is an Australian story, teeming with a -certain calmness of emotional power that finds expression in a continual -outflow of living thought and feeling."--_Boston Times_. - -Not All in Vain. - -"A worthy companion to the best of the author's former efforts, and in -some respects superior to any of them."--_Detroit Free Press_. - -A Marriage Ceremony. - -"Highly original in conception, its action graceful though rapid, and -its characters sparkling with that life and sprightliness that have made -their author rank as a peer of delineators."--_Baltimore American_. - -A Little Minx. - -"A thoroughly charming novel, which is just the finest bit of work its -author has yet accomplished."--_Baltimore American_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY ALLEN RAINE. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Garthowen: A Welsh Idyl. - -"Wales has long waited for her novelist, but he seems to have come at -last in the person of Mr. Allen Raine, who has at once proved himself a -worthy interpreter and exponent of the romantic spirit of his -country."--_London Daily Mail_. - -By Berwen Banks. - -"Mr. Raine enters into the lives and traditions of the people, and -herein lies the charm of his stories."--_Chicago Tribune_. - -"Interesting from the beginning, and grows more so as it -proceeds."--_San Francisco Bulletin_. - -"It has the same grace of style, strength of description, and dainty -sweetness of its predecessors."--_Boston Saturday Evening Gazette_. - -Torn Sails. - -"It is a little idyl of humble life and enduring love, laid bare before -us, very real and pure, which in its telling shows us some strong points -of Welsh character--the pride, the hasty temper, the quick dying out of -wrath.... We call this a well-written story, interesting alike through -its romance and its glimpses into another life than ours."--_Detroit -Free Press_. - -"Allen Raine's work is in the right direction and worthy of all -honor."--_Boston Budget_. - -Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer. - -"Simple in all its situations, the story is worked up in that touching -and quaint strain which never grows wearisome no matter how often the -lights and shadows of love are introduced. It rings true, and does not -tax the imagination."--_Boston Herald_. - -"One of the most charming tales that has come to us of late."--_Brooklyn -Eagle_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY J. A. ALTSHELER. - - * * * * * - - -In Circling Camps. - -A Romance of the American Civil War. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Mr. Altsheler has an enviable reputation. His method is that of - Fenimore Cooper.... In 'In Circling Camps' he tells a good, strong, - human story for its own sake, and not for the sake of showing off - his talent as a literary story-teller. He gives us some great - battle pieces, notably Shiloh and Gettysburg. His admiration of the - nobler qualities of 'old friends turned foes' is so hearty and so - sincerely dramatic that we love and pity the terrible valor of - both."--_Richard Henry Stoddard, in the New York Mail and Express_. - - "The author seeks to interpret some of the situations of the civil - war, and read to us out of the well-known records the story of - personal bravery, the drama of personal history, and the old story - of love which went on behind the grim scenes of - war."--_Philadelphia Call_. - -A Herald of the West. - -An American Story of 1811-1815. 12mo. Cloth, $ 1.50. - - "A portion of our history that has not before been successfully - embodied in fiction.... Extremely well written, condensed, vivid, - picturesque, and there is continual action.... A rattling good - story, and unrivaled in fiction for its presentation of the - American feeling toward England during our second - conflict."--_Boston Herald_. - -A Soldier of Manhattan. - -And his Adventures at Ticonderoga and Quebec. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, -50 cents. - - "The story is told in such a simple, direct way that it holds the - reader's interest to the end, and gives a most accurate picture of - the times."--_Boston Transcript_. - - "Graphic and intensely interesting.... The book may be warmly - commended as a good specimen of the fiction that makes history - real and living."--_San Francisco Chronicle_. - -The Sun of Saratoga. - -A Romance of Burgoyne's Surrender. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - "Taken altogether, 'The Sun of Saratoga' is the best historical - novel of American origin that has been written for years, if not, - indeed, in a fresh, simple, unpretending, unlabored, manly way, - that we have ever read."--_New York Mail and Express_. - - "A sprightly and spirited romance gracefully written in a crisp, - fresh style that is simply delightful to read."--_Philadelphia - Press_. - - - - - * * * * * - -"AN EPIC OF THE WEST." - - * * * * * - - -The Girl at the Halfway House. - -A Romance of the Plains. By E. HOUGH, author of "The Story of the -Cowboy." 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - The author of "The Girl at the Halfway House," Mr. E. Hough, gained - general recognition by his remarkable book, "The Story of the - Cowboy," published by D. Appleton and Company in this country, and - also published in England. - - "The Girl at the Halfway House" has been called an American epic - by critics who have read the manuscript. The author illustrates - the strange life of the great westward movement which became so - marked in this country after the civil war. A dramatic picture of - a battlefield, which has been compared to scenes in "The Red Badge - of Courage," opens the story. After this "Day of War," in which - the hero and heroine first meet, there comes "The Day of the - Buffalo." The reader follows the course of the hero and his - friend, a picturesque old army veteran, to the frontier, then - found on the Western plains. The author, than whom no one can - speak with fuller knowledge, pictures the cowboy on his native - range, the wild life of the buffalo hunters, the coming of the - white-topped emigrant wagons, and the strange days of the early - land booms. Into this new world comes the heroine, whose family - finally settles near at hand, illustrating the curious phases of - the formation of a prairie home. The third part of the story, - called "The Day of the Cattle," sketches the wild days when the - range cattle covered the plains and the cowboys owned the towns. - The fourth part of the story is called "The Day of the Plow," and - in this we find that the buffalo has passed from the adopted - country of hero and heroine, and the era of towns and land booms - has begun. - - Nothing has been written on the opening of the West to excel this - romance in epic quality, and its historic interest, as well as its - freshness, vividness, and absorbing interest, should appeal to - every American reader. - - - - - * * * * * - -A NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE. - - * * * * * - - -Betsy Ross. - -_A Romance of the Flag_. By CHAUNCEY C. HOTCHKISS, author of "In -Defiance of the King," etc. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Betsy Ross" is a historical romance based upon the story of the - maker of the first official American flag. Mrs. Ross was a charming - young widow of but little more than twenty-three when she was - commissioned to make the flag from a design submitted to her by - Washington. Her husband had been killed by an accident at the - Philadelphia arsenal within a few months after his marriage. - - The romance which the author has woven around the origin of our - flag will quicken the pulse of every reader by the wealth of - striking characters and dramatic incidents, and the absorbing - interest of the plot. History has furnished a motive which has - been curiously neglected in fiction, and the picturesque figures - of the time, sea-rangers and Quakers, redcoats and Continental - soldiers, and even Washington himself, have to do with the - development of a strange and thrilling story wherein Betsy Ross - takes the leading part. The ancient tavern, the home of the - Philadelphia merchant, the flag-maker's little shop, and the - quaint and charming life of the time, are shown as the background - of a series of swift incidents which hold the reader's attention. - "Betsy Ross" is a book to be read, and the reader will recommend - it. - - The Betsy Ross of history was a singularly bright and winsome - woman, and intensely patriotic. Mr. Hotchkiss's story has been - confined to the romantic days of her early womanhood. The house in - which the flag was completed, and in and about which most of the - action of the novel takes place, still stands on Arch Street, - Philadelphia, and the attempt to preserve it as one of the shrines - connected with American history is meeting with deserved success. - Mrs. Ross (afterward Mrs. Claypoole) died at the great age of - ninety-three, and her remains lie in Mount Moriah Cemetery. - - * * * * * - -D. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/42807-8.zip b/old/42807-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 98bbf43..0000000 --- a/old/42807-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/42807.txt b/old/42807.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9719efc..0000000 --- a/old/42807.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7811 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mystery of the Clasped Hands, by Guy -Boothby - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Mystery of the Clasped Hands - A Novel - - -Author: Guy Boothby - - - -Release Date: May 25, 2013 [eBook #42807] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS*** - - -E-text prepared by Annie McGuire from page images generously made -available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - http://www.google.com/books?id=_qIlAAAAMAAJ - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - - * * * * * - -GUY BOOTHBY'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - The Mystery of the Clasped Hands. - My Indian Queen. - A Maker of Nations. - Dr. Nikola's Experiment. - Pharos, the Egyptian. - The Lust of Hate. - The Beautiful White Devil. - Dr. Nikola. - A Bid for Fortune. - The Marriage of Esther. - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - * * * * * - - -THE MYSTERY OF THE CLASPED HANDS - -A Novel - -by - -GUY BOOTHBY - -Author of Dr. Nikola's Experiment -Pharos, The Egyptian -My Indian Queen, etc. - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - -New York -D. Appleton and Company -1901 - -Copyright, 1901, -By D. Appleton and Company. - - - - -CHAPTER I - - -"I never knew such a fellow as you are for ferreting out these low, -foreign eating-houses," said Godfrey Henderson to his friend, Victor -Fensden, as they turned from Oxford Street into one of the narrow -thoroughfares in the neighbourhood of Soho. "Why you should take such -trouble, and at the same time do your digestion such irreparable injury, -I can not imagine. There are any number of places where you can get a -chop or steak, free of garlic, in a decent quarter of the Town, to say -nothing of being waited upon by a man who _does_ look as if he had been -brave enough to face the dangers of washing once or twice within five -years." - -His companion only laughed. - -"Go on, my friend, go on," he said, blowing a cloud of cigarette smoke. -"You pretend to be a cosmopolitan of cosmopolitans, but you will remain -insular to the day of your death. To you, a man who does not happen to -be an Englishman must of necessity be dirty, and be possessed of a -willingness to sever your jugular within the first few minutes of your -acquaintance. With regard to the accusation you bring against me, I am -willing to declare, in self-defence, that I like burrowing about among -the small restaurants in this quarter, for the simple reason that I meet -men who are useful to me in my work, besides affording me food for -reflection." - -The taller man grunted scornfully. - -"Conspirators to a man," he answered. "Nihilists, Anarchists, members of -the Mafia, the Camorristi, and the Carbonari. Some day you will enter -into an argument with one of them and a knife thrust between your ribs -will be the result." - -"It may be so," returned Victor Fensden, with a shrug of his narrow -shoulders. "Better that, however, than a life of stolid British -priggishness. How you manage to paint as you do when you have so little -of the romantic in your temperament, is a thing I can not for the life -of me understand. That a man who rows, plays football and cricket, and -who will walk ten miles to see a wrestling match or a prize fight, -should be gifted with such a sense of colour and touch, is as great a -mystery to me as the habits of the ichthyosaurus." - -And indeed, what Fensden said was certainly true. Godfrey Henderson, one -of the most promising of our younger painters, was as unlike the popular -notion of an artist as could well be found. He had rowed stroke in his -'Varsity boat, had won for himself a fair amount of fame as a good -all-round athlete, and at the same time had painted at least three of -the most beautiful pictures--pictures with a subtle touch of poetry in -them--that the public had seen for many years. His height was fully six -feet one and a half, his shoulders were broad and muscular; he boasted a -pleasant and open countenance, such a one in fact as makes one feel -instinctively that its owner is to be trusted. Taken altogether, a -casual observer would have declared him to be a young country Squire, -and few would have guessed that the greater portion of his life was -spent standing before an easel, palette and brush in hand. - -Victor Fensden, his companion, was of an altogether different stamp. He -was at least three inches shorter, was slimly built, and at first -glance would appear to possess a highly nervous and delicate -constitution. In his dress he also differed from his friend. His taste -betrayed a partiality for velvet coats; his ties were usually startling, -so far as colour went; he wore his hair longer than is customary, and -further adorned his face with a neat little Vandyke beard and mustache. -Like Henderson he was also a votary of the brush. His pictures, however, -were of the impressionist order--pretty enough in their way, but lacking -in form, and a trifle vague as to colouring. On occasions he wrote -poetry. There were some who said he was not sincere, that his pictures -were milk-and-water affairs, suggestive of the works of greater men, and -only intended to advertise himself. If that were so, the success they -achieved was comparative. Sad to relate, there were people in London who -had not heard the name of Victor Fensden; while the walls of the -Academy, which he affected so much to despise, had not so far been -honoured by his patronage. "The whole thing," he would say, adopting the -language of our American cousins, "is controlled by a Business Ring; the -Hanging Committee and the dealers stand in with each other. If you -prefer to do bad work deliberately, or at any rate are content to be -commonplace, then you're safe for admission. But if you prefer to do -something which may, or may not, please the multitude, but which will -last longer than Burlington House, or the National Gallery itself, then -you must be content to remain outside." After this tirade, regardless of -the implied sneer at his work, Godfrey would laugh and turn the matter -off by proposing dinner, luncheon, or some other distraction. He knew -the value of his own work, and was content to estimate it accordingly. - -Having reached the end of the street down which they had been walking, -when the conversation already described occurred, they found themselves -before the entrance to a small eating-house. One glance was sufficient -to show that it was of the foreign order, so derided by Henderson a few -moments ago before. They entered and looked about them. The room was -long and narrow, and contained some ten or a dozen small tables, three -or four of which were already occupied. Pictures of the German school, -apparently painted by the yard, and interspersed with gaudy portraits of -King Humbert with his mustache, Victor Emmanuel with his wealth of -orders, the latter cheek by jowl with Mr. Garibaldi in his felt hat, -decorated the walls. The proprietor, a small, tubby individual, with the -blackest of black hair and eyes, and an olive skin that glistened like -the marble tops of the tables, came forward to welcome them. At his -request they seated themselves and gave their orders. - -"What enjoyment you can find in this sort of thing I can not imagine," -repeated Henderson, almost irritably, as he looked about him. "If you -take a pleasure in macaroni and tomato, and find poetry in garlic and -_sauer-kraut_, the divine instinct must be even more highly developed in -you than your warmest admirers believe. We might have gone to the club -and have had a decent meal there." - -"And have had to listen to a lot of supercilious young idiots chattering -about what they are pleased to call 'their work,'" the other replied. -"No, no, we are better off here. Set your imagination to work, my dear -fellow, and try to believe yourself in Florence, with the moonlight -streaming down on the Ponte Vecchio; or in Naples, and that you can hear -the waves breaking up on the rock under the Castello del Ovo. You might -even be listening to _Funiculi-Finicula_ for the first time." - -"Confound you! I never know whether you are serious or not," replied -Godfrey. "Is it a joke you're bringing me here to-night, or have you -some definite object in view?" - -He looked across the table at his companion as if he were anxious to -assure himself upon this point before he said anything further. - -"What if I _had_ an object?" the other answered. "What if I wanted to do -you a good turn, and by asking you to come here to-night were able to -help you in your work?" - -"In that case," Henderson replied, "I should say that it was very kind -of you, but that you have chosen a curious way of showing it. How a low -Italian restaurant in Soho can help me in the work I have on hand I can -not for the life of me understand. Is it possible for you to be more -explicit?" - -"If the critics are to be believed you ask too much of me," Fensden -returned, with one of his quiet laughs. "Are they not always declaring -that my principal fault lies in my being too vague? Seriously, however, -I will confess that I had an object in bringing you here. Have I not -heard you grumbling morning, noon, and night, that the model for your -new picture is about as difficult to find as, well, shall we say, an -honest dealer? Now, I believe that the humble mouse was once able to -assist the lion--forgive the implied compliment--in other words, I think -I have achieved the impossible. It will take too long to tell you how I -managed it, but the fact remains that I have discovered the girl you -want, and what is more, she will be here to-night. If, when you have -seen her, you come to the conclusion that she will not answer your -purpose, then I shall be quite willing to confess that my knowledge of a -beautiful woman is only equal to your appreciation of an Italian dinner -in a cheap Soho restaurant. I have spoken!" - -"And so you have really brought me here to eat this villainous -concoction," Henderson answered, contemptuously regarding the mess -before him, "in order to show me a face that you think may be useful to -me in my work? My dear fellow, you know as well as I do that we think -differently upon such matters. What you have repeatedly declared to be -the loveliest face you have ever seen, I would not sketch upon a canvas; -while another, that haunts me by day and night, does not raise a shadow -of enthusiasm in you. I am afraid you have had your trouble in vain. But -what abominable stuff this is to be sure! Order some wine, for pity's -sake." - -A flask of chianti was brought them, and later some goat's milk cheese. -Upon the latter, bad as it was, Henderson elected to dine. He had barely -finished what was placed before him when an exclamation from his -companion caused him to turn his head in the direction of the door. Two -women were entering the restaurant at the moment, and were approaching -the table at which the young men sat. The elder was a stout and matronly -party, dark of eye, swarthy of skin, and gorgeous in her colouring, so -much so, indeed, that not the slightest doubt could have existed as to -her nationality. She was a daughter of Italy from the top of her head to -the soles of her ample feet. Her companion, however, was modelled on -altogether different lines. She was tall, graceful, and so beautiful, in -a statuesque way, that Henderson felt his heart thrill with pleasure at -the sight of her. Here was the very woman he had been so anxious to -discover. If he had hunted the Continent of Europe through, he could not -have found any one better suited to the requirements of the work he had -in hand. Since it was plain that it was she for whom Fensden was -waiting, it looked as if their tastes, for once, were likely to be the -same. - -"What a perfect face!" exclaimed Godfrey, more to himself than to his -companion. "At any hazard, I must induce her to sit to me." - -Fensden looked at his friend's face, made a note of the admiration he -saw there, and smiled to himself. - -"What did I tell you?" he inquired with a note of triumph in his voice. -"You pooh-poohed the notion that I should ever be able to find you a -model. What do you say now?" - -"She is perfect," Henderson replied. "Just look at the eyes, the -beautiful contour of the face, the shapely neck and the hands! Great -Scott! what is a woman of her class doing with such hands? Where did you -meet her?" - -"In another of my contemptible restaurants," Fensden answered. "Directly -I saw her, I said to myself: 'This is the model for Godfrey!' I made -inquiries about her, and, finding that she was willing to sit, made an -appointment to meet her here this evening." - -By this time Godfrey's antagonism had entirely left him. His only desire -now was to secure this woman, and, with her assistance, to complete his -masterpiece. As soon as the doors of Burlington House were thrown open, -that face should look down upon the picture-lovers of England, or he'd -never touch a brush again. - -The two women, by this time, had seated themselves at another table; and -it was almost with a sense of disappointment that Godfrey observed his -ideal commence her meal. To watch her filling her pretty mouth to -overflowing with steaming macaroni was not a pleasing sight. It was too -human and too suggestive of a healthy appetite to harmonize with the -poetic framework in which his imagination had already placed her. - -When the ladies had finished their meal, the two young men left their -own table and crossed the room to that at which they were seated. -Fensden said something in Italian, which elicited a beaming smile from -the elder lady, and a gesture of approval from her companion. It was not -the first time in his life that Godfrey Henderson had had occasion to -wish he had taken advantage of the opportunities he had had of acquiring -a knowledge of that melodious language. - -"The signora declares that there is no occasion for us to speak Italian, -since she is an accomplished English scholar," said Fensden, with a -sarcastic touch that was not lost upon Henderson. - -"The signorina also speaks our villainous tongue as well as if she had -been born and bred within the sound of Bow Bells." - -At this supposed compliment, the elder lady smiled effusively, while her -daughter looked gravely from one man to the other as if she were not -quite sure of the value to be placed upon what Fensden had said. Having -received permission, the two men seated themselves at the table, and -Henderson ordered another flask of wine. Under its influence their -acquaintance ripened rapidly. It was not, however, until they had been -talking some little time, that the all-important subject was broached. - -"And it is Teresina's portrait that your friend would paint, signor?" -said the elder lady, turning to Fensden. "And why not? 'Tis a beautiful -face, though I, her mother, say it. If the signor will make the--what -you call it--'rangements, it shall be as he wishes." - -Less than a minute was sufficient to place the matter on a satisfactory -basis, and it was thereupon settled that the Signorina Cardi should -attend at the studio at a certain hour every week-day until the picture -was finished. Matters having been arranged in this eminently friendly -fashion, the meeting broke up, and with many bows and compliments on -Fensden's and the signora's parts, they bade each other adieu. A few -minutes later, the two young men found themselves once more in the -street. - -"My dear fellow, I don't know how to thank you," said Henderson. "I've -been worrying myself more than I can say at not being able to find the -face I wanted. I owe you ten thousand apologies." - -But Fensden would not hear of such a thing as an apology. His only -desire was that the picture should be successful, he said. - -"I had no idea that he was so fond of me," Henderson remarked to himself -that night when he was alone in his bedroom. "Fancy his hunting through -London for a model for me. He is the last man I should have thought -would have taken the trouble." - -Next morning Teresina entered upon her duties, and Godfrey set to work -with more than his usual enthusiasm. The picture was to be his _magnum -opus_, the greatest effort he had yet given to the world. The beautiful -Italian proved to be a good sitter, and her delight as the picture grew -upon the canvas was not to be concealed. Meanwhile Fensden smoked -innumerable cigarettes, composed _fin-de-siecle_ poems in her honour, -and made a number of impressionist studies of her head that his friends -declared would eventually astonish artistic London. At last the picture -was finished and sent in. Then followed that interval of anxious -waiting, so well known to those who have striven for such honours as the -Academy has to bestow. When it was announced that it had passed the -first and second rejections great was the rejoicing in the studio. - -"It is your face that has done it, Teresina," cried Godfrey. "I knew -they wouldn't be able to resist that." - -"Nay, nay," said the signora, who was present, "such compliments will -turn the child's head. Her face would not be there but for the signor's -cleverness. Well do I remember that when Luigi Maffoni painted the -portrait of Monsignore----" - -No one heeded her, so she continued the narrative in an undertone to the -cat on her lap. The day, however, was not destined to end as happily as -it had begun. That evening, when they were alone together in the studio, -Fensden took Godfrey to task. - -"Dear boy," he said, as he helped himself to a cigarette from a box on -the table beside him, "I have come to the conclusion that you must go -warily. There are rocks ahead, and, from what I see, you are running -straight for them." - -"What on earth is the matter now?" Godfrey asked, stretching himself out -in an easy chair as he spoke. "I know the poise of that head is not -quite what it might be, but haven't I promised you that I'll alter it -to-morrow? Teresina is the very best model in the world, and as patient -as she's beautiful." - -"That's exactly what I am complaining of," Victor answered, quietly. "If -she were not, I should not bother my head about her. I feel, in a -measure, responsible, don't you see? If it hadn't been for me, she would -not be here." - -The happiness vanished from Godfrey's face as a breath first blurs and -then leaves the surface of a razor. - -"I am afraid I don't quite grasp the situation," he said. "You surely -don't suppose that I am falling in love with Teresina--with my model?" - -"I am quite aware that you're not," the other answered. "There is my -trouble. If you _were_ in love with her, there might be some hope for -her. But as it is there is none." - -Henderson stared at him in complete surprise. - -"Have you gone mad?" he asked. - -"No one was ever saner," Fensden replied. "Look here, Godfrey, can't you -see the position for yourself? Here is this beautiful Italian girl, whom -you engaged through my agency. You take her from beggary, and put her in -a position of comparative luxury. She has sat to you day after day, -smiled at your compliments, and--well, to put it bluntly, has had every -opportunity and encouragement given her to fall head over ears in love -with you. Is it quite fair, do you think, to let it go on?" - -Godfrey was completely taken aback. - -"Great Scott! You don't mean to say you think I'm such a beast as to -encourage her?" he cried. "You know as well as I do that I have behaved -toward her only as I have done to all the other models before her. -Surely you would wish me to be civil to the girl, and try to make her -work as pleasant as possible for her? If you think I've been a -blackguard, say so outright!" - -"My dear Godfrey, nothing could be further from my thoughts," answered -Fensden in his usual quiet voice, that one of his friends once compared -to the purring of a cat. "I should be a poor friend, however, if I were -to allow you to go on as you are going without an expostulation. Can not -you look at it in the same light as I do? Are you so blind that you can -not see that this girl is falling every day more deeply in love with -you? The love-light gleams in her eyes whenever she looks at you; she -sees an implied caress even in the gentle pats you give her drapery, -when you arrange it on the stage there; a tender solicitude for her -welfare when you tell her to hurry home before it rains. What is the end -of it all to be? I suppose you do not intend making her your wife?" - -"My wife?" said Godfrey, blankly, as if the idea were too preposterous -to have ever occurred to him. "Surely you must be jesting to talk like -this?" - -"I am not jesting with you, if you are not jesting with her," the other -replied. "You must see for yourself that the girl worships the very -ground you walk upon. However, there is still time for matters to be put -right. She has so far only looked at the affair from her own standpoint; -what is more, I do not want her to lose her employment with you, since -it means so much to her. What I do want is, that you should take hold of -yourself in time and prevent her from being made unhappy while you have -the opportunity." - -"You may be quite sure that I will do so," Henderson replied, more -stiffly than he had yet spoken. "I am more sorry than I can say that -this should have occurred. Teresina is a good girl, and I would no more -think of causing her pain than I would of striking my own sister. And -now I'm off to bed. Good-night." - -True to his promise, his behaviour next day, so far as Teresina was -concerned, was so different that she regarded him with surprise, quite -unable to understand the reason of the change. She thought she must have -offended him in some way, and endeavoured by all the means in her power -to win herself back into his good graces. But the more she tried to -conciliate him, the further he withdrew into his shell. Victor Fensden, -smoking his inevitable cigarette, waited to see what the result would -be. There was a certain amount of pathos in the situation, and a close -observer might have noticed that the strain was telling upon both of the -actors in it, the girl in particular. For the next fortnight or so, the -moral temperature of the studio was not as equable as of old. Godfrey, -who was of too honest a nature to make a good conspirator, chafed at the -part he was being called upon to play, while Teresina, who only knew -that she loved, and that her love was not returned, was divided between -her affections for the man and a feeling of wounded dignity for herself. - -"I wish to goodness I could raise sufficient money to get out of London -for six months," said Godfrey, one evening, as they sat together in the -studio. "I'd be off like a shot." - -Fensden knew why he said this. - -"I am sorry I can't help you," he replied. "I am about as badly off as -yourself. But surely the great picture sold well?" - -"Very well; for me, that is to say," Godfrey replied. "But I had to part -with most of it next day." - -He did not add that he had sent most of it to his widowed sister, who -was very badly off and wanted help to send her boy to college. - -A short silence followed; then Fensden said: "If you had money what -would you do?" - -"Go abroad," said Godfrey quickly. "The strain of this business is more -than I can stand. If I had a few hundreds to spare we'd go together and -not come back for six months. By that time everything would have settled -down to its old normal condition." - -How little did he guess that the very thing that seemed so impossible -was destined to come to pass! - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -One morning a week or so after the conversation described at the end of -the previous chapter, Godfrey Henderson found lying on the table in the -studio a long, blue envelope, the writing upon which was of a neat and -legal character. He did not own a halfpenny in the world, so what this -could mean he was not able to imagine. Animated by a feeling of -curiosity he opened the envelope and withdrew the contents. He read the -letter through the first time without altogether realizing its meaning; -then, with a vague feeling of surprise, he read it again. He had just -finished his second perusal of it when Fensden entered the room. He -glanced at Godfrey's face, and said, as if in inquiry: - -"Anything the matter? You look scared!" - -"A most extraordinary thing," returned Godfrey. "You have heard me talk -of old Henderson of Detwich?" - -"Your father's brother? The old chap who sends you a brace of grouse -every season, and asks when you are going to give up being a starving -painter and turn your attention to business? What of him?" - -"He is dead and buried," answered Godfrey. "This letter is from his -lawyer to say that I am his heir, in other words that Detwich passes to -me, with fifteen thousand a year on which to keep it up, and that they -are awaiting my instructions." - -There was a pause which lasted for upward of a quarter of a minute. Then -Fensden held out his hand. - -"My dear fellow, I am sure I congratulate you most heartily," he said. -"I wish you luck with all my heart. The struggling days are over now. -For the future you will be able to follow your art as you please. You -will also be able to patronize those who are not quite so fortunate. -Fifteen thousand a year and a big country place! Whatever will you do -with yourself?" - -"That is for the Future to decide," Godfrey replied. - -That afternoon he paid a visit to the office of the firm of solicitors -who had written to him. They corroborated the news contained in their -letter, and were both assiduous in their attentions and sincere in -their desire to serve him. - -Four days later it was arranged that Godfrey and Fensden should start -for the Continent. Before doing so, however, the former purchased a neat -little gold watch and chain which he presented to Teresina, accompanied -by a cheque equivalent to six months' salary, calculated at the rate she -had been receiving. - -"Don't forget me, Teresina," he said, as he looked round the now -dismantled studio. "Let me know how you get on, and remember if ever you -want a friend I shall be only too glad to serve you." - -At that moment Fensden hailed him from the cab outside, bidding him -hurry, or he feared they would miss their train. Godfrey accordingly -held out his hand. - -"Good-bye," he said, and though he would have given worlds to have -prevented it, a lump rose in his throat as he said it, and his voice was -so shaky that he felt sure she must notice it. - -Then, bidding her give the key to the landlord when she left the studio, -he went out into the street, and jumped into a cab, which next moment -started off for the station. How was he to know that Teresina was lying -in a dead faint upon the studio floor? - -When they left England for the Continent Godfrey had only the vaguest -notion of what they were going to do after they left Paris. Having spent -a fortnight in the French capital they journeyed on to Switzerland, put -in a month at Lucerne, three weeks in Rome, and found themselves, in the -middle of November, at Luxor, looking upon the rolling waters of the -Nile. Their sketch books were surfeited with impressions, and they -themselves were filled with a great content. They had both visited the -Continent on numerous occasions before, but this was the first time that -they had made the acquaintance of the "Land of the Pharaohs." Godfrey -was delighted with everything he saw, and already he had the ideas for a -dozen new pictures in his head. - -"I had no notion that any sunset could be so gorgeous," he said one day, -when they sat together watching the ball of fire descend to his rest on -the western horizon of the desert. "The colours have not yet been -discovered that could possibly do it justice. For the future I shall -come out here every year." - -"Don't be too sure, my friend," said Fensden. "There was a time when -such a thing might have been possible, but circumstances have changed -with you. You are no longer the erratic Bohemian artist, remember, but a -man with a stake in the country, and a county magnate." - -"But what has the county magnate to do with the question at issue?" -Godfrey inquired. - -"Everything in the world," retorted his companion. "In virtue of your -new position you will have to marry. The future Mrs. Henderson, in all -probability, will also have a stake in the country. She will have great -ideas, moreover, connected with what she will term the improvement of -the land, and, beyond a trip to the Italian lakes at long intervals, -will not permit you to leave the country of her forefathers." - -"What a strange fellow you are, to be sure!" replied Godfrey. "To hear -you talk one would think that the possession of money--and, by Jove, -it's a very decent thing to have when you come to consider it--must -necessarily relegate a man to the region of the commonplace. Why -shouldn't I marry a girl who is fond of travelling?" - -"Because, as a rule, Fate ordains otherwise," Fensden replied. "I think -I can describe the sort of girl you will marry." - -"Then do so, by all means," said Godfrey, "I'll smoke another cigar -while you are arranging it." - -"In the first place she will be tall. Your idea of the ludicrous would -not let you marry a small woman. She will have large hands and feet, and -the latter will be heavily shod. That is how in London I always pick out -the girls who live in the country. She will be handsome rather than -pretty, for the reason that your taste lies in that direction. She will -not flirt, because she will be in love with you. She will be an -admirable housewife of the solid order, and while I should be prepared -to trust to her judgment in the matter of dogs and horses, roots, crops, -and the dairy farm, finer susceptibilities she will have none. Do you -like the picture?" - -"Scarcely," said Henderson; "and yet, when all is said and done a man -might do worse." - -There was a pause, during which each man knew what the other was -thinking about. Godfrey was recalling Teresina's beautiful face, and -Fensden knew that he was doing so. - -"By the way," said Fensden, very quietly, "I noticed this morning that -you received a letter bearing an Italian post-mark. Would it be -indiscreet if I inquired your correspondent's name?" - -"I don't see why there should be any mystery about it," Henderson -replied. "It was from Teresina." - -"From Teresina?" said the other, with a look of surprise. - -"Yes, from Teresina," his friend answered. "I made her promise before we -left home that should she leave England she would let me have her -address, and, if she were in need of anything, she would communicate -with me. You can see the letter if you like. Here it is." - -He took the letter in question from his pocket and handed it to his -companion. It consisted of only a few lines and gave the writer's -address with the hope that the time might soon come when she would again -be allowed to sit to "her kind patron." - -Victor, having perused it, handed it back to Godfrey, who replaced it in -his pocket without a word. - -Two days later they returned by steamer to Cairo, where they took up -their abode at the Mena House Hotel. Godfrey preferred it, because it -was some distance from the dust of the city, and Fensden because he -averred that the sneer on the face of the Sphinx soothed him more than -all the luxuries of Cairo. As it was, he sat in the veranda of the hotel -and made impressionist sketches of dragomen, camels, and the -backsheesh-begging Bedouins of the Pyramids. Godfrey found it impossible -to work. - -"I am absorbing ideas," he said. "The work will come later on." - -In the meantime he played polo in the Ghezireh, shot jackals in the -desert, flirted with the charming tourists in the verandas of the hotel, -and enjoyed himself immensely in his own fashion. Then one day he -received a telegram from England announcing the fact that his mother was -seriously ill, and asking him to return without delay. - -"I am sincerely sorry," said Fensden, politely. Then he added, -regretfully: "I suppose our tour must now, like all good things, come to -an end. When do you leave?" - -"By to-morrow morning's train," he answered. "I shall pick up the mail -boat at Ismailia and travel in her to Naples. If all goes well I shall -be in England to-morrow week. But look here, Victor, when you come to -think of it there's not the least necessity for you to come, too. It -would be no end of a shame to rob you of your holiday. Why should you -not go on and finish the tour by yourself? Why not come with me as far -as Port Said, and catch the steamer for Jaffa there?" - -"It's very good of you, my dear Godfrey," said Fensden, "but----" - -"Let there be no 'buts,'" the other returned. "It's all arranged. When -you come home you shall describe your adventures to me." - -Needless to say, in the end Fensden agreed to the proposal, and next day -they accordingly bade each other good-bye on the promenade deck of the -mail steamer that was to take Henderson as far as Naples. Fensden was -beginning to realize that it was by no means unpleasant to have a rich -and generous friend. Poverty was doubtless romantic and artistic, but a -well-filled pocket-book meant good hotels and the best of wines and -living. - -While the boat ploughed her way across the Mediterranean, an idea -occurred to Godfrey, and he resolved to act upon it. It was neither more -nor less than to utilize what little time was given him in Naples in -seeking out Teresina and assuring himself of her comfort in her old -home. He had quite convinced himself by this time that any affection he -might once have felt for her was now dead and buried. For this reason he -saw no possible danger in paying her a visit. "Victor made more of it," -he argued, "than the circumstances had really warranted. Had he not said -anything about it, there would have been no trouble, and in that case -Teresina would still be in London, and sitting to me." - -As soon as the vessel was in harbour, he collected his luggage and made -his way ashore. A cab conveyed him to an hotel he had patronized before; -and when he was safely installed there, and realized that he could not -proceed on his journey until the next morning, he resolved to set out in -search of Teresina. Producing her letter from his pocket-book he made a -note of the address, and then started upon his errand, to discover that -the signorina Cardi's home took some little finding. At last, however, -he succeeded, only to be informed by an intelligent neighbour that the -signora was not at home, while the signorina had gone out some fifteen -minutes before. Considerably disappointed, he turned to descend the -steps to find himself face to face with Teresina herself as he stepped -into the street. She uttered a little exclamation of astonishment and -delight at seeing him. - -"How is it that you are here, signor?" she inquired, when they had -greeted each other. "I did not know that you were in Naples." - -"I only arrived this afternoon," he answered. "I am on my way to -England." - -"To England?" she said, and then uttered a little sigh as if the very -name of that country conjured up sad memories. "It is cold and wet in -England now; and do you remember how the studio chimney smoked?" - -This apparently irrelevant remark caused them both to laugh, but their -mirth had not altogether a happy sound. - -"I am going to give up the studio," he answered. "I expect that for the -future I shall do my work in the country. But you are not looking well, -Teresina!" - -"I am quite well," she answered, hurriedly. How was he to know that for -many weeks past she had been eating her heart out for love of him? If -the whole world seemed dark to her now it was because he, her sun, no -longer shone upon her. - -"And your mother, the signora, how wrong of me not to have inquired -after her. I trust she is well?" - -"Quite well, signor," she replied. "She often talks of you. She is at -Sorrento to-day, but she may be back at any minute. She would have liked -to have seen you, signor, to have thanked you for your great goodness to -us." - -"Nonsense," said Henderson, hurriedly. "It is the other way round. My -thanks are due to you. Had it not been for your face, Teresina, my -picture would never have been such a success. Do you know that several -ladies, great ladies in England, said that they would give anything to -be so beautiful? I don't think I shall ever do a better piece of work -than that." - -He had just said this when he noticed that a young man, tall, slim, and -very dark, had approached them unperceived, and was now glaring angrily -at him. Teresina had also become aware of his presence, and was visibly -affected by it. Whereas only a moment before she had been all sunshine -and delight at seeing Henderson once more, now she was quite the -reverse. - -"Is this man a friend of yours?" Godfrey asked, in English. "He seems -to be put out about something." - -"It is only Tomasso Dardini," she answered, as if the explanation were -sufficient. "He is quick-tempered, but he means no harm." - -"Then I wish to goodness he'd go away; he glares as if he would like to -eat me. If I may hazard a guess, Teresina, I should say that he is in -love with you." - -"He is very foolish," she answered, and a flush spread over her face. -"Some day, if he is not very careful, he will get into trouble." - -"I should not be at all surprised to hear it," Godfrey replied. - -Then, turning to the man in question, he signed to him to be off about -his business. For a moment the youth seemed inclined to refuse, but -presently he thought better of it, and marched off down the street, -looking back now and again as if to see whether the Englishman and the -girl were still conversing together. - -"And now, Teresina, I have a little plan to propose to you," said -Godfrey, when the other had turned the corner. "As I told you just now, -I am on my way to England, and therefore, shall only be able to spend -to-night in Naples. From the announcements I see they are playing -'Faust' at the Opera-House. Why should not you and your mother dine with -me, and go there afterward? It would be a pleasant way of spending the -evening, and we could talk of old days." - -Teresina clapped her hands with delight. In her love of the Opera she -was a genuine Neapolitan. - -"It would be lovely," she cried. "My mother will come, I feel sure. It -is kind of you, signor." - -It was thereupon arranged that they should meet at a certain place, -dine, and then go on to the Opera together. Having settled this, -Henderson returned to his hotel, whiled away the time as best he could, -and when the hour arrived, set off to the rendezvous. - -Punctual to the moment he put in an appearance at the place. It was a -restaurant not unlike that in which he had first met Teresina and her -mother. He could not help recalling that memorable evening as he waited -on the pavement outside, and his one wish was that Fensden could have -been there to have shared the entertainment with him. When the signora -and her daughter arrived, it was plain that they regarded the occasion -an important one. They were both attired in their best, and, so far as -colour went, the signora herself was not unlike a bird of Paradise. -Teresina was more soberly clad, but Henderson noticed that a necklace -with which he had once presented her, as a memento of a certain piece of -extra work she had done for him, encircled her slender throat. As he -looked at it, he thought of the day on which he had given it to her, and -as the remembrance occurred to him, he wondered whether it was wise on -his part to play with fire for a second time. The signora greeted him -with southern volubility, and, as soon as he could get in a word, -Henderson suggested that they should enter the restaurant. Having done -so, they seated themselves at one of the small tables, and he gave his -orders. It was a banquet that was destined to be remembered with -pleasure by two of the party, and also by a third, for another and less -romantic reason. - -"And so you are returning to England, signor?" said the signora, when -the first pangs of her hunger had been assuaged. Then, remembering the -circumstances connected with the latter portion of their stay in London, -she added, pathetically: "I think if it were possible, I should not be -sorry to return--even though the winter is so cold and it rains so -often." - -"If you feel as if you would like to return, why do you not do so?" -asked Godfrey, with a quickness that caused Teresina to look up at him -in surprise, and then to look down again with equal celerity. "I am sure -Teresina could get plenty of employment. I would do all I could to help -her. For my own part, I never could understand why you left so quickly." - -If he had reflected for a moment, he would probably have been able to -arrive at an understanding of the reason that had prompted her -departure. He was too modest a man, however, to think of such a thing. -Nevertheless, he changed the conversation by making inquiries as to -their present life in Naples, and then went on to talk of Fensden, who -at that moment, could they have seen him, was fast asleep in a railway -carriage, on his way from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The signora had never been -partial to the impressionist artist and poet, and she had a vague idea -that it was to that gentleman's agency that they owed the flight of the -owner, and the consequent cessation of Teresina's employment at the -studio. She was too prudent, however, to say anything on that score to -Godfrey. She knew the friendship that existed between the two men; and -she was also aware that her daughter, who was the possessor of a quick -temper, and a tongue that she could use when she liked, would brook no -disparagement of either Mr. Henderson or his friend. - -"As to returning to England, we must think it over," she said, -complacently, when Godfrey had filled her glass with champagne for the -fourth or fifth time. "It would make another great change in our -affairs, but Teresina is young, and there is nothing for us to do in -Naples. I could wish that she should marry, signor, but she will not -hear of it. I tell her the time may come when it will be too late. But -girls do not listen to their elders nowadays." - -Godfrey glanced at Teresina's face to find that it had suddenly become -very pale. He hastened to render her assistance without delay by -twitting her mother as to the number of sweethearts she herself had had, -much to that lady's delight. This crisis having been smoothed over, he -paid the bill and they left the restaurant. - -Darkness had fallen by this time, a fact which may have accounted for -the young man's uncertainty as to whether he did or did not recognise -the figure of a man who was watching the doorway from the other side of -the street. It certainly looked as if it belonged to Tomasso Dardini; -but he said nothing on this point to either of his guests. He would be -leaving Naples in the morning, he argued, and no necessity existed for -making a fuss about it. If the silly young man were jealous, the morrow -would remove the cause; and after that it would not matter very much -whether he were aware of their visit to the Opera or not. With Teresina -beside him and the signora on the other side, they entered the theatre -and took their seats. The house was crowded, and the Opera itself was -received with that critical appreciation so characteristic of the -Neapolitan theatre-goer. Whether Godfrey enjoyed it as much as his -neighbours is a question that admits of some doubt. He certainly found -pleasure in studying the expressions that flitted across Teresina's face -as she watched what went on upon the stage; but I scarcely think it -went further. When it was over, he escorted them back to their dwelling, -and bade them good-bye upon the threshold. - -"Good-bye, Teresina," he said. "It may not be very long before we meet -in London. Do you remember the little place where I first saw you? I -think, when I get back, I must dine there once more, if only for old -association's sake." - -"Good-bye, signor," she said, giving him her hand after the English -fashion. "It was kind of you to think of us, and to give us such -pleasure as you have done to-night." - -"I have enjoyed it," he replied, and then, bidding her return soon to -London, he left her, and made his way down the narrow, evil-smelling -street toward the quarter in which his hotel was situated. He was still -fifty yards from the corner when a figure emerged from a doorway and -hurried quickly after him, keeping on the dark side of the street. -Leaving the thoroughfare in which Teresina's house was located, he -employed a short cut with which he had become acquainted that afternoon. -He had scarcely entered this, however, before he became aware of a light -footstep behind him. Turning quickly, he found a man, whom he -immediately recognised, within a few feet of him. Muttering something in -Italian, he raised his arm, and Godfrey saw that he held a poniard in -his hand. With the quickness of a practised athlete, he seized the -uplifted wrist with his left hand, while with his right he delivered a -blow that took the would-be assassin beneath the chin and sent him -sprawling upon his back in the road. Picking up the dagger that the -other had let fall, he placed it in his pocket, saying, as he did so: "I -will keep this, my friend, as a memento." Then, having made sure that -the other had no intention of following him, he continued his walk, -little dreaming how strangely that incident was to affect his future -life. - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -If I were given my choice of all the charming residences in the county -of Midlandshire, I fancy I should decide in favour of Detwich Hall. To -my thinking it is, in every respect, an ideal residence. While -sufficiently old to have a history (one of the Charleses spent some days -in hiding there), it has proved itself capable of being adapted to -modern ideas of comfort. The main portion was built, I believe, toward -the close of the reign of the Virgin Queen; a wing was added by the -owner who occupied it in the time of the early Georges; while the father -of the man who had bequeathed the property to Godfrey, was responsible -for the stables, and a somewhat obscure wing on the southern front. It -was admirably situated in the centre of a park of some three hundred -acres, and was approached by a picturesque drive, about half a mile -long, which ran for some distance along the banks of an ornamental -lake. On this lake, by the way, some of the finest duck shooting in the -county is to be obtained. In his boyhood Godfrey had spent many happy -days there, little dreaming that some day it would become his own -property. Indeed, it is quite certain it would not have done so had his -cousin Wilfred not been killed in India in the performance of a piece of -desperate heroism that will be remembered as long as a certain native -regiment exists. As for Godfrey, the old man had always liked the boy, -but had been bitterly disappointed when he had resolved to embark upon -an artistic career instead of playing the part of a country gentleman, -as so many of his ancestors had done before him. To have proved himself -a capable Master of Hounds would have been in the old bachelor's eyes a -greater distinction than to have painted the finest picture that ever -graced the walls of Burlington House. Yet in his heart he knew the power -of the young man, and honoured him for the dogged persistence with which -he had fought the uphill fight of a painter's life. - -"Well, well, I suppose he'll come out of it all right in the end," he -was wont to say to himself when he thought of the matter. "He'll be -none the worse for having known a little poverty. I like the boy and he -likes me, and, please God, he'll do his best by the dear old place when -he comes into it. I should like to see him in it." - -This, unfortunately, he was not able to do; but could he have heard the -universal expression of approbation so lavishly bestowed upon the young -master of Detwich when he had been six months in possession he would -have felt that his generosity had been rewarded. Indeed, there could be -no sort of doubt as to Godfrey's popularity. He was received by the -county with open arms, and by his tenantry with a quiet appreciation -that showed they knew how to value the blood that ran in his veins -without making a fuss about it. Owing to the short time that had elapsed -since his uncle's death it was necessarily impossible for him to see -very much society, but those who partook of his hospitality returned -home not only delighted with their host, but also with the quality of -their entertainment. - -"An acquisition, a decided acquisition," said old Sir Vivian Devereux, -the magnate of the district. "His idea of game preservation is -excellent, and he is prepared to support the hunt with the utmost -liberality. All he wants to make him perfect is a wife." - -On hearing this Lady Devereux looked at her lord and her lord looked at -her. Between them they had a very shrewd idea that they knew where to -look for the future mistress of Detwich Hall. Mistress Margaret, their -daughter, called by her friends Molly, who had that season made her bow -before her Majesty, said nothing, but maybe that was because she did not -think there was anything to be said. She had her own ideas on the -subject. She had seen the young squire of Detwich, though he had not -been aware of the fact, and, being an unaffected, straightforward -English girl, without prudery or conceit of any sort, had come to the -conclusion that she liked the look of him. Eligible young men were -scarce in the neighbourhood, and if she dreamt dreams of her own who -shall blame her? Not I, for one. - -Three months had passed since Godfrey had escorted Teresina and her -mother to the Opera. The summons which had brought him home so hurriedly -had, fortunately, proved to be a false alarm. Though his mother had been -seriously ill, there had not been so much danger as they had led him to -suppose. A month at Torquay had completely restored her to health, and -now she was back at Detwich once more, as hale and hearty an old lady as -any to be found in the kingdom. Assisted by her youngest daughter, -Kitty, she welcomed the wanderer home with every sign of delight. - -Godfrey, unlike so many other people, had the good fortune to be as -popular in his own family circle as he was out of it, and he and his -youngest sister had been on the best of terms from the days when they -had gone bird's-nesting together, until the time when she had assisted -him in packing his first picture for the Academy. Since then, however, -she had not seen so much of him. - -"Kit's no end of a brick," he had been heard to say, "and the fellow who -marries her may consider himself lucky." - -It was scarcely to be wondered at, therefore, if Miss Devereux and -Kitty, living as they did within two miles of each other, should soon -have become intimate. They were in the habit of seeing each other -several times a week, a fact which Godfrey, from a distance, had felt -somewhat inclined to resent. - -"When I get home I shall find this girl continually in the house," he -said to himself; and when he _did_ arrive and the many charming -qualities of her friend had been explained to him he did not feel any -the more disposed to be cordial. - -"I can see what it will be," he said to his sister, "I shall not catch a -glimpse of you now." - -"Perhaps you won't want to when you meet Molly," was the arch rejoinder. -"You have no idea what a pretty girl she is. They say she created a -tremendous sensation when she was presented this year. Folks raved about -her." - -"The bigger duffers they," was the uncompromising reply. "You have one -fault, my dear girl. Ever since I have known you your swans have -invariably turned out to be geese. I fancy I can realize what Miss -Devereux will be like." - -"In that case pray describe her," was the saucy rejoinder, and Miss -Kitty made a very pretty losing hazard (they were playing billiards at -the time), after which she failed to score and chalked her cue. - -Now it seems scarcely fair to say so, but Godfrey, being taken at a -disadvantage, fell back on what can be only considered by all honest -people a mean device. In describing Miss Devereux he used the almost -identical terms used by Fensden when he had attempted to draw a picture -of his friend's future wife. - -"You are quite at sea," said Miss Kitty, patting her dainty shoe with -the end of her cue as she spoke. "Some day, if you are not very careful, -I will tell Miss Devereux what you have said about her. She would never -forgive you the large feet and thick boots." - -"As you are strong be merciful," said Godfrey, potting the red into the -right-hand pocket and going into the left himself. "I don't mind -admitting without prejudice that I am getting anxious to see this -paragon. When do you think she will next honour you with her society?" - -"On Friday," Kitty replied. "We have taken up wood-carving together, and -she is coming to see some patterns I bought in town last week." - -"In that case we will defer consideration of her merits and -demerits--for I suppose she has some--until then," Godfrey replied, and -then once more going into the pocket off the red he announced the game -as standing at one hundred to ninety-five. - -On the following afternoon he had occasion to drive to the market town. -It was a bright, clear day, with a promise of frost in the air, and as -his dog-cart rolled along the high road, drawn by a tandem team he had -purchased the previous week, he felt as well satisfied with himself and -his position in the world as it was possible for a young man to be. His -business transacted in the town he turned his horses' heads homeward -once more. The handsome animals, knowing that they were on their way to -their stables, stepped out bravely, and many an approving glance was -thrown at the good-looking young squire of Detwich by folk upon the -road. He had completed upward of half his journey when he became aware -that a young lady, who had appeared from a by-road, was making her way -in the same direction as himself. - -"Whoever she is she certainly sits her horse well," he said to himself, -as he watched her swinging along at a slow canter on the soft side of -the road. "I wonder who she can be?" - -As soon as the turf gave place to hard metal she pulled her hack up and -proceeded at a walk. This very soon brought Godfrey alongside, and as -he passed he managed to steal a glance at a very pretty face and as neat -a figure as he ever remembered to have seen. - -"I wonder who she can be?" he repeated. And as he continued his drive he -meditated on the subject. - -On the Friday following he was unexpectedly called to town. His -solicitors desired an interview with him respecting the purchase of a -farm, and he had no option but to comply with their request. As luck -would have it, however, he was able to return by a somewhat earlier -train than he expected, and was just in time to hear from his butler -that afternoon tea had been carried into the drawing-room. - -"Are there any visitors?" he inquired. - -"Miss Devereux, sir," said the man; "she came to lunch." - -"I had forgotten that she was to be here to-day," he said to himself as -he crossed the hall in the direction of the drawing-room. "I wonder what -she will be like?" - -As every one who has visited Detwich is aware, the drawing-room is an -exceedingly handsome room. It is long and lofty, if possible a little -_too_ long for cosiness. This fault, if fault it be, is amply atoned -for, however, by a capitally constructed ingle-nook, in which it was the -custom for the ladies to take afternoon tea. Godfrey strolled across the -floor to this charming contrivance, little guessing what was in store -for him. A lady was sitting with her back to him holding a cup of tea in -her hand. - -"I don't think you have met Miss Devereux, Godfrey," said his sister. - -"I have not yet had that pleasure," he replied. Then to himself he -added: "Good gracious! It's the fair equestrienne." Then aloud: "I've -heard a good deal of you from Kitty, Miss Devereux." - -"And I of you," she answered. "You seem to have been everywhere, and to -have seen everything. Doubtless you find this part of the world very -dull." - -"Not at all," he answered. "I am extremely fond of the country, and -particularly of that about here." - -If the truth were told I fancy he had never thought much about it until -that moment. For the future, however, under a certain magic influence, -he was to view it with very different eyes. - -"In spite of what some people say," he continued, "I consider English -country scenery charming." - -"And yet it must be very beautiful abroad. Kitty read me one or two of -your letters, and from the description you gave of the various places -you had visited, I gathered that you thought nothing could be so -beautiful on earth." - -"No doubt they are very beautiful," he answered. "But for my part give -me the old-world peace of England. There is certainly nothing like that -to be found elsewhere. I would rather stand on the hill yonder and look -down the valley in summer-time, than gaze upon the Rhine at Heidelberg, -or Naples harbour at daybreak, or visit ancient Philae by moonlight." - -What further heresies this young man would have pledged himself to in -his enthusiasm I can not say. Fortunately for him, however, the vicar -and his wife were announced at that moment, and a distraction was thus -caused. Until that moment Miss Kitty had been regarding him with -steadfast eyes. Clever beyond all other men, as she considered her -brother, she had never seen him come out of his shell like this before. -Hitherto he had been rather given to pooh-poohing the country, and had -once been known even to assert that "London and Paris were the only two -places in which it was possible for a civilized man to live." What was -the reason of this sudden change? - -The vicar was a tall man with a pompous air, who looked forward some day -to being a bishop, and had already assumed the appearance and manners of -one. His wife, on the other hand, was small, and of a somewhat peevish -disposition. It was currently reported that the husband and wife spent -the greater portion of their time in squabbling, while it was certain -that they contradicted each other in public with an openness and -frequency that at times was apt to be a little embarrassing. - -"Possibly I may have been wrong," said the vicar, when he had seated -himself and had taken a cup of tea from his hostess's hands, "but did I -not hear you extolling the beauties of a country life as I entered the -room, Mr. Henderson?" - -He put the question as if it were one of world-wide importance, which, -answered carelessly, might involve great international complications. -Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued: "For my part, while -admitting that a country life is possessed of many charms, with which -the Metropolis can not compare, I must go on to say that there is a -breadth, if I may so express it, in London life that is quite lacking -outside." - -His wife saw her opportunity, and, as was her habit, was quick to take -advantage of it. - -"You have never had any experience of London life, William, so how can -you possibly tell?" she said, sharply. - -"My dear, I venture to say that it is a generally admitted fact," her -husband replied. - -"Generally admitted facts are as often as not rubbish," retorted the -lady with some asperity. "What I say is, let a man do his duty wherever -he is, and make the best of what he's got, without grumbling." - -There was an unmistakable innuendo in this speech, and for a moment an -awkward silence ensued. - -"I hear you have built a new conservatory, Mr. Henderson?" said Miss -Devereux, as if to change the subject. - -"It is just completed," said Godfrey. "Would you care to see it?" - -A general desire to inspect this new wonder having been expressed, -Godfrey led the way from the room, contriving, when all had passed out, -to take up his position beside their youngest visitor. - -"Will you take pity upon a stranger in the land?" he said, "and give me -some information?" - -"What can I tell you?" she asked. - -He glanced at the vicar and his wife, who were some little distance in -front. - -"Do they always squabble like this?" he inquired. - -"Yes, invariably," she replied. "We are used to it, but strangers are -apt to find it embarrassing. I really believe the habit of squabbling -has grown upon them until they have become so accustomed to it that they -do not notice it. By the way, Mr. Henderson, there is one question of -vital importance I must decide with you. Are you going to hunt?" - -As a matter of fact Godfrey had made up his mind to do so occasionally, -but now, remembering that Miss Devereux possessed the reputation of a -second Diana, he spoke as if it were the hunting that had mainly induced -him to live in Midlandshire. He registered a vow that he would purchase -a stud immediately, and that he would look upon missing a run as a sin -that could only be expurgated by religiously attending the next. - -By this time they had reached the new conservatory, which adjoined the -studio Godfrey had built for himself. It was a handsome building, and -gave a distinction to that side of the house which it certainly had -lacked before. - -"Admirable, admirable," said the vicar, complacently. "It reminds me of -the palm-house at Kew." - -"It is twenty years since you were at Kew, William; how can you possibly -remember what the palm-house is like?" retorted his wife. - -"My dear, I have always been noted for the excellence of my memory," the -vicar replied. "I assure you I have the most vivid recollection of the -house in question." - -"You mislaid your spectacles this morning, and if I hadn't seen you put -them in your pocket you would never have thought of looking for them -there," said his wife, to whom this fact appeared to be relative to the -matter at issue. - -From the conservatory to the studio was a natural transition, and the -latest work upon the easel was duly inspected and admired. - -"I remember your picture in the Academy last year, Mr. Henderson," said -Miss Devereux. "I can assure you that it brought the tears into my -eyes." - -"It is very kind of you to say so," he said, feeling that no compliment -that had ever been paid him was so much worth having. - -Then a luminous idea occurred to him. - -"I wonder if, some day, you would let me paint you a little picture?" he -asked, almost timidly. - -"I really could not think of such a thing," his companion replied. "Your -time is too valuable to be wasted in that way." - -"I shall paint one, nevertheless," he replied. "In return, perhaps, you -will instruct me in the ways of the Midlandshire hunt?" - -"I shall be delighted," she answered. "You must make Kitty come too." - -Godfrey promised to do so, but for once in his life he was ungallant -enough to think that he could dispense with his sister's society. -Presently Miss Devereux's cart was announced and Kitty and Godfrey -accompanied her to the front door. She kissed Kitty and then held out -her hand to Godfrey. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Henderson," she said. "Remember that the hounds meet at -Spinkley Grove on Thursday, at eleven o'clock, when you will be -permitted an opportunity of making the acquaintance of the Master and -the Hunt." - -"I shall be there without fail," he answered, as he helped her into the -cart and arranged her rug for her. She thereupon nodded to the groom, -who left the ponies' heads and jumped on to the step behind as the cart -passed him, with an adroitness that was the outcome of long practice. A -moment later the vehicle had turned the corner of the drive and was lost -to view. - -"Well?" said Kitty as they turned to go in. - -"Well," Godfrey replied. - -"You like her?" - -"Very much indeed," he answered, and as they passed down the hall -together he made an important decision to himself. "Provided she will -have me," he said, "I think I have found my wife." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -More than a month had elapsed since Godfrey had made his debut as a -recognised member of the Midlandshire Hunt. It is also necessary to -state that during that period he had seen a good deal of pretty Miss -Molly Devereux, who, faithful to the promise she had given him, had -shown him a large amount of the country, with the fences, hedges, and -ditches thereof. She was also the person who was mainly responsible for -the large sum of money he had spent on horseflesh during that time. As a -matter of fact, this impressionable young man was head over ears in -love, and to prove it, he neglected his work, imperilled his neck, and, -as his mother remarked, ran an almost daily risk of coming to an early -grave through waiting about on the outskirts of damp coverts, to say -nothing of the long, wet rides home on wintry evenings. - -"I can not understand why you do it," said the old lady, who, by the -way, was not nearly so obtuse as she pretended to be. "When you first -came home from abroad, you declared that the hunting would never possess -sufficient attraction to take you out on a damp day. Now you are never -happy unless you are in the saddle." - -"It's a good healthy exercise, mother," said Kitty, with the suspicion -of a twinkle in her eyes. "Besides, Godfrey has taken such a liking to -Sir George Penistone, the Master, that he is never happy when he is -parted from him." - -Now if there was one person in the country for whom Godfrey entertained -a profound distaste, it was for the gentleman in question. Sir George -was known to have been desperately in love with Miss Devereux ever since -he had left the 'Varsity; but, while he was plucky enough in the saddle, -and would ride his horse at anything that an animal could be expected to -jump, and at a good many that it could not, he had never been able to -screw up his courage sufficiently to broach the subject to her. Finding -that he had a rival in the field, however, had given him a fillip, and, -in consequence, relations between the two young men were as strained as -it was possible for them to be, and yet to allow them to remain on -speaking terms. Whether the young lady herself was aware of this is more -than I can say; if she were she gave no sign of it, but treated them -both with the same impartiality. Certain other ladies of the hunt vowed -that she was a heartless flirt, and that she was playing one man off -against the other. Such uncharitable sentiments, however, could only be -expected from people who would have acted in the same fashion had they -been placed in a similar position. - -It has been said by a well-known writer, who, for all we know to the -contrary, was a crusty old bachelor, and therefore well qualified to -speak upon the matter, "that the very uncertainty of love is one of its -greatest charms." I fancy that Godfrey Henderson, at that particular -time, would not have agreed with the sage in question. The uncertainty -of knowing whether he was loved or not, was making a different man of -him. In days that seemed as far removed from the present as if a gulf of -centuries lay between, he had been a happy-go-lucky, easy-going fellow, -taking the world as he found it, and never allowing himself to be much -troubled by anything. Now, however, he had grown preternaturally solemn, -was much given to silent communings with himself, and only brightened -up when he was in the presence of the person who was the object of his -adoration. Naturally this could not continue for long. - -"I'll speak to her the very first opportunity I get," he said to -himself; "and if she won't have me, I'll cut the whole show and go -abroad. I could pick up Fensden in Dresden, and we'll go off to Japan -together." - -But when he was given a favourable opportunity of speaking, he found he -was unable to bring his courage to the sticking-point, and for the next -day or two he called himself by a variety of names that, had they been -addressed to him by any one else, he would have considered most -objectionable. Regarded dispassionately, in the silent watches of the -night, it seemed a small thing to do. He had only to get her alone, to -take her hand, if he could manage to obtain possession of it, and then -to make his passion known, and ask her to be his wife. Any one could do -that, and he had the best of reasons, when he looked round the circle of -his married acquaintances, for knowing that it had been carried out -successfully on numerous occasions before. Yet when it became necessary -to put it into practice he discovered that it demanded a heroism to -which the charge of the Light Brigade and the storming of the Redan were -as nothing. - -"I see that the hounds meet at Churley cross roads on Monday," said his -sister, one morning at breakfast. "Molly wants me to go, but I fear it -will be impossible. I suppose it is not necessary to ask if you will be -there?" - -"I suppose I shall," Godfrey replied, as if he had not thought very much -about the matter. - -In his heart, however, he knew that it would require an extraordinary -force to keep him away. On Friday he did not go, for the reason that he -had incidentally learned that a certain lady would be in town at her -dressmaker's. The same day he discovered that his old friend and -schoolfellow, James Bradford, to wit, had returned from America, en -route to the Continent, and the inference was that if they did not lunch -together, they would be scarcely likely to meet again for some -considerable time. What, therefore, was more fitting than that he should -catch the 10.18 train at Detwich, and set off for the Metropolis? His -mother and sister said nothing, except to wish him a pleasant journey. -When they were alone together afterward, however, Mrs. Henderson turned -to her daughter. - -"Poor boy," she said, "I never thought he would take it as seriously as -he is doing. I have never seen a harder case." - -To which her daughter replied somewhat enigmatically: - -"I wish I knew what she intends doing." - -Despite the eagerness Godfrey had shown to renew his acquaintance with -his friend, Mr. James Bradford, he did not appear to derive such a vast -amount of satisfaction from their meeting as the trouble he had taken to -bring it about would have implied. - -"I never saw such a change in a man in my life," said Mr. James Bradford -afterward, when Godfrey had left the club. "He fidgeted about all the -time we were at lunch, and examined his watch at least twice in every -five minutes. Coming into money doesn't appear to agree with him. It's a -pity, for he used to be such a good chap." - -On leaving Pall Mall Godfrey took a cab to Bond Street, and for upward -of an hour paced religiously up and down that fashionable thoroughfare. -Then, taking another cab, he drove to Euston, where he spent at least -three-quarters of an hour inspecting the various trains that passed in -and out of the station, pottering about the bookstalls, and glaring at -the travellers who approached him. As every one is aware who lives in -the neighbourhood, there is only one good train in the afternoon that -stops at Detwich, hence his reason for going to the station at that -hour. As the time approached for that train to leave, he grew more and -more nervous, and when the train itself at length backed into the -station to take up its passengers, his anxiety became almost pitiable to -watch. Placing himself near the bookstall, he scrutinized every -passenger who approached him. At last he became aware of two figures, -who were making their way leisurely along the platform in search of an -empty carriage. One was Lady Devereux, tall, gray-haired, and eminently -dignified; her companion there is no need to describe. It struck -Godfrey, as he watched her, that never in his life had he seen so pretty -a face or figure. Nerving himself to carry out the operation he had in -mind, he strolled down the platform, then turning, walked back along the -train, glancing into the various carriages as he passed, until he -reached that in which the two ladies were seated. Then, as if he were -more than surprised at seeing them, he lifted his hat. - -"How do you do, Lady Devereux?" he said. "This is an altogether -unexpected meeting!" Then, having saluted the younger lady, he inquired -whether they would permit him to travel down with them. - -"Do so, by all means," Lady Devereux replied. "Molly and I have been -obliged to put up with each other's company since the early morning. But -how is it that you are not hunting to-day, Mr. Henderson?" - -"An old friend has just returned from America," Godfrey remarked, "and -he invited me to lunch with him. Otherwise I should have been out, of -course." - -Whether Miss Molly believed this statement or not I can not say, but I -do not think it probable. One thing was plain; on this particular -occasion she had made up her mind not to be gracious to the poor young -man, and when he endeavoured to draw her into conversation, she answered -him shortly, and then retired into the seclusion of her newspaper. - -Why she should have treated him so it is impossible to say, but there -could be no sort of doubt that she was offended at something. In -consequence the poor fellow was about as miserable a specimen of the -human race as could have been found in England that day. When Detwich -was reached, he saw the two ladies to their carriage, and bade them -good-bye. Then, mounting to the box of his own dog-cart, he sent the -horse flying down the street at a pace that, had he not been well known, -would in all probability have secured him an interview with a -magistrate. - -"And what sort of journey did you have?" inquired his mother, as she -gave him a cup of tea on his arrival at the house. - -"Very pleasant," he answered, though his looks belied his assertion. - -"And would you care, as you said the other day, to go back to live in -London?" asked mischievous Miss Kitty. - -"I think London is one of the most detestable places on earth," he -replied, stirring his tea as though he were sweeping the Metropolis into -the sea. - -"And did you see any one you knew while you were in town?" inquired his -mother. - -"A lot of people I don't care a scrap about," he answered. - -Feeling that he was not in a fit humour for society, he took himself off -to his studio, where he threw himself into an easy chair, and lit the -largest pipe in his possession. This he smoked as savagely as if it were -responsible for his troubles. By the time the dressing-bell rang, he was -more than ever determined to set off for Japan. So strong, however, was -the chain which bound him, that, on second thoughts, he came to the -conclusion that he would postpone his departure until after the meet at -the Churley cross roads on the following Monday. In consequence he spent -a miserable Saturday, and it was not until he came out of church on -Sunday morning that he was anything like his old self. All through the -service he had been paying a greater amount of attention to a neat -little toque, and the back of a very shapely head, a few seats in front -of him, than was altogether proper in a place of worship. According to -custom, the two families united in the porch. - -"Good-morning, Mr. Henderson," said Molly, as they shook hands, and -then, after they had passed outside and the usual commonplaces had been -exchanged, she continued: "What do you think of the state of the -weather?" - -There was more in her speech than met the eye. What she really meant -was: "Do you think we shall be able to hunt to-morrow? If so, I am -prepared to be kind to you once more." - -Godfrey replied that there had been signs of frost early in the morning, -but he rejoiced to see that they were going off. - -"We shall see you to-morrow, I suppose?" she said, as they passed -through the lych-gate out into the high road. - -"Of course," he answered. "Provided old Benbow doesn't break his neck in -the meantime, I shall be there." - -"I am so glad," she answered, and then, as though she felt that she had -said too much, she devoted her conversation during the rest of the walk -to Kitty, leaving Godfrey to discuss parish affairs with her father. - -She had said enough, however, in that short time to transport Godfrey -into the seventh heaven of delight; and I venture to think that if any -one had been foolish enough to suggest a trip to Japan to him at that -moment, it would have been at the peril of his or her life. - -I must leave you to imagine with what attention he studied the -appearance of the sky during the next eighteen hours. The barometer in -the hall was tapped with a regularity that was sufficient to -disorganize its internal economy forever and a day. Before he retired to -rest, he took careful stock of the heavens, and was relieved to find -that there was no sign of frost in the air. Next morning he was up -betimes, took his tub with the air of a man from whom great things are -expected, and made a heartier breakfast than he had done for some weeks -past. He looked a handsome figure in pink as his mother was careful to -inform him. - -The distance to Churley cross roads from the Hall is little more than a -mile, so that the half-hour he had allowed himself to get there, enabled -him to jog along without hurrying his horse. It was what might be -described as a perfect hunting morning. A slight mist hung in places -upon the fields; it was, however, being quickly dispersed by the -sunshine. A pleasant breeze was driving the clouds across the sky, -throwing delightful shadows upon the meadows, and crisping the surface -of the river as he passed over the old stone bridge. When he reached the -cross roads he had still some ten minutes in hand; but as there were -several others as early as himself, this fact did not weigh heavily upon -his mind. Meanwhile he kept a sharp eye on the road down which he had -come, and when he espied the stout figure of the old baronet on his -famous hunter, with his daughter beside him, mounted on a somewhat -vicious-looking chestnut, he rode forward to receive them. - -"A capital day," said the old gentleman, when they had exchanged the -usual salutations. "We could scarcely have a better. Strangely enough, -as I was saying to Molly just now, in fifty years I've never known a wet -Churley Cross Meet." - -"What do you think of my new horse, Mr. Henderson?" inquired his -daughter, when the latter had remarked upon the strangeness of the -coincidence. "Papa bought him for me on Saturday." - -"He must be very nearly thoroughbred," Godfrey replied, not caring to -add that he did not altogether like the look of the animal in question. -There was a nasty flicker in the horse's eyes, of which, to Godfrey's -thinking, he showed a great deal too much white. There could be no -denying his make and shape, however. "You'll be showing us a clean pair -of heels to-day." - -"I'll be bound she will," said the old baronet, upon whom the horse had -evidently made a favourable impression. "They tell me he won a decent -steeplechase last season; and Seth Warton, of whom I got him, says he is -the best he has had in his stable for many a long day. That says -something." - -"I sincerely hope he may prove to be all you could wish," said Godfrey; -and at that moment the Master came forward to bid them good-morning. - -"I think we'll try the Spinney first, Sir Vivian," he said. "I hear good -reports in that direction. A new horse, Miss Devereux, and I should say -a fast one. Have pity on us all!" - -As if to prove that his manners were not so good as his looks, the -animal in question made as if he would rear, and for a moment Godfrey's -heart seemed to stand still. - -"I don't like the look of him," he said to himself. "Heaven send he does -her no mischief." - -But he was not permitted much time to think of such a thing, for the -Master had given the signal, and already a general move was being made -in the direction of the Spinney. Godfrey settled himself down by Miss -Devereux's side, leaving the old gentleman free to discuss the -prospects of the day with the local doctor, a sportsman of some -celebrity in the neighbourhood. - -"Miss Devereux," said Godfrey, as they approached the wood, "at the risk -of offending you, I must say that I don't altogether care about the look -of that horse. I should say, from his appearance, handsome as it is, -that he possesses more than a touch of temper. I do hope you will be -careful what you do with him to-day." - -"You needn't be afraid," she answered, as she flashed a sharp glance at -him. "I think we understand each other perfectly. He hasn't been with -hounds for some time, and he's naturally a little excited. It will wear -off, however, before the day is done." - -"I sincerely hope it may," Godfrey continued. "In the meantime I can not -help wishing that we could exchange mounts." - -"You think that you could manage him better than I?" she said. "If that -is a challenge we will see. Now, let us watch what goes on, for I want -to be well away." - -At that moment three blasts of the horn were heard from the right, and, -before Godfrey could have counted twenty, the hounds were out of cover -and streaming away in the direction of the village--only to change -their course after the first quarter of a mile. - -"It looks as if we were in for a fast thing," said Miss Devereux; and -the words had scarcely left her lips when the chestnut gave a violent -plunge in the air and was off at a racing pace. - -"If he goes on like that, the brute will pull her arms out, if he -doesn't do anything worse," Godfrey muttered to himself. - -But so far the girl had got him well in hand. Sitting back in the -saddle, she let him have his head, taking a gradual pull at him as they -neared the first hedge. Whatever his other faults may have been, he was -certainly a jumper, for he cleared the obstacle in unmistakable style. -As she had said a few moments before, there could be no doubt that they -were in for a fast thing. The hounds were racing as if their one desire -was to run Master Reynard to earth before he could get into the next -field. Godfrey's own horse, to use a phrase that his mother could never -understand, "was going strong," but he could not live in the same county -with the chestnut. In spite of Miss Devereux's undoubted skill in the -saddle, the horse was gradually becoming the master. At the third fence, -an ugly-looking post and rail, with a bad approach, he took off too -soon, giving his rider the chance of an extremely nasty fall. She saved -the situation, however, by a miracle. They had reached the top of the -hill, and were descending into the valley on the other side, when -Godfrey, whose horse was doing its best, realized that something very -serious was the matter ahead. The chestnut had undeniably got out of -hand, and, scared by some sheep, was edging toward the left. - -"It is just what I expected," he said to himself as he rode along some -half-a-dozen lengths behind the other. "She is losing control over him. -I must follow at all costs." - -Digging his spurs into the horse's side, he endeavoured to race up to -the animal in front of him. He was too late, however. The chestnut had -got the bit in his teeth, and, swerving to the left, was galloping in -the direction of a small wood. Observing this, Godfrey turned his -horse's head and made after him. Fortunately, the paddock over which -they were galloping was a large one; but the chestnut was going at such -a pace that he very soon crossed it. Skirting the wood, he began to -descend the hill on the other side. Then he disappeared altogether from -view. When Godfrey reached the top of the rise, he scarcely dared to -look about him; but when he did so, he saw that the horse had altered -his original course, and was making his way again across the angle, as -if he desired to reach the line the hounds were still following. In a -flash Godfrey realized the situation and took in the fact that the -animal was unconsciously making direct for a large chalk pit, and that -unless something were done at once to prevent him, nothing could save -both horse and rider from a terrible death. - -"God help me to save her!" he cried. "God help me to save her!" - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -For a moment after he realized the true state of affairs Godfrey was -spellbound with terror. Was it just possible that he would be able to -head the horse off from the pit? If he could not, then it would be the -end of all things as far as Miss Devereux was concerned. With the cold -sweat of terror on his brow he watched the girl he loved racing down the -slope on the maddened horse. He saw that she was making a brave fight to -bring him to a standstill; but even at that distance he could tell that -her effort was in vain. A moment later the animal had once more changed -his course and had dashed toward a hedge. He scarcely rose at it; as a -natural consequence he struck it, toppled over, and then both horse and -rider disappeared together. Fearful at what he might find, Godfrey -galloped toward the spot, jumped the gate that separated it from the -neighbouring field, and looked about him for what he should see. The -horse was lying stretched out upon the ground, and one glance was -sufficient to show him that its neck was broken. In the dry ditch below -the hedge he could catch a glimpse of a black figure. He sprang from his -horse and approached it. Lifting her head he supported her in his arms, -and as he did so a little sigh escaped from her lips. - -"God be thanked, she is still alive!" he muttered to himself, and then -he replaced her head upon the bank. - -Taking off his coat he made it into a ball. He placed it beneath her -head, and then set off in search of water. When he had procured a little -in his hat he returned and bathed her forehead and temples with it. -After a while she opened her eyes and looked up at him. - -"I feel better now," she answered, in reply to his inquiries. "Where is -the horse?" - -"Close beside you," he said, and then going to his own animal he took -his flask from the holster and filled the little cup with sherry. - -"Drink this," he said. "It will do you good." - -The wine revived her, and in a few minutes she was so far recovered as -to be able to sit up and discuss matters with him. - -"I am quite well now," she said. "But how am I to get home? Poor papa! -What a state he will be in when he hears! Since my horse is dead I -suppose I must try to walk." - -"You will do nothing of the kind," Godfrey replied, firmly. "I will lift -you into the saddle and you must try and ride my horse. If we can find a -village near here, you can remain there until a carriage is sent from -the Court to fetch you." - -"As I have proved myself incompetent I suppose I must obey you," she -answered, with a touch of her old spirit. "But what is to be done with -my own poor beast?" - -"I will arrange about him when I have attended to your comfort," he -said, and then assisted her to rise and lifted her into the saddle. For -the first hundred yards or so they walked almost in silence. She was the -first to speak. - -"Mr. Henderson," she said, looking down at him, "I owe you an apology. I -was rude to you the other day, and I laughed at you when you told me -this morning that you did not like my new horse. Events have proved that -you were right. Will you forgive me?" - -"I have nothing to forgive," he answered; "but you can have no idea how -nervous I was this morning when I saw how that brute behaved." - -"Why should you have bothered yourself about me?" she asked, not, -however, with quite her usual confidence. - -Here was the very opportunity he had been looking for so long. He felt -that he must take possession of it at once. - -"Because I love you," he answered. "You must have known that I have been -in love with you ever since I first saw you, Molly. Don't you believe -me?" - -"Yes, I know it," she replied, looking at him with the love-light -shining in her own eyes. - -"And your answer, Molly? What can you say to me?" - -"Only that I love you too," she murmured. - -I do not know what my spinster readers will think, but the fact remains -that the paddock they were crossing was a large one, some twenty acres -in extent. It was almost in the centre of this open space that he -proposed to her, and she, brazen creature, at his suggestion, I will -admit, stooped from her saddle and permitted him to kiss her where all -the world might see. - -It was between three and four o'clock that afternoon when Godfrey -reached home. He had waited at the little village inn until the -carriage, which he had sent for to convey her home, arrived from the -Court. Then, when he had promised to ride over in the morning in order -to interview her father, he watched her drive off and had afterward -departed himself to his own abode. - -"Well, Godfrey, and what sort of a day have you had?" asked Miss Kitty, -as they stood in the drawing-room before the fire. - -"Splendid," he answered. "I was awfully cut up at one time, but on the -whole it has been one of the best days in my life." - -"You seem to have enjoyed it. Where did you find?" - -"At Churley Spinney," he answered. - -"And you killed at----?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," was the reply. - -"How long did you run?" - -"I don't know that either." - -"You don't seem to have been very observant. What _do_ you know?" - -"I only know that I am engaged to Molly Devereux. For the present that -seems to me to be quite sufficient." - -In a moment her arms were round his neck. - -"You dear boy, I can not tell you how thankful I am." - -Nor was Mrs. Henderson's pleasure the less sincere. - -To say that Godfrey Henderson was a happy man after his acceptance by -Miss Molly would be too mild an expression altogether. It is my opinion -that for the next few days he could not have been said to be properly -responsible for his actions. He behaved like an amiable lunatic, spent -the greater part of his time, when he was not with his _fiancee_, -planning alterations to a house which was already perfect, and vowed -many times a day that he was not nearly good enough for one so angelic. -Every one, with the exception of Sir George Penistone, perhaps, was -delighted with the match. The worthy old baronet gave his consent -immediately almost before it was asked in point of fact, and vowed that -the two properties would run splendidly together. A county dinner was -given to celebrate the engagement. There were folks who prophesied that -the wedding festivities would be on a scale seldom witnessed even by -Midlandshire, which as all the world knows, or should know, is the most -hospitable county in the three kingdoms. The engagement was to be a very -short one, and the happy couple were to leave directly after the -marriage ceremony for the South of France. - -"You are quite sure that you are not anxious to change your mind?" said -Molly to her lover one evening, when they were riding home from hunting. -"Remember, there is still time." - -"If it were not so light, and I had not the best of reasons for knowing -that old Farmer Giles is behind us, and has his eyes glued upon our -backs, I would find a means of making you repent of that speech." Then -he added more seriously: "Darling, whatever may happen in the future, -whatever troubles may be in store for us, you will always believe that I -love you, will you not?" - -"Always," she answered. "Happen what may, I shall never doubt that. But -what makes you suddenly so solemn?" - -"I don't know," he replied. "Somebody walking over my grave, I suppose." - -She gave a little cry of pain. - -"For pity's sake don't talk like that!" she cried. "You have no idea how -it hurts me." - -"In that case I will never do so again," he said. "Forgive me and forget -that I said it, dear." Then to change the conversation, he added: "I -expect this will be our last day's hunting together before we are -married. We shall both be too busy to be able to spare the time." - -"I have no idea how I am going to get through all I have to do," she -said. "I shall practically live in shops for the next month, and I do -detest shopping. Mamma, on the other hand, seems to revel in it. I fancy -she would like to have a wedding to arrange every month in the year. By -the way, Godfrey, have you decided who is going to be your best man?" - -"Yes," he replied. "Victor Fensden. He is my oldest friend, and I heard -from him only this morning that he will be delighted to officiate in -that capacity. He is in Paris just now, but returns to England at the -end of the week, when I have invited him to come down here for a few -days. I hope you will like him." - -"I am certain to like any friend of yours," she replied. "I shall be -very interested in Mr. Fensden. I came across a volume of his poems the -other day. It was very strangely bound and illustrated in an -extraordinary manner by himself." - -"That's his own idea. And did you like the poetry?" - -"Well, if I must be candid, and I'm sure you won't mind, I must confess -that I did not understand much of it. It seems so confused. Not a bit -like Tennyson, or Keats, or Shelley." - -"I quite agree with you," said Godfrey. "Fensden is very clever, too -clever for me, I'm afraid. One or two literary people rave about his -work, I know, but for my part I like less words and a little more human -nature. Give me 'Gunga Din,' or the 'Charge of the Light Brigade,' for -my money, and anybody else can have all the nymphs and satyrs, and odes -to Bacchus and Pan that were ever crammed into the realms of poetry." - -Loath as I am to say it, such was the infatuation of this girl that she -positively agreed with him. Fate, with that characteristic kindness for -which it is celebrated, had been good enough to endow them with minds of -similar calibre, which, of course, was very desirable, and just as it -should be. - -On the Wednesday morning following the conversation I have just -described Molly and her mother departed for London, where the former -was to be handed over to the tender care of Madame Delamaine and her -assistants. They were to be away for three days, returning home on the -Friday evening, and, as a little compensation for their absence, it was -agreed that Godfrey should meet them in town on the Thursday and take -them to a theatre. - -Accordingly the morning train conveyed him to the Metropolis. He had the -pleasure of the vicar's society on the way up, and the latter, not being -restrained by his wife, was able to give him his opinion on matters in -general and the immediate stress on politics in particular. In -consequence, as Godfrey admitted afterward, he spent two such hours of -boredom as he hopes never to experience again. On his arrival in London -he drove to his tailors and ordered his wedding garments, going on -afterward to a well-known firm of jewellers in Regent Street, from whom -he bought a wedding-ring with as much care as he would have given to the -purchase of Crown jewels, and a diamond necklace with little more -concern than if it had been a pair of gloves. From Regent Street he -drove to his club for luncheon. He was late, but that did not matter, -for he felt that the morning had been well spent. On entering the -dining-room he looked about him for a vacant table. He had chosen one, -and was proceeding toward it when a well-known voice behind him said: - -"Come and sit here, Godfrey." - -He turned round to find himself face to face with no less a person than -Victor Fensden. - -"My dear old fellow, this is indeed a surprise," he said as he shook -hands. "I thought you were still in Paris. How long have you been in -London?" - -"I crossed this morning," Victor replied. "I am tired of travelling and -want to settle down." - -"And you have enjoyed yourself?" - -"Fairly well," Victor replied. "I have met a lot of people whom I hope -never to see again, and have tasted, I should say, every example of -villainous cookery in Europe. I am thinking of bringing out a new guide -book, which I shall name 'The Tourist's Vade Mecum'; or, 'Where _not_ to -go in Europe.'" - -Considering that it was to Godfrey's generosity that he owed the long -holiday he had been able to take, this was scarcely a grateful speech, -but the latter did not comment on it. He was too happy himself and too -glad to see his friend once more to take offence. He noticed that in his -dress Victor was even more artistic than before. His hair was a shade -longer, his tie a trifle larger (he wore it tied in a bow with ends -flying loose), and the general tone of his costume a little more -pronounced. - -"And the future Mrs. Henderson?" he said, airily. "How is she? As you -may suppose, I am all anxiety to make her acquaintance." - -"You will do so on Saturday," Godfrey replied, "for I presume you are -coming down to me then?" - -"I shall be delighted," said Fensden. "An English country house will be -soothing after the caravansaries I have been domiciled in lately. I -never knew how much I detested my brother Briton until I met him in a -foreign hotel." - -The sneer on his face as he said this was not pretty to watch. - -"And now that you are at home once more, I presume you will resume your -old habit of searching the slums for foreign eating houses?" said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "Do you remember how and where we met Teresina?" - -"Perfectly," Victor replied shortly, and then changed the conversation -by inquiring how long Godfrey intended remaining in town. - -"I go back to-morrow morning," was the other's reply. "And now that I -come to think of it, why shouldn't you come down with me? It would be -just the thing for you. We shall be very pleased to see you if you care -to come." - -"Impossible," the other answered. "I have such a lot to do. I could not -possibly manage it before Saturday." - -"Let it be Saturday then," said Godfrey, with an imperturbable good -humour that contrasted very strongly with the other's peevishness. -"There's a first-rate train which gets you down in time for afternoon -tea. I'll meet you at the station." - -When Godfrey had finished his lunch he paid a visit to his saddler and -his bootmaker, and then to fill in the time, inspected the stables of a -well-known horse-dealer. He would have liked to go round to Eaton Square -where Molly and her mother were staying with an old maiden aunt, but he -thought better of it, and contented himself by strolling down Bond -Street on the off-chance that he might meet them. He was not successful, -however, so he returned to his hotel to dress and dine. - -At ten minutes to eight he was to be seen standing in the vestibule of -the Lyceum, waiting for the ladies to put in an appearance. When their -carriage drove up he hastened forward to greet them, and conducted them -forthwith to the box he had engaged. Nothing that could tend to their -comfort had been omitted by this extravagant young man, and he found his -reward in the tender little squeeze Molly gave his hand when he removed -her cloak. During the evening he did not concern himself very much with -the play; he watched his future wife's pretty face and the expressions -that played upon it. As soon as they were married he was determined to -paint a life-size portrait of her, which he prophesied to himself would -be the best piece of work he had ever accomplished. But even the -happiest evenings must come to an end, and this particular one was no -exception to the rule. When the curtain fell on the last act, he -re-cloaked his two charges, and escorted them downstairs once more. -Then, bidding them wait in the vestibule, he himself went out in search -of their carriage. When he had placed them in it, he bade them -good-night, and came very near being knocked over by a hansom as he -watched them disappear in the traffic. - -The night was bitterly cold, and snow was falling. Reflecting that it -would be wiser not to stand still, he turned up the collar of his coat, -and wondered what he should do next. Should he go back to his hotel and -to bed, or should he stroll on to his club and see who was there? He -eventually decided in favour of the hotel, and accordingly set off along -the Strand in the hope that he might presently be able to pick up a cab. - -He had reached Exeter Hall, when, with a cry of astonishment, he found -himself standing face to face with the one person of all others he had -least expected to see in England. It was Teresina! - -"Teresina!" he ejaculated, in surprise. "What on earth does this mean? -How long have you been in England?" - -"Nearly a month," she answered, looking away as if she desired to avoid -his eyes. - -"And why did you not let me know that you were coming?" he asked, -reproachfully. "You must surely remember that you promised to do so?" - -"I did not like to trouble you," she replied, still in the same -curiously hard voice. "You were not in London, and I thought you would -be too busy to have time to spare for me." - -"You know that is not true," he answered. "I should be a mean brute if I -did not find time to look after my friends. Where are you living? In the -old house?" - -She paused for a moment before she replied. He noticed her -embarrassment, but did not put the right construction upon it. - -"Near the Tottenham Court Road," she said at last. "I don't think you -would know the street if I told you." - -"And your mother, how is she?" - -He saw the look of pain which spread over her face, and noticed that her -eyes filled with tears. - -"My mother is dead!" she answered, very quietly. "She died in Naples two -months ago." - -"And you are alone in the world? My poor child! This will never do. You -must let me help you if I can." - -"No, no!" she cried, this time almost fiercely. "I do not require any -help. I can support myself quite well." - -"I shall have to be convinced of that before I let you go," he answered. -"London is not the sort of place for a young girl to be alone in, -particularly when one is a foreigner and poor." - -"You were always kind to me," she replied, "but I can not let you do -more. Besides you are going to be married. Is that not so?" - -"It is quite true," he answered; "but how did you hear of it?" - -She looked confused for a moment. - -"I can not tell you," she replied. "Perhaps I saw it in the newspapers. -You are famous, and they write about you. Now I must be getting home." - -An empty cab happened to pass at that moment, and Godfrey hailed it. - -"Get in," he said, when the vehicle had drawn up beside the pavement. "I -am going to see you home. This is not the hour for you to be alone in -the streets." - -"No, no," she protested, even more vehemently than before. "I can not -let you do this. I can walk quite well. It is not far, and I have often -done it." - -"Teresina, you must do as I tell you," said Godfrey, firmly. "I insist -that you get in and that you give me your address." - -She hesitated for a moment before she replied. Then she said: - -"No. 16, Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road." - -Having given the address to the driver, Godfrey took his place beside -the girl. He was thankful, indeed, that he had met her, but the -circumstances under which he had found her distressed him more than he -was able to say. As they drove along he endeavoured to elicit some -information from her concerning her present life. She was not -communicative, however. That there was some mystery at the back of it -all, he could see, and the more he thought of it, the more unhappy he -became. Poor little Teresina! He remembered her as she was when she had -first sat to him for the picture which had made his name; and as he -looked out upon the falling snow and the miserable streets with the dark -figures scurrying along the pavement on either hand, and thought of her -future, his heart sank within him. He wondered whether he could persuade -her to accept a sufficient sum of money from him to enable her to return -to her own country and to live in comfort there? He was rich, and after -all it was not only his duty but his pleasure to help an old friend. As -she seemed so distressed at meeting him, he resolved to say nothing on -the subject then, however; nevertheless, he was determined in his own -mind that he would write to her on the morrow and make the offer, -whether she accepted it or not. At last they came to a part of the -Strand which was more brilliantly illuminated than elsewhere. As they -came within the circle of the light, Teresina put up her hand to push -back her hair, and Godfrey noticed that she wore a wedding-ring upon her -third finger. This gave him food for reflection. - -"Teresina," he said, "why did you not tell me that you were married? I -thought you said you were alone in the world." - -"My husband is dead," she answered, with what was almost a note of -despair in her voice. - -"Your husband dead, and your mother dead too?" he repeated, almost -incredulously. "Teresina, my dear child, are you telling me the truth?" - -"Why should you doubt me?" she cried. "You have no reason for doing so." - -"Because I feel that you are hiding something from me," he said. "Is it -any use my imploring you to confide in me? You know that I am your -friend, and that I would help you to the best of my ability." - -"I know you would," she answered. "You were always a good and kind -friend to me. All I ask of you now, however, is to leave me alone. I am -unhappy enough as it is. Do not seek to add to my misery." - -"Heaven knows I have no desire to do that," said Godfrey. "But if you -think I am going to leave you, as you are now, you are much mistaken. If -you would only be brave and tell me everything, it might simplify -matters." - -"Impossible," she cried. "Have I not told you there is nothing to tell? -Oh, why did I not go another way home!" - -"Because it was to be," he answered. "You were in trouble, Providence -sent me to help you. Believe me, that is the explanation." - -A few moments later the cab turned from the Tottenham Court Road into a -narrower and darker street. Half--way down this dingy thoroughfare it -came to a standstill--before a house on the right-hand side. It was by -no means a cheerful dwelling, and at that hour it was wrapped in -complete darkness. They descended from the cab, and Godfrey, who had no -desire that the cabman should overhear his conversation with Teresina, -paid him off with a liberal _largesse_, and allowed him to go on his way -rejoicing. - -"Is it any use my again asking you to tell me your trouble?" he said to -the girl beside him, when the vehicle had disappeared and a policeman -had passed, after taking a long survey of them. - -"Not in the least," she answered. "Please do not ask me." - -"In that case, will you make me a promise, Teresina? If you will do so, -I will ask no further questions for the present." - -"What is it I am to promise?" - -"That you will not leave this house without first letting me know -whither you are going?" - -"I will do that," she answered. "I will let you know when I leave this -house." - -"Here is my card then. You had better take care of it. A letter or -telegram will always find me. And now good-night, my poor girl. -Remember, I am your friend." - -"Good-night, and may God bless _you_." - -So saying, she disappeared into the house, while he, in his turn, after -taking the bearing of the house, in case he should want to find it -again, set off in the opposite direction to that by which he had entered -the street. - -Meanwhile Teresina, choking down her sobs, climbed the stairs to the -room she occupied in that ramshackle tenement. Unlocking the door, she -entered and started to cross the floor in search of a box of matches she -remembered having left upon the chimney-piece. She had not advanced more -than three steps, however, before she was seized by the throat from -behind, while at the same time a keen-bladed knife was driven, as far as -the handle, between her shoulders, only to be withdrawn and thrust in -again and again, until she fell with a little gasp upon the floor. - -When her assassin had made sure that she was dead, he lit the gas and -knelt beside her for a few minutes. Then he rose, placed something in a -box upon the table, turned off the gas once more, picked up the box, and -went out, relocking the door behind him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - -After leaving Teresina, Godfrey made his way back to his hotel. As he -strode along he meditated as to what he should do to help her. That the -girl was in serious trouble, he had not the least doubt; but since she -would not allow him to assist her in any form, what could he do? - -He had been through a good deal that day, and by the time he reached his -hotel he was quite worn out. The night porter who admitted him noticed -his haggard appearance. - -"You don't look very well, sir," he said, sympathetically; "is there -anything I can do for you?" - -"If you could manage to get me a brandy and soda, I should be very much -obliged," Godfrey said, as he dropped into one of the seats in the hall. - -"I will do so with pleasure, sir," the man replied, and disappeared at -once in search of the refreshment, which he very soon brought back. -Godfrey drank it off, and then announced his intention of proceeding at -once to bed. - -"Poor little Teresina!" he said to himself as he wound up his watch; -"poor little girl, it seems a shame that she should suffer so!" - -Little did he guess that at that moment Teresina's troubles were over, -that she would never know sorrow or poverty again. - -Next morning he returned to Detwich by an early train. Though he had -only been absent from it a little more than twenty-four hours, it seemed -to him that he had been away for years. - -"You look tired out, Godfrey," said his mother, as they stood together -in the hall. - -"I did not have a very good night last night," he said, "and I had a -hard day's running about yesterday. That is all. You needn't worry about -me, mother; I'm as strong as a horse." - -He went on to tell his mother of his meeting with Fensden, and informed -her that the latter intended coming to stay with them next day. - -"That will be very nice," she said. "You will enjoy having him. I shall -put him up in the south wing in order that he may be near you. The -wall-papers are more subdued there. I know, of old, how he notices these -things." - -"I don't think he will bother himself very much about wall-papers," said -Godfrey, with a laugh. "He declares that he is so tired of travelling -that the quiet of an English country house will brace him up again." - -"I have no doubt it will," said the old lady: "I remember when your -father took me to Paris for our honeymoon, the mere sound of the French -language gave me a headache. I never hear it now without thinking of -that time. And now tell me about Molly. Did she enjoy the play you took -her to see?" - -"Immensely," he replied. "She sent her love to you, and bade me tell you -that she would be very pleased to come over to meet Fensden on Saturday. -I only hope that she won't be knocked up by all this shopping." - -His mother shook her head. - -"I don't think you need have any fear on that score," she said. "When a -girl is about to be married to the man of her heart, the collection of -her _trousseau_ becomes a labour of love. She will make a beautiful -bride, worthy of my boy. I can't say more than that." - -"You shouldn't say so much," said Godfrey. "If your boy were to believe -all the compliments you pay him, he would become insufferably conceited. -And now I must go round and see how things have been progressing in my -absence." - -The following morning witnessed Molly's arrival at the Hall. It was the -first time she had stayed there since her engagement, and in consequence -she was received with rapturous delight by her lover. Though they had -only been parted for a day, they seemed to have a hundred things to tell -each other. There were, moreover, certain important matters to be -discussed connected with the internal arrangements of the house of which -she was so soon to be mistress. I believe, so infatuated was the young -man that, had she expressed a desire to have the whole fabric pulled -down, and rebuilt in another fashion, he would have set about the work -at once. - -"You are quite sure there is nothing else you would like to have done?" -he asked, when they had made the tour of inspection, and were -approaching to the drawing-room once more. - -"You have done too much already," she replied, looking affectionately at -her lover. "I very much doubt if ever there was a girl so spoilt as I. -You will have to make up for it by ruling me with a rod of iron -afterward." - -"God forbid that I should ever do that," he said seriously. "I hope I -shall always be an indulgent husband to you." - -"Not too indulgent," she said. "For my own sake, you must not be. I -don't want to be like a spoilt child." - -"You will never be that," he said. "To me you will always be the -most----" - -"Hush!" she said, holding up her finger in warning. "I think we must -make it a rule to avoid every sort of compliment. I have had more than -is good for me already." - -"I shall find it difficult to obey you, but I will try," he returned. -"And now come with me to the studio; I have one thing left to show you." - -"What is that?" - -"You must wait and see for yourself," he replied, and led the way -through the conservatory to the room of which he had spoken. They found -the easel covered with a cloth. This he drew aside. - -"It is my present to you," he said, referring to the picture he had -revealed, "to be hung in your own room." - -"Oh, Godfrey, how good of you! What a splendid likeness!" - -It was, in fact, a portrait of himself upon which he had been working -hard ever since his engagement had been announced. He had intended it as -a surprise, and in the pleasure he gave her, he felt that he had been -amply repaid for the labour it had cost him. - -"I shall treasure it all my life long," she said, and rewarded him in a -manner that would have turned many folks green with envy. - -"And now," she said, when she had gazed her full upon it, "I want you to -show me a photograph of your friend, Mr. Fensden, if you have one. -Remember I have no idea what he is like." - -"That can very easily be remedied," he said. "I have a photo which was -taken in Rome, and a small portrait that I painted myself." - -So saying, he crossed the room to his writing-table, and, having opened -a drawer, took from it a packet of cabinet photographs. They were, for -the most part, likenesses of old friends, and when he had selected one -of Victor from the number, he placed it before her. - -"So that is Mr. Fensden?" she said, seating herself in what he called -his business chair. - -For some moments she studied it attentively. Then she replaced it on the -writing-table. - -"Well, now that you have seen the portrait, what do you think of him?" -Godfrey asked, as he turned over some canvases on the other side of the -room. - -"I scarcely know what to say," she replied, slowly. "It is a refined -face, a clever one, if you like; but, if I may be allowed to say what I -think, there is something in it, I can not tell what, that I do not care -about. I fancy the eyes are set a little too close together." Then she -added more quickly: "I hope I have not offended you, dear. I should not -have spoken so candidly." - -"Why shouldn't you?" he inquired. "Perhaps, now you speak of it, the -eyes are a little too close together. But you must wait until you have -seen the man himself before you judge him. I assure you he can be a -charming companion." - -"I gathered as much from his photograph," she answered, taking it up and -looking at it again, "At what time does he arrive to-day?" - -"In time for afternoon tea," said Godfrey. "I am going to drive in to -meet him." - -Molly made a little _moue_; with the selfishness of love, she did not -approve of Godfrey leaving her, if only for so short a time. And, if the -truth be confessed, I fear she was a little jealous of the man who was -to be responsible for his absence. It is not always that a sweetheart is -any too well disposed toward her lover's bachelor friends. For some -reason, Fensden's photograph had prejudiced her against him. She was -resolved to be just; but she felt convinced in her own mind that she -would never be able to say that she really liked or trusted the man. She -did not tell Godfrey this. - -In accordance with the arrangements he had made, that afternoon, at -about three o'clock, Godfrey drove off to the station to meet his -friend. He was looking forward to seeing him, if only that he might show -him how great was the difference between the sketch the other had drawn -of his future wife that night in the desert, and the reality. I fancy if -England had been searched through that day, a happier young man than the -master of Detwich would have been difficult to find. Yet, though he -could not guess it, the climax of his life was only a few hours' -distant. - -As he drove along, he thought of Molly and the happiness that was to be -his portion in the future. Then his thoughts turned to Teresina. While -he had prospered in the world, she had lost what little happiness she -had ever possessed. He determined to discuss her affairs with Fensden on -the first available opportunity, when doubtless the latter would be able -to suggest a way in which he might assist her. By the time he had -arrived at this reflection, he had reached the station, and the groom -was standing at the horse's head. Having placed the reins under the -patent clip, he descended from the cart and went on to the platform. The -station-master saluted him respectfully, and informed him that the train -had already been signalled. Indeed, the words had scarcely left that -functionary's lips before a whistle was heard in the cutting, and a -moment later it came into view. As the train swept past him Godfrey -caught a glimpse of the man he had come to meet, gathering together his -travelling things, in a first-class carriage. - -"How are you, my dear old fellow?" he cried, as he turned the handle of -the door. "You don't know how glad I am to see you! I am afraid you have -had a cold journey. Let me take some of your things." - -Victor graciously permitted the other to assist him with his luggage, -and then he himself descended from the carriage. They shook hands and -afterward strolled in the direction of the gate. Victor was attired in a -magnificent travelling ulster, and a neat deer-stalker's hat. An -orange-coloured tie peeped from the opening under his beard, and his -hands were as daintily gloved as a lady's. Altogether, as he walked down -the platform, he presented as artistic a figure as Detwich had seen for -a very long time. - -"What have you been doing since I saw you?" Godfrey inquired as they -took their places in the dog-cart. - -"Repairing the ravages of time and Continental travel," Victor replied, -somewhat ambiguously. Then he added politely: "I hope Miss Devereux is -well?" - -"Very well, indeed," said Godfrey, "and most anxious to see you. She has -read your poems and has seen your portrait; all she requires now is to -be introduced to the original." - -"In that case I fear she will be disappointed," said Victor, with what -was almost a sneer in his voice. "Since she is with you, I presume your -mother and sister are at the Hall. Do they look forward to the idea of -turning out?" - -"They are a pair of foolish women who would do anything, or give up -anything in order to make me happy," the other replied. "As a matter of -fact, I don't know that they altogether mind. They both prefer London, -and when they return from their travels, I believe it is their intention -to take a flat and settle down somewhere in the neighbourhood of -Kensington." - -"While you are assimilating the bucolic virtues. Well, it's a pretty -picture, and if I had fifteen thousand a year and a fine estate I might -be tempted to do the same. As I haven't the money or the property I -remain what I am." - -"And that is?" - -"A trifler," Victor replied, with unusual bitterness. "One who might -have done and who did not--who dropped the substance in an attempt to -grasp the shadow." - -"Nonsense," said Godfrey, who did not like to hear his friend abuse -himself in this fashion. "If you are going to talk like that I shall -have to prescribe a long dose of country air." - -Then, in an attempt to change the other's thoughts, he talked of their -travels together, and of the curious characters they had met, which -lasted until they had passed through the lodge gates and were well on -their way across the park. Even in the sombreness of winter the place -looked very beautiful, and Victor expressed himself delighted with it. - -"I had no idea it was so fine," he said, as they swept round the drive -and came into view of the house. "I can very well understand your liking -for a country life when you possess an estate like this. Your uncle did -you a kind action when he made you his heir." - -"Nobody is more sensible of that fact than I am," Godfrey replied. "I -only wish I could let the old fellow know how grateful I am. I often -think that during his lifetime he was disappointed in me because I took -to painting instead of becoming a country gentleman. I wonder what he -would say if he could see me now? I don't know what you may think, but -to my mind there are times when one likes to imagine that the dead are -near us." - -Victor gave a violent start, followed by a shiver. - -"Good Heavens! What an idea!" he cried. Then, dropping back into his old -cynical tone, he continued: "I am afraid that if your idea were possible -our human affairs would become somewhat complicated. For my own part I -am quite content that the matter should stand as it is." - -As he finished speaking they drew up before the steps and the two men -descended from the cart. The ladies were waiting in the hall to receive -them. - -"How do you do, Mr. Fensden?" said Mrs. Henderson, coming forward to -meet him. "It is a long time since we have met, and you have been a -great traveller in the meantime." - -"Thanks to your son," said Victor as he took her hand. "How do you do, -Miss Kitty? Events advance too quickly with all of us, but they seem to -have taken giant strides with you." - -"You mean that when last we met I was still on the other side of that -line which is only crossed by a girl when she performs the mysterious -operation called 'putting her hair up,'" answered that sharp-tongued -young lady. - -"Now, Victor," said Godfrey, when Kitty had been annihilated, "let me -have the pleasure of introducing you to Miss Devereux." - -The couple bowed to each other, and Victor offered her his -congratulations. - -"And now you must come and have your tea," said Mrs. Henderson, -hospitably. "You must need it, I am sure, after your long journey." - -"Or perhaps you would prefer something more substantial," put in -Godfrey. "I noticed that you shivered as we came up the drive." - -"I really think I should," said Victor. "After the warmth of the East -our English winters are not to be trifled with." - -Godfrey led the way to the dining-room and placed the spirit-stand -before his friend. - -"I don't think I have ever been so cold in my life before," said Victor, -as he poured out an amount of brandy for himself that made Godfrey open -his eyes in astonishment, for he had always looked upon the other as an -exceedingly temperate man. - -"Now, tell me, would you prefer to see your room first?" Godfrey -inquired, when the other had tossed off his refreshment, "or shall we -join the ladies?" - -"Perhaps I had better make myself presentable first," Victor answered, -glancing complacently at himself in the mirror above the chimney-piece. - -Godfrey accordingly led the way to the room which had been set apart for -his friend's use, and to which the latter's luggage had been conveyed. -It was a pleasant apartment, looking out on what was called the Ladies' -Garden, and thence across the park to a high and wooded hill. Victor -went to the window and studied the prospect. - -"You have a charming home," he said, with what was almost a sigh; "you -are about to marry a beautiful girl; you have wealth, success, and -everything else that can make life worth living, Godfrey. You should be -a happy man." - -"I am happy," Godfrey replied, "and, please God, I'll do my best to make -others so. And that reminds me, Victor, I want to have a talk with you. -Do you know that on Thursday night I met Teresina in the Strand?" - -Victor had turned from the window, and was brushing his hair at the -time. As he heard what Godfrey said, the brush fell from his hand upon -the floor. As he picked it up and continued his toilet, he said in -surprise: - -"Teresina in London? Surely you must have been mistaken. I thought she -was still in Naples?" - -"She is in London," Godfrey repeated. "I could not have been mistaken, -for I spoke to her." - -"At what time did you see her?" - -"Just about midnight," his friend replied. - -"Are you aware that the signora is dead and that Teresina is married?" - -"How should I be likely to?" said Victor. "You know that I have not seen -her since I bade her good-bye in your studio before we went abroad. And -so the pretty model is married? Well, I suppose the proper thing to say -is that one hopes that she will be happy." - -"But she is not happy, far from it. Her husband as well as her mother is -dead." - -"I believe there are some wives who would consider that fact to be not -altogether a matter for sorrow. But what makes you think that Teresina -is unhappy?" - -"Because she told me so, though she would not tell me anything further. -The poor girl seemed in terrible distress." - -"And you gave her money, I suppose?" said Victor. "That is usually the -way one soothes trouble of her kind. I hope she was grateful." - -"I wish to goodness you wouldn't be so cynical," said Godfrey, almost -losing his temper. "I wanted to help her, but she would not let me. -Every time I offered my assistance she implored me to leave her. She -broke down altogether when we reached her house." - -"Then you took her home?" said the other. "Do you think that was wise?" - -"Why should I not have done so?" - -"Well, you see," said Victor, putting his brushes back into their case, -"circumstances have somewhat changed with you. Miss Devereux might not -altogether approve." - -"Miss Devereux is too good and kind a girl to object to my doing what I -could to comfort an old friend in trouble." - -"But when that old friend in trouble happens to be an extremely -beautiful girl the situation becomes slightly changed. However, don't -think that I am endeavouring to interfere. And now shall we go -downstairs?" - -"But, confound it, Victor, you don't mean to say that you take no more -interest in Teresina's fate than this? I thought you liked her as much -as I did." - -"_Mon cher ami_," said Victor, rearranging his tie before the glass, -"that is scarcely fair, either to yourself or to me. Have you forgotten -a little discussion we had together, and which eventually resulted in -our leaving England for a time? Had you not taken such an interest in -Teresina then, I doubt very much whether I should have seen Cairo or -Jerusalem, or a lot of other places. But still, my dear fellow, if there -is anything I can do to help your old model you may be sure I shall be -only too glad to do it." - -"I knew you would," said Godfrey, placing his hand affectionately on the -other's shoulder. "We must talk it over some time and see what can be -done. It will never do to let her go on as she is now." - -"You have no idea, I suppose, of the origin of the trouble?" - -"Not the least. She would tell me nothing. She tried to make me believe -that she had plenty of work, and that she did not stand in need of any -assistance. I knew better, however." - -"And where is she living?" - -"In Burford Street, off the Tottenham Court Road. It is a miserable -place, mainly occupied by foreigners. The house is on the right-hand -side." - -"Very well," said Victor. "When I go back to town I will look her up. It -will be hard if we can't arrange something." - -Then they descended the stairs together and entered the drawing-room. - -"My dear Godfrey, are you aware that you will have one wife in a -hundred?" said Kitty, pointing to a table on which some twenty packages -of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions were arranged. - -"How so?" said Godfrey. "What new virtue have you discovered in her?" - -"I have found that she can subordinate curiosity to a sense of duty," -said the young lady. "These presents arrived for you just after you left -for the station, and yet she would not open them herself or allow me to -do so until you returned. I have been consumed with a mad desire to -explore them, particularly that foreign-looking box at the end." - -"Well, your curiosity shall very soon be satisfied," he said. "But we -must begin with the most important-looking packages." - -"Let us pray that there are no more Apostle spoons, serviette-rings, or -silver sweet-dishes," said Molly. "We have already some two dozen of -each." - -Package after package was opened in its turn and the contents displayed. -As they were for the most part presents to the bridegroom individually, -they were mainly of a nature suited to his tastes: hunting flasks, -silver sandwich cases, cigar and cigarette holders, and articles of a -similar description. At last they came to the curious-looking box to -which Kitty had referred. It was oblong in shape, and bore the name of a -Vienna firm stamped on the end. It was tied with cord, and the label was -addressed in an uneducated handwriting to "Mr. Godfrey Henderson, -Detwich Hall, Detwich, Midlandshire." - -In his own mind he had no doubt that it emanated from Teresina, who, as -he was aware, had been informed as to his approaching marriage. Having -untied the cord, he prized the lid, which was nailed down, with a dagger -paper-knife, which he took from a table close at hand. An unpleasant -odour immediately permeated the room. A folded sheet of newspaper -covered the contents, whatever they were, and this Godfrey removed, -only to spring back with a cry of horror. In the box, _the fingers -tightly interlaced, were two tiny hands_, which had been severed from -the body, to which they had once belonged, at the wrist. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - -It would be impossible to picture, with any hope of success, the horror -which accompanied the ghastly discovery described at the end of the -previous chapter. Save for the cries of the ladies, who shrank from the -box and covered their faces with their hands, and a muttered ejaculation -from Godfrey, some seconds elapsed before any one spoke. Fensden was the -first to recover his presence of mind. Picking up the sheet of paper -which had fallen to the ground, he covered the box with it, thus -shutting out all sight of the dreadful things it contained. - -"Perhaps it would be as well, ladies, if you were to leave the room," he -said. "Godfrey and I must talk this matter over, and consider how we are -to act." - -"Come, mother," said Kitty, and she led the old lady in a semi-fainting -condition from the room, closely followed by Molly. - -When the door had closed behind them, Godfrey spoke for the first time. - -"Good Heavens, Victor!" he said. "What does this mean? Am I mad or -dreaming?" - -"I fear it is no dream," replied the other. "Who could have done it? Is -it a case of murder, or what? Did you recognise the--the hands?" - -Godfrey crossed to the chimney-piece and covered his face. A suspicion, -so terrible that he dared not put it into words, was fast taking -possession of him. - -"Come, come," said Victor, crossing to him, and placing his hands upon -his shoulder, "we must look this matter squarely in the face. Be a man, -and help me. The upshot may be even more serious than we suppose. Once -more I ask you, did you recognise what you saw?" - -"I fear so," said Godfrey, very slowly, as if he were trying to force -himself to speak. "There was a little scar, the result of a burn, -half-an-inch or so above the knuckle of the second finger of the right -hand." - -He had painted those beautiful hands too often not to remember that -scar. Without a word, he crossed to the table in the middle of the room -upon which the box stood, surrounded by the cases containing the other -wedding presents, and once more removing the lid and the paper, -carefully examined what he saw there. No, God help him! there could be -no sort of doubt about it; the hands were those of Teresina Cardi, his -model and friend. When he had satisfied himself as to their identity, he -closed the box and turned to Fensden once more. - -"It is too horrible," he said; "but what does it mean? Why should the -murderer have sent the hands to me in this dreadful way?" - -"That is what I have been asking myself," Fensden replied. "The man, -whoever he was, must have borne you a fiendish grudge to have done such -a thing. Is there anything about the box that will afford a clew as to -the identity of the sender? Let us look." - -He examined the box carefully, but, beyond the printed name of the firm -who had originally used it, there was nothing that could serve as a -clew. It had come by train from Euston, and had been sent off on the -previous evening. That for the present was all there was to know about -it. - -"Once more, what are we to do?" inquired Fensden. - -"Communicate with the police," said Godfrey. "In the meantime, I think I -will send a note to my future father-in-law, asking him to come over. I -should like to have his help and support in the matter." - -"A very proper course," said his companion. "I don't think you could do -better. I should send a man away at once." - -Accordingly Godfrey went to a writing-table in the corner of the room, -and wrote the letter, then rang the bell, and bade the servant who -answered it see that the note was despatched without delay. When the man -had disappeared, he turned to Fensden once more. "And now," he said, "I -think it would be better if we removed the box to the studio." - -They did so, by way of the new conservatory, of which mention has been -made elsewhere. Then, in something less than an hour, Godfrey's future -father-in-law arrived. Godfrey received him in his studio, and -introduced Fensden to him as an old friend. - -"It is very good of you to come so quickly, Sir Vivian," he said, -motioning him to a chair. "I took the liberty of sending for you because -I want your advice in a very serious matter. How serious it is you will -understand when you have heard what we have to tell you. We have had a -terrible experience, and I am not quite sure that I am capable of -looking at the matter in a temperate light at present." - -"You alarm me, my dear boy," said the old gentleman. "What can have -happened? Tell me everything, and let me see if I can help you." - -"If I am to do that, I must tell you a story. It will simplify matters, -and it won't take very long. As you are aware, before my uncle's death, -I might have been described as a struggling artist. I was painting my -biggest work at that time, and was most anxious to find a model for the -central figure. I had hunted London over, but without success, when Mr. -Fensden here happened to discover an Italian model whom he thought might -be of use to me. I saw her, and immediately secured her services. In -company with her mother, she had been in England for some little time, -and was glad to accept my offer of employment. When the picture was -finished and hung, I still retained her services, because I liked the -girl and found her useful to me in some other work I had on hand. Then -my uncle died, and I came into the estate. Mr. Fensden and I immediately -agreed to travel, and we accordingly set off together for Egypt and the -East, intending to be away about a year. At the same time, it must be -borne in mind, the girl and her mother had returned to Italy. While we -were at Luxor, I received a letter from her, forwarding me her address -in Naples, in case I might desire to communicate with her concerning -future work. Some three weeks later my mother was taken ill, and I was -telegraphed for to come home at once. I left Port Said in a mail -steamer, intending to take the overland express from Naples to England. -Having some hours to spend in the latter city, I thought there could be -no harm in my discovering the mother and daughter. I did so, we dined -together at a small restaurant, and went on to the Opera afterward." - -"You did not tell me that," said Fensden, quickly. - -"I did not deem it necessary," said Godfrey. "I should have done so when -we came to discuss the matter at greater length. But to continue my -story. After the Opera I escorted them back to their dwelling, but I did -not enter. On my way to my hotel afterward, I was nearly stabbed by a -lover of my former model, a man, so she had informed me, who was -extremely jealous of any one who spoke to her. Fortunately for me, he -did not succeed in his attempt. I knocked him down, and took his dagger -from him." - -As he said this, he took the small poniard, with which the Italian had -attempted his life, from a drawer, and handed it to the old gentleman. - -"Next morning I left Naples, to find, on reaching England, that my -mother was decidedly better, and I need not have abandoned my tour. Then -I met your daughter, fell in love with her, and in due course our -engagement was announced. From the moment I said good-bye to her in -Naples, until last Thursday night, I had neither seen nor heard anything -of or from my former model." - -"You saw her on Thursday night?" repeated the old gentleman. "In that -case she must have returned to England?" - -"Yes," Godfrey replied. "It was after the theatre, and when I had seen -Lady Devereux and Molly to their carriage. I was walking down the Strand -in search of a cab to take me back to my hotel, when I met her. She -recognised me at once, and informed me that her mother was dead, that -she had married, she did not say whom, and that her husband was also -dead. Though she seemed in great distress, for reasons of her own she -would not let me help her. Feeling that she ought not to be in the -streets at such an hour, I took a cab and drove her to her home, which -was a house in a narrow street leading out of the Tottenham Court Road. -I bade her good-bye on the pavement, and having once more vainly -endeavoured to induce her to let me help her, walked back to my hotel." - -As he said this, he crossed to the table on which the box had been -placed, and once more removed the lid and paper. - -"A number of wedding presents have arrived to-day," he continued, "and -this box came with them. We opened it, and you may see for yourself what -it contained." - -Sir Vivian approached the table and looked into the box, only to start -back with an exclamation of horror. His usually rubicund face turned -ashen gray. - -"My dear boy, this is more terrible than I supposed!" he gasped. "What -does it mean?" - -"I am afraid that it means murder," said Godfrey, very quietly. "My poor -little Italian friend has been brutally murdered, by whom we have yet to -discover. But why these hands of hers should have been sent to me, I can -not for the life of me understand." - -"Are you sure they are her hands?" - -"Quite sure. There can be no doubt about it. Both Fensden and I -recognised them at once." - -"One thing is certain: the man who committed this dreadful deed must -have been jealous of you, and have heard of your kindness to the girl. -Is there any one you suspect?" - -"I have it," said Fensden, suddenly, before Godfrey could answer. "The -man in Naples, the lover who tried to assassinate you. He is the man, or -I am much mistaken. We have the best of reasons for knowing that he was -in love with her, and that he would not be likely to stop at murder. If -he would have killed you, why should he not have killed her? You told me -upstairs, when we were speaking of her distress, that the street was -occupied by foreigners; what is more likely, therefore, than that he -should have lived there too? Possibly, and very probably, he was her -husband." - -"But she told me her husband was dead," Godfrey asserted. - -"She may have had some reason for saying so," Fensden replied. "There -are a hundred theories to account for her words. It is as likely as not -that she did not want you to see him. He is a Neapolitan. For all we -know to the contrary he may be an Anarchist, and in hiding. She might -have been afraid that if you saw him it would lead to his arrest." - -"There certainly seems a good deal of probability in Mr. Fensden's -theory," said Sir Vivian; "but the best course for you to adopt appears -clear to me. You must at once communicate with the police and cause -inquiries to be made. I have seen no mention in the papers of a woman's -body having been found under such circumstances. The discovery of a body -so mutilated would have been certain to have attracted a considerable -amount of public attention." - -"I think you are right," said Godfrey, after a moment's hesitation. "In -the meantime what are we to do with these poor relics?" - -"They must be handed over to the police," said Sir Vivian. "It is only -through them that we can hope to unravel the mystery. If I were you I -should send for the head constable at once and give them into his -charge." Then he added kindly: "I can not tell you how sorry I am, -Godfrey, for your trouble. It must be a terrible blow to you." - -"No one can tell what a blow it is, Sir Vivian," said Godfrey in a husky -voice. "A more cruel murder has never stained the annals of crime. The -girl was an honest, kindly creature, and that she should have met her -death in this manner shocks me inexpressibly. If any reward can secure -the arrest of the murderer I will gladly pay it. No effort on my part -shall be wanting to bring him to justice." - -"You may be sure that he is a cunning fellow," said Fensden, "and that -his plans were deeply laid. For my own part, if I were you I should -place it in the hands of Scotland Yard and patiently await the result. -You may be quite sure that they will do all in their power, and if they -can not bring about his arrest, nobody else will be able to do so." - -"Even if they do not succeed in capturing him I should not abandon the -search," said Godfrey. "Poor little Teresina shall not go unavenged. -There must be several private detectives in London who know their -business almost as well as the officials of Scotland Yard. I will find -the cleverest of them and put them on the trail without delay. If a -promise of a thousand pounds can stimulate him to greater exertions it -shall be paid." - -"You will be only throwing your money away," said Fensden. "He will be -paid by the hour, with expenses, and he will fool you with bogus clews -from first to last." - -"I must risk that," Godfrey replied. - -A message was thereupon despatched to the head of the local -constabulary, who very soon put in an appearance at the Hall. He was a -little man, with a pompous manner and a great idea of his own -importance. It appeared to be his opinion that Detwich was the centre of -civilization, and he the custodian of its peace and safety. On his -arrival he was shown into the studio, where he found the three gentlemen -waiting for him. He saluted Sir Vivian with the deepest servility, -Godfrey respectfully, and Victor Fensden good-naturedly, as if the -latter, not being a landowner in the district, was not entitled to -anything more than a nod. - -"We have sent for you, Griffin," said Sir Vivian, "in order to inform -you that a serious crime has been committed, not in this neighbourhood, -but in London." - -"A good many serious crimes happen there every day, Sir Vivian," -remarked the official. "May I ask the nature of this particular one?" - -"Nothing short of murder!" Sir Vivian replied; "and as Mr. Henderson -here has been brought into it we have adopted the course of sending for -you at once in order that you may acquaint the proper authorities." - -"A very proper proceeding, sir, I have no doubt," said the officer, -diving his hand into his pocket and producing a pencil and an enormous -pocket-book. "I shall be glad, sir, if you will give me the -particulars." - -For the third time that afternoon Godfrey told his story, while the -officer made notes. By the time the contents of the box were shown to -him the man's interest was thoroughly aroused. It had always been his -ambition to be mixed up in some big affair, and now his chance had come. -That being so, he was resolved to make the most of it. - -"There can be no doubt, sir," he said, addressing Sir Vivian, "that it -is likely to be a very serious matter. So far as I can understand, the -disappearance of the woman has not been noticed, nor has her body been -discovered. I will report the facts of the case to Scotland Yard at -once, and in the meantime I will take possession of this box and its -contents. So far as I can see at present it doesn't look as if it should -be very difficult to lay our hands upon the murderer." - -"In that case, I suppose your opinion tallies with ours," said Fensden, -who had just started another cigarette. "You suspect the Neapolitan -lover." - -"I do, sir," the man replied with dignity, as if his suspicions were not -things to be treated lightly. "I only wish I had the conducting of this -case throughout. But, there, I suppose it will go elsewhere and others -will get the credit of the job. There is nothing else you wish to see me -about, I suppose, gentlemen?" - -"I think not," said Godfrey. "But I should be glad if you would let us -know all that goes on. As I have told you, the poor girl was an old -friend, and her cruel death is naturally a great blow to me." - -"I will let you know as soon as I hear anything," the man replied. "I -shall telegraph to Scotland Yard as soon as I get back to the station, -and I expect they will be on the move within the hour. Let me see that I -have got the name and address right, sir. Teresina Cardi, No. 16, -Burford Street, Tottenham Court Road. That is correct, I suppose?" - -"Quite correct," said Godfrey. "It is a tall house and there is a -lamp-post exactly opposite the door." - -These additional facts having been duly noted, the officer was about to -withdraw, when the butler entered with the evening papers. He handed -them to his master, who made as though he would place them on one side, -as being irrelevant to the matter at issue, when Sir Vivian stopped him. - -"One moment," he said. "Before you go, Griffin, let us make sure that -there is no reference in the evening papers to the crime. Will you look, -or shall I?" - -In answer Godfrey opened the first paper. It was as well that he did so, -for on the middle page was this announcement in large type: - - TERRIBLE MURDER OF A GIRL! - - REVOLTING DETAILS! - -"I thought as much," said the police officer in a tone of bitter -disappointment. "Just my luck again. I was in hopes of being able to put -them on the scent, but it seems that they have found it out without me. -Might I be so bold, sir, as to ask what it says?" - -"I will read the account," said Godfrey. - -"At an early hour this morning it was reported to the authorities at -Scotland Yard that a murder of an unusual nature had been committed in -the vicinity of the Tottenham Court Road. The victim is an Italian -woman, known as Teresina Cardi, an artist's model, who, it is stated, -has been living in the house in Burford Street, in which her body was -discovered, for upward of a fortnight. It might be mentioned that the -house is let out in flats, the occupants being in the main of foreign -nationality. The girl herself was of a reserved disposition, and did not -associate with the other tenants of the building. She was last seen -alive at seven o'clock on the evening of Thursday, when she was observed -descending the stairs dressed for going out. The hour of her return is -not known, nor was her absence remarked on Friday. Early on Saturday -morning, however, the occupant of a neighbouring room, a German -cabinet-maker, named Otto Grunther, noticed a small stream of dark-red -fluid under the door. His suspicions being aroused, he informed the -owner of the house of what he had seen, who called in the assistance of -the policeman on the beat. Together they ascended to the room in -question to find that the door was securely locked. Their knocks having -elicited no response, a key was obtained and the door opened. On -entering the room it was discovered that the woman was lying dead upon -the floor between the table and the door. Her throat was cut and she -had been stabbed in several places. More horrible still, her hands had -been severed at the wrists and were missing. Though the police are -naturally reticent as to the matter, we are led to believe that they -have not succeeded in finding a clew. Needless to say the revolting -crime has caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood." - -"Later News.--Up to the moment of going to press, the most diligent -inquiries have been made by our own representatives as to the identity -of the murdered woman. Teresina Cardi, it would appear, sat as a model -for the central figure in Mr. Godfrey Henderson's famous picture 'A -Woman of the People,' which attracted so much attention in the Royal -Academy Exhibition of last year. She was a Neapolitan by birth, but has -spent a considerable time in this country. It has also come to light -that on the evening in question she returned home shortly after midnight -and was seen talking to a gentleman in evening dress on the pavement in -front of the house. - -"The police hope very shortly to be able to discover the identity of -this mysterious individual, when doubtless further light will be thrown -upon the tragedy." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey. "They surely don't think that I know -anything more about it than I have said?" - -"You must set the matter right without delay," said Sir Vivian. "Does it -say when the inquest will be held?" - -"On Monday," Godfrey replied, after he had once more consulted the -paper. - -"Then you had better communicate with the coroner at once, telling him -that you are the person referred to, and offering him all the -information it is in your power to give. You owe it to yourself, as well -as the community at large, to do this at once." - -"I will do so to-night," Godfrey replied. "In the meantime, Griffin, you -will communicate with Scotland Yard yourself and tell them what we have -discovered. The man who murdered her must have seen us together that -night, and in the madness of his jealousy have sent the evidence of his -crime on to me." - -When he had wrapped up the horrible box the police officer took his -departure, leaving the others to discuss the matter and to endeavour to -come to some understanding about it. At last, when there was nothing -further to be said, Godfrey proposed that they should go in search of -the ladies. He had scarcely opened the door of the studio, however, when -there was the sound of a heavy fall. Turning round, he discovered that -Victor Fensden had fallen in a dead faint upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - -In the previous chapter I described to you how Victor Fensden had fallen -in a dead faint just at the moment when the gentlemen were about to go -in search of the ladies, in order to reassure them after the terrible -shock they had received. Immediately on hearing his friend fall, Godfrey -hurried to his assistance, asking Sir Vivian meanwhile to go in search -of brandy. The latter had scarcely left the room, however, before Victor -opened his eyes. - -"My dear old fellow," said Godfrey, "I am indeed thankful to see that -you are better. I knew very well that this terrible business had upset -you more than you were willing to admit. Never mind, it will all be put -right in the end. How do you feel now?" - -"Much better," Victor replied. "I can not think what it was that caused -me to make such an idiot of myself." - -At this moment Sir Vivian returned with a glass of brandy and water. -Victor sipped a little. - -He had not been feeling well of late, he explained, and this shock, -coming on the top of certain other worries, had unmanned him altogether. - -"This has been a terrible day," said Godfrey, "and a poor welcome for -you to Detwich. Now, perhaps, you would rather rest a little before -joining the others." - -"I think I should prefer to do so," said Victor, and he accordingly -retired to his room, while Sir Vivian and Godfrey went on to explain -matters as best they could to the ladies, who were in the dining-room, -awaiting their return with such patience as they could command. - -"My dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, hastening forward to greet Godfrey -as he entered the room, "you must know how we all feel for you. This has -been a terrible experience. Have you been able to arrive at any -understanding of it?" - -"I think I can," said Godfrey, who dreaded another explanation. "It will -be time enough, however, for me to explain later on. It is sufficient at -present to say that a terrible murder has been committed in London, and -that the assassin, knowing that I had endeavoured to be a good friend to -his victim, has played a ghastly practical joke upon me. As you may -suppose, the circumstance has upset me terribly; and when I tell you -that you will make me happier if you will spare me further conversation -upon the subject for the present, I am sure you will do so." - -"I think it would be better," said Sir Vivian. "We have placed the -matter in the hands of the police, and I am sure that Griffin will do -all that lies in his power to prevent Godfrey from being unduly worried -by the affair." - -Godfrey felt a small hand steal into his. - -"I am so sorry for you," whispered Molly. - -The touch of her soft warm hand was infinitely soothing to him. It did -him more good than any amount of verbal sympathy. - -"But where is Mr. Fensden?" inquired Mrs. Henderson. - -"The shock has proved too much for him," Sir Vivian explained. "He -informed Godfrey that he would prefer to go to his room to rest for a -while. I have never met your friend before, Godfrey, but I should say -that he is not very strong." - -"I am afraid he is not," the other replied, and the subject dropped. - -A quarter of an hour later Sir Vivian announced his intention of -returning home, and when his carriage had come round, took Godfrey on -one side. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my boy," he said. "The man who committed the -crime will certainly be captured before very long, and then the poor -girl will be avenged." - -Then the kindly old gentleman drove away. When he had seen him depart, -Godfrey went into the house and made his way upstairs to inquire after -Fensden's welfare. Somewhat to his surprise, he found him apparently -quite himself once more. - -"I can not think what made me behave in that foolish fashion," said -Victor, as he rose from the sofa on which he had been lying. "I am not -given to fainting fits. Forgive me, old fellow, won't you?" - -"There is nothing to forgive," said Godfrey. - -As he spoke the dressing gong sounded, and after having asked Fensden -whether he would prefer to come down, or to have his meal sent to him, -and having received an answer to the first in the affirmative, Godfrey -left him, and proceeded along the passage to his own room. When he -reached it he passed to the further end and stood before the original -sketch of his famous picture, "A Woman of the People." It was only a -mere study, roughly worked out; but whatever else it may have been, it -was at least a good likeness of the hapless Teresina. - -"And to think that that beautiful face is now cold in death," he said to -himself, "and that the brute who murdered her is still at large. God -grant that it may be in my power to bring him to justice!" - -Before he dressed, he sat down at his writing-table and composed a -letter to the coroner, informing him of all he knew of the case, and -promising him that he would be present at the inquest in order to give -any evidence that might be in his power to supply. It was only when he -had finished the letter and sealed it that he felt that he had done a -small portion of his duty toward the dead. He also wrote to his -solicitor giving him an account of the affair, and telling him that he -would call upon him on Monday, prior to the inquest, in order to discuss -the matter with him. - -Then he rang for his valet and gave instructions that the letters should -be posted without fail that evening. Then he began to dress with a heart -as heavy as lead. He remembered how much he had been looking forward to -this dinner ever since the idea had first occurred to him. In his own -mind he had endeavoured to picture the first meal that Victor and his -betrothed should take together. He had imagined his friend doing his -best to amuse Molly with his half-cynical, half-burlesque conversation, -with Kitty chiming in at intervals with her sharp rejoinders, while he -and his mother listened in quiet enjoyment of their raillery. How -different the meal was likely to prove! - -His dressing completed, he descended to the drawing-room, where he had -the good fortune to find Molly alone. It was plain that she had been -there long enough to read the evening paper, for there was a look of -horror upon her face as she came forward to meet her lover. - -"Godfrey, darling," she said, "I see by this paper that a terrible -murder has been committed in the neighbourhood of the Tottenham Court -Road, and that the victim was once your model. I can now understand why -it has affected you so much. Those hands were hers, were they not? I see -also that it says that some one, a gentleman in evening dress, was seen -talking to her about midnight on the pavement outside her house. Do you -think that that man had anything to do with the crime?" - -"I am quite sure he had not," Godfrey answered. "For the simple reason -that that man happened to be myself." - -"Yourself? You, Godfrey?" she inquired, looking up at him with startled -eyes. "But that was the night on which we were at the theatre together?" - -"Yes, dear, the same night," he answered. "Perhaps it would be better if -I were to tell you the whole story." - -"Tell me nothing more than you wish," she said. "I am content to trust -you in everything. If I did not, my love would scarcely be worth having, -would it?" - -And then he told her of his association with the unhappy woman; told her -of Teresina's sorrow, and of his own desire to assist her. Molly's heart -was touched as she listened. - -"You were right," she said, "to try and help her, poor girl! If I had -known, I would have endeavoured to have done something for her for your -sake. Now, unhappily, it is too late. But you must not think too much of -it, Godfrey dear. Try to put it away from you, if only for a time." - -At this moment Victor Fensden entered the room. It was plain that he had -recovered his former spirits. He apologized in an easy fashion for his -weakness of the afternoon, and ascribed it to his recent travels, which, -he said, had proved too much for his enfeebled constitution. - -"I am not like Godfrey, Miss Devereux," he said. "He seems capable of -bearing any amount of fatigue, plays cricket and football, tennis and -golf, while on a summer's day I sometimes find it impossible even to -lift my head." - -It was a sad little party that sat down to dinner that evening. Godfrey -was in the lowest spirits, and Molly was quiet in consequence. Fensden -was accepted, on his own showing, for an invalid, Mrs. Henderson was -naturally of a silent disposition, while Kitty, finding that her efforts -were unappreciated, lapsed into silence after a time, and thus added to -the general gloom. After dinner there were music and polite conversation -in the drawing-room until ten o'clock, followed by a retirement to the -billiard-room for a game at pool. It did not prove a success, however. -No one had any heart for the game, and before the first three lives had -been lost it was voted failure, and the cues were accordingly replaced -in the rack. The memory of two white hands, tightly clinched in despair, -rose continually before every eye, and when, at half-past ten, Mrs. -Henderson proposed that they should retire for the night, every one -accepted the situation with a feeling that was very near akin to relief. - -The next day was scarcely better. For the first time since he had been -master of the house Godfrey rose early on a Sunday morning, and, having -ordered his dog-cart, drove into the village. It was scarcely seven -o'clock when he reached the police-station to discover that the head -constable had not yet risen from his bed. He waited in the small office -while the other dressed, finding what consolation he could in a case -above the chimney-piece in which several sets of manacles were -displayed. The constable in charge was plainly overwhelmed by the -squire's presence, and to cover his confusion poked the fire almost -continuously. At last, after what seemed like an hour, Griffin put in an -appearance, and with many apologies invited Godfrey to accompany him to -his own private sanctum where breakfast was being laid. - -"It's the first time for many a long day that I have overslept myself, -sir," he hastened to remark; "but I have been so thinking of this 'ere -case that I did not get to sleep until this morning, and I am mortal -sorry, sir, that I should have kept you waiting." - -"You have communicated with Scotland Yard, of course?" said Godfrey, -after the other had finished his apology. - -"I telegraphed to them last night, sir, and forwarded my written report -at the same time. The post isn't in yet, sir, but I expect I shall get -some instructions when it comes." - -He visibly swelled with importance as he made this remark. He felt that -in having the Squire of Detwich for his ally he could scarcely fail to -be noticed, particularly when the most valuable evidence in the case -would be given by the gentleman in question. - -Finding that the man had no further news to give him, Godfrey drove -sorrowfully home again, feeling that both his early rising and his visit -to the village were alike of no avail. All through the service in the -little church afterward, despite the fact that Molly worshipped beside -him for the first time, he was ill at ease. Victor had excused himself -from attending the service on the plea of a bad headache, saying he -would go for a walk instead. When they emerged from the sacred edifice -afterward Sir Vivian took his place by Godfrey's side. - -"You have heard nothing more, I suppose?" he asked. "Griffin promised to -communicate with you at once on receipt of any intelligence, did he -not?" - -"He did," said Godfrey. "But when I saw him at the station this morning -there was nothing to tell. In any case I go up to town to-morrow -morning, when I shall first call upon my own solicitor, to whom I have -already written, and afterward attend the inquest as I have promised. -Fensden says he's coming up, too, in order that any evidence he may have -to give may be accepted." - -"One moment, Godfrey," said the old gentleman, stopping him and allowing -the others to go on ahead. "I am going to put a question to you which -may probably offend you. But whether it does or does not, it must be -asked." - -"Anything you ask me, sir, you may be sure will not offend me," said -Godfrey. "What is this particular question?" - -"I want to know how long you have known your friend?" the old man -inquired. "You see I am going to be perfectly candid with you. You may -think me absurd when I say so, but I have come to the conclusion that -Mr. Fensden does not like you." - -"In that case, sir, I am sure you are mistaken," said Godfrey. "Victor -and I were at school together, and we have been companions ever since. -He may be a little cynical in his humour, and inclined to be affected in -his dress and speech, but, believe me, in his inmost heart he is a -thoroughly good fellow." - -Sir Vivian was silent for a moment. - -"If that is so," he went on, "then I am wrong in my conclusions. I must -confess, however, that I was not favourably impressed with Mr. Fensden -yesterday. I noticed that when he was looking at you and you were not -watching him, there was a curious expression upon his face that was -either one of malice or something very like it. If I were asked my -opinion about this affair I should say that he knew more about it than -you and I put together, and more than he either cares, or is going, to -tell." - -"I can not help disagreeing with you, sir," said Godfrey, warming in -defence of his friend. "I happen to know that Victor has not seen -Teresina since the day we left England. It was he who induced me to get -rid of her because he was afraid that she, being a pretty woman, might -possibly induce me to fall in love with her. You see, I am quite candid -with you." - -"I am glad that you are," the other rejoined. "Nevertheless obstinacy is -proverbially an old man's failing, and I still adhere to my opinion -concerning the gentleman in question. Whether I am right or wrong time -will prove. In the meantime you say that you go up to town to-morrow -morning." - -"Yes, to-morrow morning, first thing," said Godfrey. "We shall leave -Detwich by the 10.18." - -"In that case I am going to ask a favour of you," said the other. "Will -you allow me to accompany you? Remember that, as you are going to marry -my daughter, your interests are, and must be, as my own." - -"I shall be only too glad if you will come, sir," said Godfrey, -gratefully. "It is a kindness I did not like to ask of you. I am sure it -will make Molly happier to know that you are with me, while it will -prove to the world, if such a proof is needed, that you believe my -interest in this miserable affair to be only what I have stated it to -be." - -"We all believe that, Godfrey, of course," Sir Vivian replied. "The man -who thinks otherwise would be insane. And now we turn off here. It is -agreed, therefore, that we meet at the railway station to-morrow morning -and go up to town together?" - -"With all my heart, sir," Godfrey replied, and then the kindly old -gentleman turned off with his wife at the path that led across the -fields to the court. When they were out of sight Godfrey informed Molly -of her father's decision. - -"With father and Mr. Fensden beside you, the newspapers will not dare to -hint at anything more." - -Then for the first time in his life Godfrey felt a vague distrust of -Victor Fensden. - -He put the suspicion from him, however, as being not only dishonourable -to his friend, but also to himself. - -"I have known Victor for a good many years," he muttered, "and I should -surely be familiar with his character by this time." - -Yet, despite his resolve to think no ill of the man, he felt that the -idea was gaining ground with him. - -When they reached the house they found Fensden in the drawing-room, -comfortably ensconced in a large chair before a roaring fire. He had -changed his mind, he asserted, and had not gone for a walk after all. He -certainly did not look well. His face was paler than usual, while he was -hollow-eyed, as if from want of sleep. As the party, radiant after their -walk through the sharp air, entered the room, he looked up at them. - -"How nice it must be to be so energetic," he said, languidly. "Godfrey -looks disgustingly fit, and more like the ideal country squire than -ever. You should paint your own portrait in that capacity." - -This time there was no mistaking the sneer. It may have been the -thoughts that had occupied his brain as he walked home, but even _he_ -could not help coming to the conclusion that the man he had known for so -long, whom he had trusted so implicitly, and for whom he had done so -much, was no longer well disposed toward himself. He said nothing, -however, for Victor was not only his guest, but he had troubles enough -of his own just then to look after, without adding to the number. Molly -had noticed it also, and commented on it when she and her lover were -alone together. - -"Never mind, dear," said Godfrey. "It doesn't matter very much if he -has taken a dislike to me. I think the truth of the matter is he is not -quite himself. Though he will not show it, I have an idea he is as much -cut up by this terrible business as I am myself. He is very highly -strung, and the shock has doubtless proved too much for his nerves. You -won't see very much more of him, for he will bring his visit to a close -to-morrow morning, as he has decided to go abroad again immediately -after the inquest." - -"But I thought he was tired of travelling, and that he had stated his -desire never to see a foreign hotel again?" - -"I thought so too, but it appears we were mistaken. However, do not let -us talk about him just now. Can you realize, dearest, that in ten days' -time we are to be married?" - -"I am beginning to realize it," she answered. "But this terrible affair -has thrown such a shadow over our happiness for the last twenty-four -hours that I have thought of little else." - -"The shadow will soon pass," he answered. "Then we will go to the sunny -South and try to forget all about it." - -In his own heart he knew that this was likely to be easier said than -done. Ever since he had seen it on that memorable Thursday night, -Teresina's piteous face had been before him, and now with the -recollection of what had followed so close upon their interview to -deepen the impression, it was more than likely that some time would -elapse before he would be able to forget it. - -That night, when he went to bed, he found it difficult to get to sleep. -It was as if the events of the morrow were casting their shadows before, -and when he did sleep he was assailed with the most villainous dreams. -He saw himself in a garret room with Teresina kneeling before him -holding up her hands in piteous entreaty; then he saw her lying dead -upon the floor, her glassy eyes looking up at him as if in mute -reproach. A moment later he was sitting up in bed staring at Victor -Fensden, who was standing beside him, holding a candle in his hand, and -with a look upon his face that showed he was almost beside himself with -terror. - -"Good Heavens, man, what is the matter?" cried Godfrey, for the other's -face frightened him. It was as white as paper, while in his eyes there -shone a light that was scarcely that of reason. - -"Let me stay with you, let me stay with you!" he cried. "If I am left -alone I don't know what I shall do. I have had such dreams to-night that -I dare not even close my eyes. For God's sake give me brandy! I must -have something to bring back my courage. Look, look! Can't you see, man, -how badly I need it?" - -Needless to say, Godfrey saw this. Accordingly bidding him remain where -he was, he went off to procure some. When he returned he found Victor -seated on the settee at the foot of the bed. Apparently he had recovered -his self-command. - -"I am afraid you must think me an awful fool, Godfrey," he said. "But I -have really had a deuce of a fright. You don't know what awful dreams I -had. I could not have stayed alone in that room another minute." - -It must indeed have been a fright, for Godfrey noticed that, though he -pretended to have recovered, he was still trembling. - -"Well, I am glad to see that you are feeling better," he said. "Drink -some of this, it will make a new man of you." - -"If it could do that I'd drink a hogshead," he said bitterly. "If -there's one man in this world of whose society I am heartily sick, it is -Victor Fensden. Now I'll go back to my own room. Forgive me for -disturbing you, won't you, but I could not help myself." - -So saying, he took up his candle once more and returned to his own room, -leaving Godfrey to put what construction he thought best upon the -incident. - -"I am beginning to think that poor Victor is not quite right in his -head," said the latter to himself as he blew out his candle and composed -himself for slumber once more. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - -The first train that left Detwich for London next morning had for its -passengers Sir Vivian Devereux, Godfrey Henderson, and Victor Fensden. -Inspector Griffin was also travelling by it, not a little elated by the -importance of his errand. On reaching Euston, after promising to meet -them at the inquest, Fensden drove off to his club, while Sir Vivian and -Godfrey made their way to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where they were to have -an interview with Mr. Cornelius Bensleigh, of the firm of Bensleigh and -Bensleigh, solicitors. That gentleman had already received a letter from -Godfrey, written on the Saturday night, giving him an outline of the -affair, and acquainting him of the part the latter had played in the -mystery. - -"I am afraid this will be calculated to put you to a considerable amount -of inconvenience, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, after they had -discussed the matter for a few moments. "From what I can gather, you -were the last person to see the poor woman alive, and as Sir Vivian -Devereux says, for that reason we must be particularly careful that no -breath of scandal attaches itself to your name. Now, as cases like this -are somewhat foreign to our experience, I have made up my mind, always, -of course, with your permission, that I will introduce you to a -gentleman who makes them his particular study. Of course, should you -desire it, I will put precedent on one side, and do all I can for you; -but, if you will be guided by me, you will place your case in the hands -of Mr. Codey, the gentleman to whom I refer, and whose name is doubtless -familiar to you. His office is not far from here, and if you will -accompany me, I shall be only too pleased to escort you to it, and to -introduce you to him." - -This course having been agreed upon, they accompanied him to the office -of the lawyer in question, and, after a few moments' delay, were -conducted to his presence. He looked more like a trainer of racehorses -than a criminal lawyer. He was the possessor of a sharp, keen face, a -pair of restless eyes, a clean-shaven mouth and chin, while the whiskers -on his cheeks were clipped to a nicety. The elderly lawyer introduced -Sir Vivian and Godfrey to him, and explained the nature of their visit. - -"Ah, the Burford Street murder," said Mr. Codey, as soon as he heard the -name of the case. "I was wondering how long it would be before I was -drawn into it. And so, Mr. Henderson, you have the misfortune to be -connected with it? As a matter of fact, I suppose you are the gentleman -in evening dress who was seen speaking to the girl on the pavement -outside the house." - -"I am; but how do you know it?" Godfrey asked, in considerable surprise. - -"I merely guessed it," said the lawyer. "I see from the papers that the -deceased was once your model. Now you come to me for help. I simply put -two and two together, with the result aforesaid. Perhaps you will be -kind enough to tell me all you know about it. Be very sure you keep -nothing back; after that I shall know how to act." - -Thus encouraged, Godfrey set to work, and told the tale with which by -this time my readers are so familiar. The lawyer listened patiently, -made a few notes on a sheet of paper as the story progressed, and when -he had finished asked one or two more or less pertinent questions. - -"You say that you returned to your hotel immediately after your -interview with the deceased?" - -"Immediately," Godfrey answered. - -"Did you take a cab?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "it was a cold night, and I thought the walk would -do me good." - -"But you drove to the house in a cab?" - -"I did, and dismissed it at once." - -"That was unfortunate. Do you think the driver would know you again?" - -"I should think it very probable," said Godfrey. - -"You were standing under the lamp-post, of course, when you paid him, -with the light shining full upon your face?" - -"I suppose so, as the lamp is exactly opposite the door; but I did not -think of that." - -"No; but, you see, I must think of these things," said the lawyer. "And -when you returned to your hotel?" - -"I called for a brandy and soda, and, having drunk it, went to bed." - -When he had learned all he desired to know, it was arranged that Mr. -Codey should attend the coroner's court, and watch the case on Godfrey's -behalf; after which they left the office. On reaching the club where Sir -Vivian and Godfrey had elected to lunch, they found that the murder was -the one absorbing topic of the day. This was more than Godfrey had -bargained for; for, when it was remembered that the deceased woman had -been his model, he was cross-questioned concerning her on every hand. So -unbearable did this at last become, that he proposed to Sir Vivian that -they should take a stroll in the park until it should be time for them -to set off to the business of the afternoon. - -When they reached the building in which the inquest was to be held, they -discovered that a large crowd had collected; indeed, it was only with -difficulty, and after they had explained their errand, that they could -gain admittance to the building. Fensden was awaiting them there, still -looking pale and worried; also Mr. Codey, the lawyer, appearing even -keener than he had done at his office. - -"Public curiosity is a strange thing," said the latter, as he looked -round the packed court. "Probably not more than five persons now in this -room ever saw the dead girl, and yet they crowd here as though their -lives depended upon their not losing a word of what is said about her." - -At this moment an official came forward, and said something to Godfrey -in a low voice. The latter immediately followed him from the room. When -he returned he was very white, and he seemed visibly upset. - -Then the coroner entered, a portly, dignified gentleman, and took his -seat, after which the proceedings were opened in due form. - -The landlord of the house, in which the deceased had resided, was the -first witness called. He deposed as to the name she was known by in the -house, stated that she was supposed to be an artist's model, and that, -to the best of his belief, she had been a quiet and respectable girl. At -any rate, her rent had invariably been paid on the day on which it had -become due. He had identified the body as being that of his lodger. -During the time she had been with him he had never known her to receive -a visitor; as a matter of fact, she had kept to herself; scarcely -speaking to any one save when she returned their salutations on the -stairs. He was not aware that she had received a letter, and, as far as -he knew, she had not a friend in London. - -The next witness was the German cabinet-maker, who had been the first to -discover the murder. He gave evidence through the medium of an -interpreter, and described how he had seen the congealed blood under -the door and the suspicions it had given rise to. In answer to a -question put by a superintendent of police, who represented the -commissioner, he stated that he had never spoken to the deceased, for -the reason that he knew no English or Italian, and she was not -acquainted with German. He had heard her go out on the night in -question, and return shortly after midnight, but whether she was -accompanied by any one he could not say. He also deposed to the position -of the body when they opened the door, and to the mysterious fact that -the hands were missing. - -The next witness was the police-constable on the beat, who had been -called in by the landlord. He gave evidence as to the opening of the -door, and the discovery then made. He was followed by the doctor, who -had made the post-mortem examination, and who described the nature and -situation of the various wounds, and the conclusions he had drawn -therefrom. Then came the first sensation of the afternoon, when the -well-known artist, Godfrey Henderson, was called. In answer to the -various questions put to him, he deposed that he had known the deceased -for upward of a year; that he had employed her for the model of his -picture, "A Woman of the People," and had always found her a quiet and -eminently respectable girl. He had been compelled to dismiss her, not -because he had any fault to find with her, but because he was going -abroad. This was not the last he had heard of her, for, while on the -Nile at Luxor, he had received a letter from her, informing him of her -address, in view of any future work he might have for her. At Naples he -had again met her, when he was on his way back to England, and had taken -her to the Opera in her mother's company. On the night of the murder, he -had again met her in the Strand, quite by accident, when, finding that -she was in serious trouble, he had offered to help her. She would not -accept his assistance, however. Noticing that she was in a most unhappy -state, and not liking to leave her alone in the streets, he had called a -cab and escorted her to her abode in Burford Street. He did not enter -the building, however, but bade her good-bye in the street, after which -he returned to his hotel. He was unable to assign any motive for the -crime, and added that the only person he could have believed would have -committed it, was a man named Dardini, an Italian, who was in love with -the girl, and who had attempted his (the witness's) life in Naples, on -the night of the visit to the Opera. Whether the man was in England he -was unable to say. Whether she had been in want of money at the time of -his last seeing her, he also was unable to say. She had declared that -she was in work, that was all he knew of the matter. - -"On hearing that she was married, did you not inquire the name of her -husband?" asked the coroner. - -"I did," Godfrey replied, "but she refused to tell me." - -"Did not that strike you as being singular?" - -"No," Godfrey replied. "When she informed me that he was dead, I did not -press the matter." - -"You are quite sure, I suppose, that she was not married when you met -her at Naples?" - -"I feel convinced that she was not; but I could not say so on my oath." - -"And when you opened the box, which you say was sent you at your country -residence, were you not shocked at the discovery you made?" - -"Naturally I was!" - -"And what conclusions did you come to?" - -"I gathered from it that my old friend had been murdered." - -"What caused you to recognise her hands?" - -"A certain mark above the knuckle of the second finger, the result, I -should say, of a burn." - -At this point, Mr. Codey, who had already informed the coroner that he -was appearing on behalf of the witness then being examined, asked an -important question. - -"On making this terrible discovery, what was your immediate action?" - -"I sent for my prospective father-in-law, Sir Vivian Devereux, and for -the police officer in charge of Detwich. It was at once agreed that we -should communicate with the authorities and that I should render them -all the assistance in my power." - -"Pardon my touching upon such a matter, but I believe you are about to -be married, Mr. Henderson?" said the coroner. - -"I hope to be married on Thursday next," said Godfrey. - -"I do not think I need trouble you any further," the coroner then -remarked. - -The next witness was a police officer, who informed the Court that -inquiries had been made in Naples concerning the man Dardini, with the -result that it was discovered that he had been arrested for assault upon -a foreigner a fortnight before the deceased's return to England, and -that he was still in prison. This effectually disposed of his -association with the crime, and added an even greater air of mystery to -it than before. - -When this witness had stepped down, Mr. Victor Fensden was called. He -stated that he was also an artist, and a friend of Mr. Godfrey -Henderson. It was he who had first discovered the deceased, and he had -recommended her to his friend for the picture of which she was afterward -the principal figure. She had always struck him as being a quiet and -respectable girl. When asked why she had received her notice of -dismissal, Victor answered that it was because his friend, Mr. -Henderson, had suddenly made up his mind to travel. - -"I understand you to say _suddenly_," said the superintendent in charge -of the case. "Why was it Mr. Henderson suddenly made up his mind to go -abroad?" - -"I do not know that this question is at all relevant to the case," said -Victor, appealing to the coroner. "It was purely a private matter on Mr. -Henderson's part." - -"But anything that bears on the question at issue can scarcely be -irrelevant," said the coroner. "I think it would be better if you would -answer the question." - -Fensden paused for a moment while the Court waited in suspense. - -"I repeat my question," said the superintendent. "Why did the deceased -so suddenly lose her employment?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Godfrey looked at him in surprise. Why did -he not go on? - -"We decided to travel on account of a conversation Mr. Henderson and I -had concerning the girl." - -"What was that conversation?" inquired the coroner. - -Once more Fensden seemed to hesitate. - -"Did the conversation refer to the deceased?" - -"It did!" - -"I gather from your reluctance to answer that you were afraid Mr. -Henderson might become attached to her, so you used your friendly -influence in order to hurry him away as quickly as possible? Am I right -in so supposing?" - -Another pause, during which Victor's face was seen to express great -emotion. - -"That was so." - -"You are sure that Mr. Henderson was attached to the deceased?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"Did you know that Mr. Henderson was aware of the deceased's return to -Naples?" - -"I was aware that he was in correspondence with her," said Victor; "but -he said nothing to me of his intention to visit her in Naples." - -"Had you known this, would you have endeavoured to dissuade him from -such a course?" - -"I do not know what I should have done; but I should think it very -probable that I should have endeavoured to prevent their meeting." - -"When did you become aware of the deceased's return to England?" - -"When Mr. Henderson informed me of it on my arrival at his house at -Detwich Hall." - -"You were naturally very much surprised to hear that he had met her, I -suppose?" - -"Very much," Victor replied. - -"Did you say anything to him upon the subject?" - -"I warned him against the folly of being drawn into another entanglement -with her, particularly when he was to be married in ten days' time." - -"You say _another_ entanglement with her? Are we, therefore, to -understand that there had been an entanglement before?" - -Again Victor paused before he replied. - -"I withdraw the word 'another,'" he said, hurriedly. "I did not mean it -in that sense. I merely suggested to Mr. Henderson that his _fiancee_ -might not care to know that he had been seen driving through the streets -of London after midnight with an Italian girl, who had once been his -model." - -"Good Heavens!" said Godfrey to himself. "And this is the man whom I -have trusted and who has called himself my friend for so many years!" - -At this point the coroner, addressing the jury, stated his intention of -adjourning the inquiry until the following Wednesday morning at eleven -o'clock. He had excellent reasons for keeping it open until then, he -said, and these reasons he had communicated to the foreman of the jury, -who was completely satisfied. The Court thereupon adjourned, and -Godfrey presently found himself in the street with Mr. Codey on one side -and Sir Vivian Devereux on the other. Victor Fensden was waiting for -them on the pavement, and, as soon as they emerged, he approached them -with a face that still bore the traces of violent emotion. - -"Godfrey," he began, in a faltering voice, "after what they dragged out -of me, I scarcely know what to say to you." - -"In any case, I beg that you will not say it," said Godfrey, coldly. -"You have said quite enough already." Then, turning to the others, he -continued: "Come, gentlemen, let us find a cab. I suppose we had better -go back to your office, Mr. Codey?" - -"I think it would be better," said that gentleman. "I must have a talk -with you upon this matter." - -Then, hailing a cab, they entered it, leaving Fensden on the pavement -looking after them. Godfrey's face was still very pale. It was -impossible for him to be blind to the fact that his kindness to Teresina -had been the means of bringing down grave suspicion upon himself. Yet, -even with that knowledge before him, he knew that he would not, or -could not, have acted otherwise than he had done. - -When they reached the lawyer's private office, the door was shut and -they sat down to business. - -"Well, Mr. Henderson," said Mr. Codey, "what is your opinion now?" - -"I think that the public mind is already jumping to the conclusion that -I am responsible for the murder," Godfrey answered, without fear or -hesitation. - -"I am very much afraid that you must accustom yourself to look upon it -in that light," the other replied. "The man Fensden's evidence, given in -such a manner as he gave it, was unnecessarily damaging." - -"He is a black-hearted scoundrel," said the old baronet, wrathfully. "I -told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I didn't trust him, and that I felt -sure he bore you some ill-will. And yet, do you know, Mr. Codey," he -added, turning to the lawyer, "Mr. Henderson has done everything for -that man. He has practically kept him for years past, he took him on a -tour round Europe only a few months ago, and this is the result. It -makes one sick with humanity." - -"When you have seen as much of humanity as I have, you will not be -surprised at anything," said the lawyer. "The greater the obligation in -many cases, the deeper the ingratitude. We are wandering from the point, -however. Now I am going to be plain-spoken. Tell me, Mr. Henderson, did -you ever, under any sort of circumstance, make love, or suggest love, to -the woman who is now deceased?" - -"Never," said Godfrey, firmly. "The man who declares that I did, lies." - -"Very probable, but that won't prevent his saying it. When you left her -in Burford Street, did you meet any one near the house?" - -"Not a soul. The street, so far as I could see, was empty." - -"I think you said this morning that the night porter let you in at your -hotel? Did you make any remark to him respecting the time?" - -"Yes, I said to him when he had opened the door, 'I'm afraid I'm rather -late,' then, looking at my watch, I added, 'Why, it's half-past -twelve!'" - -"If he's blessed with a good memory, he will recollect that," said -Codey. Then with his usual abruptness, he continued, "Which way did you -walk from Burford Street?" - -"Through the Tottenham Court Road, along Oxford Street, and down Bond -Street." - -"A man shall walk it quickly to-morrow morning in order to see how long -it will take. If only that hall porter has a good memory, and can be -relied upon, this should prove an important point." - -"But surely, my good sir," put in Sir Vivian, "you do not for a moment -suppose that Mr. Henderson will be accused of having killed this woman?" - -"I should not be at all surprised," said the lawyer, quietly. "Let us -regard the facts of the case. Some months back, Mr. Henderson employed -this girl as his model, and retained her services when he really had no -need for them. He was on such familiar terms with her that his friend -felt compelled to remonstrate with him. As a result they left England -hurriedly, the girl following them to Naples. No, no, Mr. Henderson, I -beg that you will be silent. Remember, I am telling the story as I -should tell it if I were against you instead of for you. As I have said, -the girl left for Naples, and I insinuate that she followed you. It can -be proved that she corresponded with you, and that you sent your friend -on his way to travel alone; always bearing in mind that he was the man -who had persuaded you to give the girl up. You, in the meantime, -returned to Naples, in order to visit her again. You may dispute the -motive, but you can not deny that you took her out to dinner and to a -theatre afterward." - -"But her mother was with her," said Godfrey hurriedly, his face flushing -angrily at the imputation put upon his action by the other. - -"That point is immaterial," the lawyer replied calmly. "It is sufficient -for the purposes of the prosecution that you met her there. Then you -proceeded to England, and, after a little while in the country, became -engaged to the daughter of Sir Vivian, now present. The Italian girl had -also gone to England. Why? To be with you, of course. You, however, see -nothing of her. Therefore, she is unhappy. Why? Because you are about to -be married." - -"But that is only supposition," said Godfrey. "As a matter of fact, she -herself was already married." - -"To whom? Why not to yourself?" - -"Good Heavens, man," said Godfrey, starting from his seat, "you don't -surely mean to say that you believe I had married her?" - -"I believe nothing," he replied, still with the same coolness. "But you -will find that the counsel for the prosecution will consider it more -than likely. Let me continue my story. I was saying that she was unhappy -because you were about to be married. It is only natural. Then you came -up to town, visited the theatre, and afterward, quite by chance, met her -in the Strand, at midnight. At midnight, and by chance, mark that! Does -that meeting look like an accidental one? Could you convince a jury that -it was? I doubt it. However, let us proceed. The girl is in trouble, and -you take her home in a hansom. The policeman and the cabman will -certainly identify you, and, for the reason that you say the street was -empty when you bade her good-bye, no one will be able to swear that you -did not go into the house with her. Now, Mr. Henderson, I ask you to -look these facts in the face, and tell me, as a thinking man, whether -you consider the public is to be blamed if it regards you with -suspicion?" - -"As you put it, no," said Godfrey. "But it can surely be proved that I -had nothing whatsoever to do with it, beyond what I have said." - -"Exactly; and that is what we have got to do. But I don't mind telling -you candidly that I fancy we shall have our work cut out to do it. You -see, we have to remember that, beyond your own evidence, there is -absolutely nothing for us to argue upon. The two strongest points in -your favour are the facts that you were at Detwich when the box -containing the dead woman's hands was sent off at Euston, and that there -would not be sufficient time between the moment when the policeman saw -you in Burford Street and the time when you arrived at your hotel, for -you to have committed the crime. What we have to do is to find the -person who despatched the box from London, and to make sure of the hall -porter. In the meantime go back to Detwich, and be sure that you don't -stir from home until you hear from me." - -"One more question, Mr. Codey. I should like you, before we go any -further, to tell me honestly whether, in your own heart, you believe me -to be innocent or guilty?" - -"I believe you to be innocent," said the lawyer; "and you may be sure I -shall try to prove it." - - - - -CHAPTER X - - -A more miserable home-coming than Godfrey's, after the events described -in the previous chapter, could scarcely be imagined. They had taken a -cab from the lawyer's office to Euston Station, and during the drive, -neither of them referred in any way to the interview they had just had -with Codey. It was not until they were seated in the railway carriage, -and the train had started upon its journey, that they broke their -silence. - -"Sir Vivian," said Godfrey, "I can not express to you my thanks for the -kindness which you showed me in standing by me to-day. Believe me, I am -very sensible of it." - -"You must not speak of it;" said the worthy old gentleman; "and as for -the affair itself, it is a piece of ill-luck that might have happened to -the best of us. At the same time, I should very much like to have an -opportunity of telling that wretched Fensden what I think of him." - -"Do not let us talk of him," said Godfrey. "His own feelings must be -sufficient punishment for him. There is one thing, however, that I must -say to you before we go any further." - -"And what is that?" - -"It concerns my wedding," Godfrey replied. "I am afraid it will be a -terrible blow to poor Molly; but until this charge, which I have no -doubt will be brought against me, is disproved, she must not think any -more of me." - -Sir Vivian stared at him in astonishment. - -"Nonsense, my dear lad," said he. "I know that you love my girl, and -that she loves you. It is her duty, therefore, to stand by you and to -comfort you when you are in trouble. Believe me, she will have no doubt -as to your innocence." - -"I know that," said Godfrey; "but I do not think it would be fair for me -to allow her name to be linked with mine under such painful -circumstances." - -"It will be linked with it whether you like it or not," was the reply. -"If I am prepared to stake my honour on your innocence, you may be very -sure that she will stake hers. Molly isn't a fair-weather friend." - -"She is the truest and best girl in the world," said Godfrey. "No one -knows that better than I." - -"Then wait until you have seen her and talked it over with her alone. -Put the question to her, and see what she will say. I know her well -enough to guess what her answer will be." - -"God bless you for your trust in me!" said Godfrey, in a shaky voice. "I -fear I have done very little to deserve it." - -"It is sufficient that I know you for what you are," the other answered. -"I knew your uncle and grandfather before him, and I am as certain that -you would not do anything dishonourable as I am of my own name. What we -have to do is to put our wits to work and to endeavour to find out, as -Codey says, the sender of the box. Then I believe we shall be on the -track of the real criminal. It was a very good suggestion on Mr. -Bensleigh's part that we should employ that man; we could not have had a -better. I never saw such eyes in my life. He seems to look one through -and through. I pity Mr. Fensden when he comes to be cross-examined by -him." - -The old gentleman chuckled over the thought and then lapsed into -silence. - -When they reached Detwich, they became aware that Griffin had travelled -from London by the same train. Godfrey beckoned to him. - -"Of course you heard the evidence to-day, Griffin," Godfrey began when -the other approached. - -"Yes, sir, I did," said the police official, gravely. - -"And you must have drawn your own conclusions from it?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Well, Griffin, what I wanted to say to you is that, if I am wanted for -anything, I shall not leave the Hall until Wednesday morning; then I -shall go up to the inquiry again." - -"I will bear the fact in mind, sir," said the man. "But there's one -thing I should like to say, if you don't mind." - -"What is it? Say it by all means." - -"It's this, sir. Whether it's going against my duty or not--and there's -nobody here to hear it if it is--whatever verdict they may bring in, I -don't believe for a moment that you had any more to do with that poor -girl's death than I had. You will excuse my saying so, I hope, sir?" - -"On the contrary, I am very much obliged to you for your good opinion," -Godfrey replied, holding out his hand which the other took. "I am afraid -that it's going to be a very unpleasant business for me. That can't be -helped, however. Good-night." - -"Good-night, sir," the man answered. - -Then Godfrey joined Sir Vivian and, as had been arranged, they drove off -to the Hall together. The moon was rising above the hill as they went -through the park, and as Godfrey looked on the peaceful scene around him -and thought of the terrible suspicion that was growing in people's minds -concerning himself his heart sank within him. If only little Teresina -could speak, how easily she could clear up all the dark charges against -him! She was dead, however, brutally murdered, and he, the only man who -had ever befriended her, was suspected of having caused her death. - -"Keep up a stout heart, my lad," said Sir Vivian, as they alighted from -the carriage and ascended the steps. "Think of the ladies, and don't -make them any more unhappy than you can help." - -The door was opened by the ancient butler who had served his uncle -before him, and Godfrey entered his home, but how different a man from -the young fellow who had left it that morning! - -"The ladies are in the drawing-room, sir," said the servant, when he had -relieved them of their hats and coats. - -They accordingly proceeded thither, one of them at least with a sinking -heart. - -"We have just been wondering when we should see you," said Kitty. - -There was a look of anxiety on Molly's face as she came forward to meet -her lover. She placed her hand in his, and they sat down together. - -"Well, my dear boy," said Mrs. Henderson, "what have you to tell us? -What was the result?" - -There was no need for her to say to what she referred. Their minds had -been too much occupied with it that day to leave room for any -uncertainty upon the point. - -"Nothing is decided yet," said Sir Vivian, who took upon himself the -part of spokesman. "The inquiry is adjourned until Wednesday." - -"That means that you will have to go up again," said Molly. "Why -couldn't they settle it at once?" - -Godfrey knew, but he dared not tell her the reason. - -"They are searching for more evidence, I fancy," said Sir Vivian. "You -must remember that the matter is, at present, shrouded in the greatest -mystery. Until that can be cleared up, nothing can be done." - -"And Mr. Fensden, where did you leave him?" asked Mrs. Henderson. - -"We parted outside the Court," said Godfrey. "I have no idea where he is -staying to-night." - -Though he tried to speak unconcernedly, Molly felt certain in her own -mind that there had been trouble between the two men. She said nothing -to him about it, however. She knew that he would tell her in good time. - -That night, when Sir Vivian's carriage was announced, Godfrey -accompanied him to the front door. Before leaving, the old gentleman -took him on one side out of earshot of the servants. - -"Keep up your spirits, my dear lad," he said, as he had done so many -times before. "Remember that you have many friends and that I am not the -least of them. Should anything occur, send for me at once, and I will be -with you as fast as horses can bring me. In the meantime do not alarm -the ladies more than you can help." - -"You may rely upon my not doing so," said Godfrey, and then Sir Vivian -entered his carriage and drove away. - -Later, when Godfrey bade Molly good-night, she looked up at him with -sorrowful eyes. - -"I feel sure," she said, "that there is something you are keeping back -from me. I beg of you not to do so. You know how I love you, and how -earnest is my desire to share both your joys and your sorrows with you. -Will you not confide in me and tell me everything?" - -"When there is anything worth the hearing, you may be sure I will tell -you, dear," he answered, not daring to let her know the truth that -night. "In the morning we will talk the whole matter over and you shall -give me your advice. And now you must go to bed and try to obtain a good -night's rest, for I am sure you did not sleep well last night." - -"I did not," she answered. "I was thinking of you all night, for I knew -how you were dreading going up to-day." - -He did not tell her that he dreaded going up on Wednesday a great deal -more. He preferred to take her in his arms and kiss her, calling her his -good angel, swearing that he would love her all his life long, and that -even death itself should not separate them. Then he went to his room, -prepared to spend what he knew would be a sleepless night, and he was -not destined to be wrong. Hour after hour he tumbled and tossed upon his -bed, going over the day's proceedings again and again, and speculating -with never-ceasing anxiety as to what was to happen in the future. At -last, unable to bear it any longer, he rose from his bed and went -downstairs to his studio, where he lighted his fire and smoked and read -until daylight. Then a cold bath somewhat refreshed him, and, as soon as -he had dressed, he set off across the park to the home farm. He was -always an early riser, and his presence there at that hour excited no -comment. He watched the sleek, soft-eyed cows being milked, saw the -handsome cart-horses, of which he had once been so proud, set off upon -their day's work, had a quarter of an hour's conversation with his -head-keeper at his cottage gate, and then returned home through the -plantations to breakfast. It was his mother's habit to read prayers to -the household immediately before the meal, and, as he knelt by Molly's -side, and listened to the old familiar words, his heart ached when he -thought of the misery that any moment might bring upon them. - -As the first train from London did not arrive until somewhat late, the -morning papers were delivered with the letters, which usually reached -the Hall about half-past nine. When they arrived Godfrey selected one, -and took it with him to his studio. With a feeling that he had never -before experienced when opening a paper, he turned the crisp pages in -search of the column which he knew he would find. Then he saw in large -type: - - THE BURFORD STREET MURDER - - * * * * * - - EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE - - * * * * * - -There was no need for him to wonder what that evidence was: he knew -before he began to read. The prominence given by the paper to the case -was a proof of the excitement the inquiry had aroused in the public -mind. At last he forced himself to read. Every word rose before his eyes -as vividly as though it had been traced in letters of fire. Set down in -cold print, the affair presented a very sinister aspect, so far as he -was concerned. Every portion of the evidence seemed to point to himself -as being the man who had committed the dastardly deed. He could well -imagine what the feeling of independent persons would be who read it, -and how readily they would arrive at a conclusion unfavourable to -himself. He had just perused it for the second time, when he was -startled by a faint tap upon the door. - -"Come in," he cried, and in response Molly entered the room. - -"I have been looking for you," she said, with the parody of a smile upon -her face. - -"I should have come in search of you in a few moments," he replied. "The -fact is, I have had certain things to do which could not very well be -left undone. Will you forgive me, dear?" - -"Of course I will," she answered. "It is impossible for you to be always -with me, and yet I am selfish enough to grudge you the time you spend -upon anything else." - -He was quick-witted enough to see that what she said was only an attempt -to gain time. She, on her side, knew that he stood in need of comfort, -and she had come to give it to him. - -"Molly," he said, rising from the chair in which he had been sitting and -going toward her, "I feel that I must tell you everything. God knows, -this is the crisis of my life, and to whom should I turn in my sorrow, -if not to the woman I love, and whom I know loves me? Have you read the -account of the inquest in the papers?" - -"No," she answered, "I would not read it, lest I should derive a false -impression from it. I am quite willing to hear what you have to say -about it, and to accept your version as the truth." - -"God bless you, dear, for your trust in me!" he replied; "but it is -necessary that you should hear what other people have to say upon the -matter. Read it carefully, and, when you have finished, tell me what you -think about it." - -He gave her the paper, and for a moment she stood as if undecided. - -"Do you really wish it?" she asked. - -"It is better that you should do so, believe me," he said. "In that -case, no one can say that I kept anything back from you." - -"I will read it," she said, and went toward the window-seat to do so. - -While she was reading, he stood before the fire and watched her. He -noticed the poise of the beautiful head, the sweet hands holding the -paper, on one finger of which sparkled the engagement ring he had given -her, and the tiny foot just peeping from beneath the dark green skirt. -She was a woman worth fighting all the world for, and, as he reflected -how easy it would be for false evidence to separate them, he experienced -a fear such as he had never known in his life before. - -When she had finished, she crossed the room with the paper in her hand. -Deliberately folding it up and laying it upon the table, she went to -him, and placed her hands in his. Looking up into his face with trustful -eyes, she said: - -"I told you yesterday, Godfrey, that I believed in you. I tell you -again, that, whatever the world may say with regard to this dreadful -affair, it will make no difference in my love. I feel as convinced as I -am of anything that, by whatever means, or at whose hand, that poor girl -met her death, you were in no sort of way responsible for, or connected -with it. You believe me, don't you?" - -"I do," he answered, with tears in his eyes. "And I thank God for your -trust. Do you know, yesterday I suggested to your father that, situated -as we are, it would be better if I were to give you back your freedom -until my innocence is proved?" - -"I would not take it," she answered, firmly. "When I gave myself to you, -it was not to be your bride in fair weather alone; it was to be your -partner in the rough seas of life as well as in the smooth. No, come -what may, Godfrey, I will not let you give me up. Promise me that you -will never mention such a thing again? It hurts me even to think of it." - -"Your mind is made up?" - -"Quite made up," she answered. "I should not change, even if you were -what--(here she shuddered)--what that paper would seem to suggest. No, -darling, I am your wife, if not in the law, at least in God's sight." - -"I thank you," he answered, earnestly. "The knowledge that you still -trust me will be my most precious consolation." - -"And now tell me of this Mr. Codey, the lawyer you have employed. Is he -a clever man?" - -"One of the cleverest in the land, I should say," Godfrey replied. "He -has had great experience in these sort of cases, and, if any man can -render me assistance, I should say he is that one." - -"Oh, how thankful I shall be," she said, "when everything is settled! -How little we dreamt, when we were so happy together last week, that -within a few days we should be made so miserable! Perhaps, after all, it -is only our love being tried in the crucible of trouble. And when it is -over, and we have come out of it, we shall know each other's real worth. -That is the best way to look at it, I think." - -"Quite the best," he answered, and kissed her on the forehead. - -Then, adopting a brighter tone, he suggested that they should go for a -walk together, in order, if possible, to dispel, for the time being at -least, the dark clouds that had settled upon them. It was a clear, -bright morning, and as they crossed the park, and mounted the hillside -toward the plantation, where the rabbits were playing, and the -pheasants, who of late had not received the attention their merits -deserved, were strutting about on the open grass land, Godfrey found it -difficult to believe that the situation was really as desperate as he -imagined. Their walk lasted for upward of two hours; indeed, it was -nearly lunch-time before they reached the house once more. When they -did, Molly went upstairs to her room to prepare herself for luncheon, -while Godfrey made his way to his mother's sitting room, where he found -the old lady quietly knitting by the fire. - -"Thank goodness you have come in at last, dear!" said Mrs. Henderson. "I -have been wanting so much to have a talk with you! Godfrey, I have read -the evidence given at the inquest, and it frightens me." - -"I am sorry for that, mother," he said, seating himself by her side. -"What do you think of it?" - -She placed her hand upon his arm, and looked at him with her loving -eyes. - -"I think my boy is too noble to have done anything of which his mother -would have had reason to be ashamed." - -Godfrey rose from his chair and walked to the window. These constant -proofs of the love in which he was held was unmanning him. He could not -trust himself to speak. When his own little world believed in him so -implicitly, how could the greater world be so censorious? - -When they went into luncheon, Godfrey soon saw that the ancient butler -and his subordinate had become aware of the state of affairs. Attentive -to his wants as they always were, on this particular occasion, they -were even more so than usual. It was as if they were endeavouring in -their own kindly way to show that they too believed in him, and were -desirous of proving their sympathy with him. Never before had his own -home struck him in the same light. His heart was too full for speech, -and, in spite of his sister's well-meant attempt to promote -conversation, the meal passed almost in silence. - -After luncheon the bailiff sent in word that he should like to speak to -him. The man was accordingly admitted to the smoking-room, where he -discussed various matters connected with the estate with his master for -upward of an hour. Labouring as he was, under the weight of greater -emotions, Godfrey found it difficult to pin his attention to the matters -at issue, and when the other went his way, after respectfully touching -his forelock, for the first time since he had known the old fellow, he -heaved a sigh of relief. At half-past four he joined the ladies in the -drawing-room for afternoon tea. To add to his pain, another consignment -of wedding presents had arrived, and in order that he should not be -thought to be unduly nervous about the future, he was compelled to -appear delighted with the attentions he had received from his friends. - -"That makes the fifth pair of asparagus tongs we have received," said -Molly, as she closed the case and placed it with its fellows upon the -table. "And what is this? Well, I declare, it's another set of sweet -dishes. That brings the number up to twenty-seven!" - -At that moment the sound of carriage wheels outside reached them, -followed, a few seconds later, by the ringing of the front door-bell. - -"Visitors, I suppose," said Kitty. "It may be rude, but I must say that -I trust it is not the vicar." - -They waited in suspense until Williamson, the butler, entered the room -and informed Godfrey that a gentleman had called to see him, and was -waiting in the library. - -"Who is it?" Godfrey asked. "Did he not give his name?" - -"His name is Tompkins, sir," the butler replied. "He said he should be -glad if you could spare the time to see him for a few moments." - -"I will do so at once," said Godfrey, and, asking the ladies to excuse -him, left the room. - -On entering the library, he found himself face to face with a -middle-aged individual, who at first glance resembled a sporting parson. -He was dressed in black, and carried a black silk hat in his hand. - -"What can I do for you?" Godfrey inquired. "I am not aware that I have -ever seen you before." - -"Very likely not, sir," the man replied. "My name is Tompkins, and I am -a Scotland Yard detective. I hold a warrant for your arrest on a charge -of wilfully murdering Teresina Cardi in Burford Street on the night of -Thursday last. I had better tell you that anything you may say will be -used against you." - -The blow had fallen at last! - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - -For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from -town to arrest him, as if he were stunned. Though he had half expected -it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate -his position. At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession. - -"You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me," -he said to the detective. "But I have no wish to complain to you; you -are only doing your duty. Where is it you desire to take me?" - -"We must go up to town to-night," said the man, civilly enough. "As you -may remember, sir, the adjourned inquest is to be held to-morrow -morning, and it will be necessary for you to be present." - -"In that case we had better catch the 6.10 train from Detwich. It is an -express and gets to Euston at eight. Is your cab waiting, or shall I -order one of my own carriages to take us?" - -"I told the man to wait," the other replied. "He is a station cabman." - -"In that case, if you will allow me, I will tell my servant to put up a -few things for me. I suppose I shall be allowed to take them?" - -"There is no objection to it." - -Godfrey rang the bell, and, when the butler appeared in answer to it, -bade him tell his man that he intended going up to London at once, and -that he wanted his bag prepared without a moment's delay. Then, with a -fine touch of sarcasm, he added: "Tell him also that I shall not require -my dress clothes." - -The detective smiled grimly. It was a joke he could appreciate; he also -liked the other's pluck in being able to jest at such a time. - -"That's the thing with these swells," he said to himself. "They never -know when they're beaten." - -"In the meantime," said Godfrey, "I suppose you will permit me to say -good-bye to my family? I will give you my word, if you deem it -necessary, that I will make no attempt to escape." - -"I will trust you, sir," said the man. "I know it's hard lines on you, -and I want to make it as pleasant for you as I can, provided, of -course, you don't get me into hot water." - -"I will endeavour not to do that," said Godfrey. "And now I'll go to the -drawing-room. If you think it necessary you can wait in the hall." - -"No, sir, thank you. I am quite comfortable here," said the man; "but I -shouldn't make the interview longer than I could help if I were you. -These things are always a bit trying for the ladies. I know it, because -I've seen it so often." - -Having ordered a glass of brandy and water for him, the man's favourite -tipple, and handing him an illustrated paper, Godfrey left him and -returned to the drawing-room. He had an agonizing part to play, and he -wanted to spare his women folk as much pain as possible. As he entered -the room they looked up at him with startled faces. - -"What is it, Godfrey? What is it?" asked his mother, while the two girls -waited for him to speak. - -"It is a man from London who has come down to see me with regard to the -murder," Godfrey began, scarcely knowing how to break the news to them. -"It appears that the authorities are desirous of seeing me prior to the -inquest to-morrow, and so I am going up to-night." - -"Godfrey," cried his mother, springing to her feet and running toward -him, "I see it all. They have arrested you on a charge of murder! Oh, my -boy, my boy, I can not let you go! They shall not take you away." - -"It is only a matter of form, mother," he said, soothingly. "On the face -of yesterday's evidence, they could do nothing else. All well, I shall -be down again to-morrow. It is only a little temporary inconvenience; -for my lawyer, who is one of the cleverest men of his profession, feels -certain that he can disprove the charge." - -"It is monstrous even to suspect you of it," said Kitty. "If they only -knew you, they would not dare even to hint at such a thing." - -Molly said nothing. But he knew what her thoughts were. - -"I must send a note to your father, dear," he said. "He anticipated this -and made me promise to communicate with him directly it should come to -pass." - -He thereupon went to a writing-table in the corner of the room and wrote -a hurried note to Sir Vivian, after which he rang the bell and gave -orders that it should be taken to the Court without a moment's delay. - -"Now," he said, when he had examined his watch and found that it was -nearly half-past five, "I must bid you good-bye. Do not be anxious about -me. I am proudly conscious of my own innocence, and I feel sure that, by -this time to-morrow, the public will be aware of it also." - -But his mother was not to be comforted. She clung to him with the tears -streaming down her cheeks, as if she could not let him go. - -"Mother dear," said Kitty, "you must be brave. Think of Godfrey, and -don't send him away more unhappy than he is." - -"I will be brave," she said, and drew his face down to hers and kissed -him. "Good-bye, my dear boy. May God in His mercy bless you and send you -safely back to us!" - -When Kitty had kissed him, she drew her mother back into the ingle nook -in order that Godfrey and Molly might say good-bye to each other in -private. - -Then Godfrey took Molly in his arms. - -"Good-bye, my own dearest," she said. "I shall pray for you continually. -Night and day you will be in my thoughts." - -He could not answer her, but kissed her passionately. Then, disengaging -himself from her embrace, he left the room. - -Returning to the library, he informed the detective that he was at his -disposal, at the same time telling him that, if they desired to catch -the 6.10 at Detwich, they had no time to lose. - -"We had better be going, then," said the man, and leaving the library -they proceeded into the hall. Godfrey's bag had already been placed in -the cab, and the gray-haired old butler, Williamson, was standing at the -foot of the stairs holding the door open. - -"Good-bye, Williamson," said Godfrey. "I know that I can safely leave -everything in your hands." - -"You can, sir," the man replied, simply; and then for the first time in -his life he allowed himself to become familiar with his master, and -laying his hand on his arm he added, "May God bless you, sir, and send -you back to us soon!" - -Then the cab rolled away down the drive, and Godfrey's journey to prison -had commenced. - -For the greater part of the drive into Detwich neither of them spoke. -One had too much upon his mind to be in the humour for conversation, -while the other, who was sorry for his prisoner, and who knew a -gentleman when he saw one, had no desire to thrust himself upon him in -his trouble. As it happened when they reached the station they found -that they had some minutes to spare. They accordingly strolled up and -down the platform, while they awaited the coming of the express. On its -arrival they secured an empty compartment, and settled down for the -journey to London. When Euston was reached they took a cab and drove -direct to Bow Street, where Godfrey Henderson, of Detwich Hall, Detwich, -was formally charged with the wilful murder of Teresina Cardi, artist's -model. The usual forms having been complied with, he was placed in a -somewhat superior apartment in another portion of the building. Then the -key was turned upon him, and for the first time in his life was a -prisoner. - -Early next morning it was announced that two gentlemen had arrived to -see him. They proved to be Sir Vivian Devereux and Mr. Codey, the -lawyer. - -"My dear lad, this is indeed a sad business," said Sir Vivian, as they -shook hands. "I can not tell you how sorry I am for you. But, thank -God, we know you to be innocent and are determined to prove it." - -They sat down, and the lawyer, who had been looking round the room, -which doubtless he had seen on many previous occasions, began to ply him -with questions, which Godfrey answered to the best of his ability. When -they had withdrawn, he was left to himself until the time arrived for -him to set off for the coroner's court. When he did so, it was in a cab -with a couple of stout policemen beside him to see that he made no -attempt to escape. On reaching it, he found that it was packed to -overflowing. Victor Fensden was there, seated in the space reserved for -the witnesses, but Sir Vivian noticed that he avoided meeting Godfrey's -eyes. With one exception, the proceedings proved comparatively tame. It -was only when the hall porter referred to Godfrey's haggard appearance -when he returned to the hotel on the Thursday night, that there was -anything approaching excitement. He deposed that Mr. Henderson, who had -been staying at the hotel, and whom he now recognised as being in Court, -returned to the hotel on the night of the murder between a quarter-past -and half-past twelve. He, the porter, was immediately struck by his -strange appearance. In reply to a question put by a juror, he replied -that he looked very much as if he had been upset by something; his face -was deadly white, and he had an anxious, what he should call frightened, -look in his eyes. At the other's request, he had procured him some -brandy, and, as he had had some trouble next morning with the head -waiter about it, the fact was the more vividly impressed upon his -memory. The cabman who had driven them from the Strand to Burford Street -was next called. In answer to questions put to him, he stated that, when -he was hailed by the person now in court, the deceased woman seemed very -reluctant to enter the cab. But the other had at last prevailed upon her -to do so, and he had driven them to the house in the street in question. -He had identified the body, and could swear as to the identity of the -person in court. The police-constable, who had passed a few minutes -before he bade Teresina good-night, was next examined. He remembered -seeing them together, and thought it a strange place for a gentleman to -be in at such a time. His attention was drawn to them because the girl -was crying, while the gentleman seemed somewhat excited. Feeling that, -as he was not appealed to, he had no right to interfere, he passed on -down the street. In answer to the coroner's inquiry, he was unable to -say whether or not the man entered the house. - -Ten minutes later a verdict of wilful murder against Godfrey Henderson -was returned, and he was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant. - -Instead of returning to Bow Street from the coroner's court, Godfrey was -now driven to Holloway Prison, where he was placed in an ordinary cell. -His spirits by this time had fallen to as low an ebb as it would be -possible for those of a human being to reach. What had he done to -deserve this cruel fate? He was not conscious of ever having done any -one an injury; he had always done his best to help his fellow-men. Why, -therefore, was he brought so low? He thought of Molly, and pictured her -feelings when she should hear that he was committed for trial. He could -imagine his mother's despair and could almost hear poor, sorrowing Kitty -vainly endeavouring to comfort her. - -During the afternoon Sir Vivian and Mr. Codey came to see him again. The -former was very plainly distressed; the latter, however, regarded -matters in a somewhat more stoical light. He had seen the same things -so many times before, that he had become in a certain measure hardened -to it. In all the cases upon which he had hitherto been engaged, -however, he had never had one in which the prisoner was a country -gentleman, besides being an artist of considerable repute. "You must not -give way, Mr. Henderson," he said, kindly. "There's plenty of time yet -for us to prove your innocence. Doubtless, when this is all over and you -are free once more, you will regard it as a very unpleasant experience, -certainly, but one which might very easily have been worse. Now, with -your permission, I will tell you what I have done. In the first place, -we must endeavour to find the real murderer. Only a trained hand could -do this, so I have engaged a man with whom I have had a great many -dealings in the past. He is a private detective of an unusual kind, and -has a knack of securing information which neither the Government men nor -the private agents seem to possess. He will be expensive, but I suppose -you will have no objection to paying him well for his services, if he is -successful, as I trust he will be." - -"You may be quite sure I shall have no objection," said Godfrey. "Let -him get me out of this scrape, and I'll pay him double, even treble, -his usual charges." - -"Oh, he won't bleed you as much as that," returned the lawyer. "He is -below now, and if you care to see him, I will obtain permission for him -to come up." - -The necessary authority being forthcoming, Codey presently returned, -accompanied by a burly, rosy-cheeked individual, who might very well -have been the landlord of a well-to-do country inn or a farmer in a -prosperous way of business. A more jovial countenance could scarcely -have been discovered, had one searched England through for it. Merely to -look at it was to be made to feel happy, while to hear his laugh was to -be put in a good humour for the remainder of the day. He was dressed in -a suit of tweeds, more than a trifle pronounced as to colour, a knitted -blue waistcoat covered his portly, bow-windowed presence, while he wore -a spotted blue and white tie, decorated with a large diamond pin. His -feet and hands were enormous, and when he laughed--which he did on every -available opportunity--his whole figure seemed to quiver like a blanc -mange. - -"This is Jacob Burrell, Mr. Henderson," said the lawyer, when the door -had closed on them. "I have told him that you wish him to take up your -case, and he is prepared to do so without delay." - -"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Burrell," said Godfrey. "Mr. Codey -has told me of your cleverness. If you can discover who it was who -actually murdered the poor girl, you will not only relieve me from a -position of considerable danger, but you will lay me under an -everlasting obligation to yourself." - -"I'll do the best I can, sir," said the man, jovially, rubbing his hands -together, as if he regarded the whole affair as a huge joke. "As Mr. -Codey may have told you, I have unravelled pretty tangled skeins in my -day, and it won't be my fault if I don't do the same here. Now, sir, Mr. -Codey, who knows my ways of work, has given me an outline of the case, -but if you don't mind, I should like to put a few questions to you on my -own account." - -"Ask me whatever you please," said Godfrey, "and I will answer to the -best of my ability." - -Burrell seated himself opposite Godfrey, placed one enormous hand on -either knee, and looked the other full in the face. - -"Now, sir, in the first place, when you had your old studio in London, -before you inherited your present estate, and when you first engaged the -girl, can you remember who were your intimate friends? I mean, the -friends who were in the habit of dropping into your studio pretty -frequently, to smoke their pipes, and perhaps to take a friendly glass?" - -Godfrey considered for a moment. - -"I had not very many friends in those days," he answered at last. "I was -a hard worker, and for that reason didn't encourage men to waste my -time. Besides, I was only a struggling artist, and couldn't afford to -entertain very much." - -"But there must have been some men who came in. Think, sir, and try to -recollect. It's an important point." - -"Well, of course, there was my friend, Mr. Fensden, who practically -lived with me. He used my studio whenever he had anything to do." - -"He is the gentleman who gave the damaging evidence against you on -Monday, is he not?" - -"He is! Then there was a Mr. Bourke, a leader writer on the Daily -Record." - -"I know Mr. Bourke," said the detective. "We may dismiss him from the -case at once." - -"Then there was an artist named Halliday, who occasionally dropped in, -but he is now in Dresden." - -"When did he go?" - -"Nearly two months before I went abroad myself," Godfrey answered. "I -think I have given you the list of my friends. I can remember no more." - -"Now, sir, that box, in which the hands were sent, had you ever seen it -before?" - -"No," said Godfrey; "I am quite certain I had not." - -"When you came home from Egypt, did you make any purchases in Naples?" - -"None at all. I was only there one night." - -"Now, sir, I am given to understand that your friend, Mr. Fensden, -induced you to go abroad for the reason that he feared you were falling -in love with your model. On what sort of terms was Mr. Fensden himself -with the girl in question?" - -"On very friendly terms," said Godfrey. - -"Was he in love with her, do you think?" - -"I am certain he was not," Godfrey replied, shaking his head. "I do not -think he would ever be in love with anybody." - -"And you are quite sure that he saw nothing of the girl from the day he -bade her good-bye in your studio, until Monday, when he inspected her -dead body in the mortuary?" - -"I am sure of it," Godfrey answered. - -"And when did he return to England, for I understand he has been abroad -until lately?" - -"On Thursday morning. I met him at the Mahl Stick Club an hour or two -after his return from Paris." - -"Now, sir, one other question, and the last. The girl, I understand, -told you that she was married, and refused to say to whom. I have had an -opportunity of examining the wedding-ring from her finger. Somewhat to -my surprise, I found that it was of Austrian make. Now, how does it come -about that a girl living in Naples should be married with an Austrian -wedding-ring? It was, moreover, an expensive one. What I want to know -is, was the young woman ever in Vienna?" - -"Never, to the best of my belief," said Godfrey. "At any rate she never -told me so." - -"Now, sir, there's one point I want to clear up, and when I have done -that, I sha'n't be at all certain that I haven't got the key to the -whole mystery. Is it only a singular coincidence, do you think, that -Teresina Cardi, your old model, wore a wedding-ring of Austrian make, -and that the box in which her hands were sent to you the other day -should bear the label of a well-known Vienna firm?" - -He chuckled and rubbed his hands together, as he put this question to -Godfrey. - -"It certainly seems singular," said the latter; "but why should not the -ring have been purchased in Naples, even if it were of Austrian make?" - -"There is not the least reason why it should not, but the coincidence is -worth remarking. Now, sir, I shall leave you to think over what I have -said. I shall telegraph to Naples and Vienna, and meanwhile endeavour to -find out who it was handed the box in at Euston. Allow me to wish you -good-day, gentlemen." - -They returned his salutations, after which he went away, leaving one -little ray of hope behind him. - -"A most remarkable man that!" said Codey, appreciatively, when the door -was once more closed. "He will follow the trail now like a sleuth-hound. -In the meantime, Mr. Henderson, I can not promise you anything very -hopeful for to-morrow. I shall apply to the magistrate for a remand in -order to give Burrell more time to look about him. I shall keep in touch -with him, you may be sure. I have retained Alfred Rolland as counsel for -you. He and I have often worked together, and I don't think you could -have a better man." - -"I place myself in your hands unreservedly," said Godfrey. "Do whatever -you think best, and spare no expense. I have others besides myself to -think of in this matter." - -"You have indeed, poor souls!" said Sir Vivian. "I shall go down -to-night, and try to reassure them, and come up again first thing in the -morning." - -When they left him, half-an-hour later, Godfrey sat himself down on his -bed and resigned himself to his own miserable thoughts. What enemy had -he who hailed from Vienna? He could think of no one among the circle of -his acquaintances who had ever been there. Certainly no one who would be -likely to do him such an irreparable wrong. After that he thought of his -dear ones at home, and broke down completely. His supper was sent away -untouched. He felt as though he could not have swallowed a mouthful, -even had his life depended on it. At last he retired to bed, but not to -rest. When he rose next morning, he felt older by a dozen years. - -"This will never do," he said to himself. "If I go on like this, people -will begin to think from my appearance that I am guilty. No, they shall -see that I am not afraid to look any man in the face." - -Then the door was unlocked, and he was informed that it was time to set -off for the magistrate's court. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - -The preliminary investigation before the magistrate calls for but little -comment. The evidence was, with but few exceptions, that which had been -given before the coroner on the Monday and Wednesday preceding. If it -were remarkable for anything it was for the number of spectators in the -Court. The building, in which the coroner's inquiry had been conducted, -had been crowded, but the police-court was packed, not with the -poorly-clad spectators which one usually meets and associates with that -miserable place, but by well-dressed and even aristocratic members of -society. When Godfrey recovered from his first feeling of shame at -finding himself in such a place and in such a position, and looked about -him, he recognised several people whom he had once accounted his -friends, but who had now schemed and contrived by every means in their -power, to obtain permission to watch, what they thought would amount to -his degradation and final extinction. Pulling himself together he gazed -boldly around him, and more than one person there told himself or -herself that a man who could look at one like that could never be guilty -of such a crime as murder. Mr. Rolland, the counsel who had been -retained by Codey for the defence, was a tall, handsome man, and of -others, little above middle-age. He was the possessor of a bland, suave -manner which had the faculty of extracting information from the most -unwilling and reluctant witnesses. Near him sat Mr. Codey himself, -keen-eyed and on the alert for anything that might tend to his client's -advantage. The curiosity of the visitors was not destined, however, to -be gratified, for, when certain of the witnesses had been examined, the -case was adjourned for a week, and Godfrey returned to Holloway by the -way he had come. - -How the next seven days passed Godfrey declares he is unable to tell, -but at last that weary week came to an end, and once more he stood in -the crowded Court. At first glance it looked, if such a thing were -possible, as if more people had been squeezed into the building than on -the previous occasion. The fashionable world was as well represented as -before, while this time there were even more ladies present than had -hitherto been the case. The cabman who had driven the pair to Burford -Street was examined and repeated his former evidence. He was subjected -to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Rolland, but his testimony remained -unshaken. The police-constable, who had seen them together outside the -house, also repeated his tale. He was quite certain, he assured the -Court, that the woman in question was crying as he passed them. At the -same time he was not sure whether or not the prisoner was speaking -angrily to her. When he left the witness-box Victor Fensden took his -place. He described the life in the studio before Godfrey left England, -and repeated the story of the attempt he had made to induce him to break -off his relations with the girl. When the prosecution had done with him -Mr. Rolland took him in hand and inquired what reason he had for -supposing that his client had ever felt any affection for the deceased -woman. - -"Because he himself told me so," Fensden returned unblushingly. "I -pointed out to him the absurdity of such a thing, and was at last -successful in inducing him to accompany me abroad." - -"You parted where?" - -"In Port Said. I went on to Palestine, while he returned to Naples." - -"_En route_ to England?" - -"I believe so." - -"On what day did you yourself reach London?" - -"On the day of the murder." - -"When did you next see the prisoner?" - -"He lunched with me at the Mahl Stick Club on the same day." - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland, somewhat to the surprise of the Court. -"I have no further questions to ask you." - -It was at this point that the great sensation of the day occurred. When -Fensden had taken his place once more, Detective-sergeant Gunson was -called, and a tall, handsome man, with a short, brown beard entered the -box. He stated that his name was Gunson, and that he was a member of the -Scotland Yard detective force. Two days previous, accompanied by -Detective-sergeant McVickers, he had paid a visit to the prisoner's -residence, Detwich Hall, in the county of Midlandshire. They had made a -systematic search of the building, with the result that, hidden away -behind a bookcase in the studio, they had discovered a long knife of -Oriental workmanship and design. The blade was of razor-like sharpness, -and was covered with certain dark stains. He found nothing else of an -incriminating nature. Detective-sergeant McVickers was next called, who -corroborated his companion's evidence. - -Dr. Bensford, an analytical chemist and lecturer at the Waterloo -Hospital, stated that he was instructed by the Home Secretary to make an -examination of the marks upon the knife in question, now produced, and -had arrived at the conclusion that they were the stains of human blood. -(Great sensation in Court.) - -So overwhelming was the shock to Godfrey, that for a moment he neither -heard nor saw anything. A ghastly faintness was stealing over him and -the Court swam before his eyes. With a mighty effort, however, he pulled -himself together and once more faced the Court. He looked at Sir Vivian -and saw that the baronet's face had suddenly become very pale. - -"Good Heavens!" he thought to himself, "will he suspect me also?" - -The analyst having left the box, Victor Fensden was recalled, and the -knife handed to him. He took it in his daintily gloved hand and -examined it carefully. - -"Have you ever seen that knife before?" asked the prosecution. - -Victor hesitated a moment before he replied. - -"No," he answered, as if with an effort. - -"Think again," said his examiner. "Remember that this is a court of -justice, and it behooves you to speak the truth. Where did you see that -knife before?" - -Once more Victor hesitated. Then in a somewhat louder voice he said: - -"In Egypt. In Cairo." - -"To whom does it belong?" - -"To Mr.--I mean to the prisoner. I was with him when he purchased it." - -A greater sensation than ever was produced by this assertion. Godfrey -leaned forward on the rail of the dock and scrutinized the witness -calmly. - -"Your Worship," he said, addressing the magistrate, "with all due -respect I should like to be allowed to say that I have never seen that -knife in my life before." - -The prosecution having finished their case, Mr. Rolland addressed the -Bench. He pointed out how entirely improbable it was that a gentleman -of Mr. Henderson's character and position would commit a murder of such -a cowardly nature. He commented on the fact that it would have been -impossible, had he even desired to do such a thing, for him to have -committed the crime and have walked from Burford Street to his hotel in -Piccadilly in the time counted from the moment he was seen by the police -officer to the time of his arrival at his hotel. Moreover, he asked the -magistrate to consider the question as to whether a man who had -committed such a dastardly deed would have been likely to send the -mutilated remains to himself as a wedding present. It was useless for -him, however, to argue, the magistrate had already made up his mind, and -Godfrey was therefore not surprised when he found himself committed to -stand for his trial at the next Criminal Sessions, to be held in a -month's time. Bowing to the magistrate, he left the dock, entered the -cab that was waiting for him in the yard, and was driven away to -Holloway. - -"It was the finding of that knife that did it," said Mr. Codey -reproachfully, when he next saw him. "Why on earth didn't you tell me -that it was hidden there?" - -"Because I did not know it myself," Godfrey replied. "When I told the -magistrate that I had never seen it before, it was the truth. I did not -buy a knife in Cairo, so how could I have brought one home with me?" - -"But who could have placed it behind the bookcase, if you did not?" -asked the lawyer. - -"That is more than I can say," said Godfrey simply. - -"Look here, Mr. Henderson," said Codey sharply, "I have met a good many -unsuspicious men in my time, but I don't think I have ever met one so -unsuspicious as you are. I have a list of all the people in your house -at the moment when that box arrived. Let us run it over. There was your -mother, your sister, and your _fiancee_, Miss Devereux. As our friend -Burrell would say, they may be dismissed from the case without delay. -Your butler and footman are old family servants, as are the housekeeper, -the cook, and the head parlour-maid. They may also be dismissed. The -remainder of the household would be scarcely likely to possess a knife -of that description, so we will dismiss them also. There remains only -yourself and Mr. Fensden. You declare you are innocent, and we will -presume that you are. Now, Mr. Fensden, by his evidence has placed you -where you are. That is certain. You say that he lied as to the fact of -your being in love with the woman who is dead, and also when he said -that you purchased the knife in Cairo. You say that he came to stay with -you on the day that the murder was discovered--why should he not have -placed it behind the bookcase, in order that it should be another -incriminating point against you?" - -"I can not believe that he would do such a thing," said Godfrey. "He -would not be so base." - -"I am not so sure of it," said the astute lawyer. "What is more, I made -a curious discovery to-day. The man in question pretends to be your -friend. He gives his evidence with reluctance. Yet I noticed that when -that knife was produced his face betrayed neither surprise nor emotion. -Had he had your interests at heart, would he have been so callous? -Answer me that! Now you have my reasons for arguing that he knew where -the knife was, and also the man who had placed it there." - -"The suspicions you suggest are too horrible," said Godfrey, rising and -pacing the cell. "What possible reason could he have for doing me such -an injury?" - -"One never knows. There are some men who hate the man who is supposed to -be their best friend, either because he, the friend, has been successful -in money-making, in love, or perhaps he presumes him to be happier than -himself. You are rich; he is poor. You have been successful in your -profession; he has been a failure. His hatred, like hundreds, might have -begun with jealousy and have terminated in this. I have known more -unlikely things." - -"In that case what am I to do?" - -"Leave it to me and to Burrell to arrange. If things were not going -right, my experience teaches me that that astute gentleman would have -shown signs of dissatisfaction before now. He has got his nose on the -trail, you may be sure, and if I know anything about him, he will not -leave it for a moment." - -"But do you think he will be able to prove my innocence?" asked Godfrey. - -"All in good time, my dear sir, all in good time," said the lawyer. -"With me for your lawyer (pardon the boast), Rolland for your counsel, -Dick Horsden and Braithwaite with him, and Burrell for the ferret that -is to make the rabbits bolt, you could not be better served. For my own -part, I wouldn't mind making you a bet--and as a rule I am not a man -who gambles--that the last-named gentleman has already acquired -sufficient information to secure your return to Detwich with an -unblemished character." - -"Then do so by all means," said Godfrey. "I will take it with the -greatest pleasure in the world." - -"Very well then," answered the lawyer. "I'll tell you what we'll do. -I've a junior clerk who has the making of a man in him, but who is in -consumption. The doctors tell me that, unless he is sent for a long sea -voyage to the other side of the world, he will not live a year. I have -promised to send him to the South Seas, and, if you like, this shall be -our bet: If you get off scot-free, you pay all his expenses--something -like five hundred pounds--and also give him five hundred pounds to go on -with. If you don't, then I pay. Will you agree to that?" - -"With all the pleasure in the world," Godfrey replied. - -"Then it's settled. And now I must be going. Good-bye." - -They shook hands, and then the lawyer took his departure, leaving -Godfrey happier than he had been for some time past. - -The month that separated the magistrate's inquiry from the Sessions at -the Old Bailey seemed to Godfrey like an eternity. Day after day crept -slowly by, with but little, if anything, to relieve the monotony. He -took his daily exercise, kept his cell in spotless order, received -visits from the lawyer, who came to report progress, and from Sir -Vivian, who brought messages of hope and encouragement from the folk at -home. - -On one red-letter day he was informed that visitors had arrived to see -him, and he was accordingly conducted to the room where he had on -several occasions interviewed his lawyer. The warder opened the door and -he entered, to be nearly overwhelmed by surprise. Standing by her -father's side, at the farther end of the room, and waiting to receive -him, was no less a person than Molly herself. She ran forward and threw -herself into his arms. - -"Molly, Molly," he faltered, "what does this mean? Why are you here? You -should not distress yourself like this." - -"I could not help it," she answered. "I had to come, I could stay away -from you no longer. You do not know how I have suffered. It seems as if -a lifetime had elapsed since we parted. At last I managed to persuade -papa to bring me up. My poor boy, how ill you look! How you must have -suffered!" - -"Never mind about that, dear," said Godfrey. "If it all comes right in -the end, we can afford to suffer a little. Now tell me of yourself; you -don't know how hungry I am for news." - -"No, don't let us talk of myself," she answered. "I want to talk about -you and your affairs. Do you know that this morning I saw Mr. Codey, -your lawyer, for the first time? He was introduced to me by papa." - -"And what did he say to you?" Godfrey inquired, with natural interest. - -"I am afraid there is not much to tell," said Molly. "When I asked him -if he thought we should be able to prove your innocence, he said, -'That's a thing we shall have to see about; but I don't mind going so -far as to promise you, that, unless there's anything else that I don't -know of, you and Mr. Henderson will eat your Christmas dinner together -next year!' I asked him and implored him to tell me more, but I could -not get anything else out of him." - -Godfrey felt his heart beat more hopefully. It was something, indeed, to -know that Codey took such a bright view of the case. Then Molly went on -to give him the latest news of his mother and sister. The old lady, it -appeared, was suffering a great deal on her dear boy's account; but she -firmly believed that in the end he would be acquitted. - -"It makes me so sad to see her," said Molly. "As you may suppose, I -spend the greater part of my time there now, and I think we help and -comfort each other." - -"God bless you for your goodness to them, dear!" replied Godfrey. "I -know what it must mean to them to have you with them." - -"And now, Molly," said Sir Vivian, rising from his chair, "I am afraid -we must go. We were only allowed a short time with you, and we must not -exceed it. Good-bye, my boy, and may God bless you! Don't be -down-hearted; we'll prove your innocence yet." - -"You still believe in me, Sir Vivian?" he asked. - -"As firmly as ever," the other answered. "I should not be here if I did -not. And now, Molly, you must come along." - -Godfrey kissed his sweetheart, and wished her good-bye. When she had -left the room, all the sunshine seemed to have gone out of it, and with -a heavy heart he went back to the gloom of his prison life again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - -Jacob Burrell sat in his comfortable armchair and took counsel with -himself. He was a bachelor, and like many other bachelors was wedded to -a hobby, which in some respects was more to him than any wife could -possibly have been. In other words he was an enthusiastic philatelist, -and his collection of the world's stamps was the envy of every -enthusiast who came in contact with them. For Jacob Burrell they -possessed another interest that was quite apart from their mere -intrinsic value. A very large number of the stamps so carefully pasted -in the book had been collected, or had come into his possession, in the -performance of his professional duties. A very rare 1-1/4 schilling blue -Hamburg was picked up by the merest chance on the same day that he ran a -notorious bank swindler to earth in Berlin; while a certain blue and -brown United States, worth upward of thirty pounds, became his property -during a memorable trip to America in search of a fraudulent trustee, -whose whereabouts the officials of Scotland Yard had not been able to -discover. Well-nigh every page had a story of its own to tell, and when -Burrell was in the humour, he could, with the book before him, reel off -tale after tale, of a description that would be calculated to make the -listener's hair stand on end with astonishment. At the present moment he -was occupied, as he very well knew, with one of the most knotty problems -he had ever tackled in his life. His face wore a puzzled expression. In -his right hand he held a large magnifying glass and in his left a -Canadian stamp of the year 1852. But whether it was the case he was -thinking of or the stamp it would have been difficult to say. - -"Genuine or not?" he asked himself. "That's the question. If it's the -first, it's worth five pounds of any man's money. If it's a fudge, then -it's not the first time I've been had, but I'll take very good care -that, so far as the gentleman is concerned who sold it to me, it shall -be the last." - -He scrutinized it carefully once more through the glass and then shook -his head. Having done so he replaced the doubtful article in the -envelope whence, he had taken it, slipped the glass back into its -chamois-leather case, tied the tape round the handle as deliberately as -if all his success in life depended on it, put both book and glass away -in a drawer, and then proceeding to the sideboard on the other side of -the room, slowly and carefully mixed himself a glass of grog. It was -close upon midnight and he felt that the work he had that day completed -entitled him to such refreshment. - -"Good Heavens," he muttered as he sipped it, "what fools some men can -be!" - -What this remark had to do with the stamp in question was not apparent, -but his next soliloquy made his meaning somewhat more intelligible. - -"If he had wanted to find himself in the dock and to put the rope round -his neck he couldn't have gone to work better. He must needs stand -talking to the girl in the Strand until she cries, whereupon he calls a -cab and drives home with her, gets out of it and takes up a position in -the full light of a gas lamp, so that the first policeman who passes may -have a look at his face, and recognise him again when the proper time -comes. After that he hurries back to his hotel at such a pace that he -arrives in a sufficiently agitated condition to stand in need of -brandy. Why, it's an almost unbelievable list of absurd coincidences. -However, he didn't commit the crime, that's quite certain. I've had a -bit of experience in my time, and I don't know that I've ever made a -mistake about a human face yet. There's not a trace of guilt in his. -To-morrow morning I'll just run round to the scene of the murder and -begin my investigations there. Though the Pro's have been over the -ground before me, it will be strange if I can not pick up something that -has not been noticed by their observant eyes." - -A perpetual feud existed between the famous Jacob Burrell and the -genuine representatives of the profession. His ways were unorthodox, the -latter declared. He did not follow the accustomed routine, and what was -worse, when he managed to obtain information it was almost, if not -quite, impossible to get him to divulge it for their benefit. Such a man -deserved to be set down on every possible opportunity. - -True to the arrangement he had made with himself on the previous -evening, Burrell immediately after breakfast next morning set out for -Burford Street. On reaching No. 16 he ascended the steps and entered the -grimy passage, and inquired from a man he found there where the -landlord was to be discovered. In reply the individual he interrogated -went to the head of a flight of stairs that descended like an abyss into -the regions below, and shouted something in German. A few moments later -the proprietor of the establishment made his appearance. He was a small -sallow individual with small bloodshot eyes, suggestive of an undue -partiality for Schnapps, and the sadness of whose face gave one the -impression that he cherished a grievance against the whole world. His -sleeves were rolled up above the elbows, and he carried a knife in one -hand and a potato in the other. - -"Vat is dat you vant mit me?" he inquired irritably, as he took stock of -the person before him. - -"I want you to show me the room in which that Italian girl, Teresina -Cardi, was murdered," Burrell replied, without wasting time. - -The landlord swore a deep oath in German. - -"It is always de murder from morning until night," he answered. "I am -sick mit it. Dat murder will be the ruin mit me. Every day der is -somebody come and say 'Where is dot room?' Who are you that you ask me -that I should to you show it?" - -Burrell, to the best of his ability, explained his motive for proffering -such a request. This must have been satisfactory, for in the end the -landlord consented to conduct him to the room in question. From the day -of the murder it had been kept locked, and it must be confessed that -since no one would inhabit it, and it did not in consequence return its -owner its accustomed rent, he had some measure of excuse for the -irritation he displayed in connection with it. - -"Dere it is," he said, throwing the door open, "and you can look your -full at it. I have scrubbed all dot floor dill my arms ache mit it, but -I can not get der blood marks out. Dot stain is just where she was -found, boor girl!" - -The man pointed, with grizly relish, to a dark stain upon the floor, and -then went on to describe the impression the murder and its attendant -incidents had produced upon him. To any other man than Burrell, they -would probably have been uninteresting to a degree. The latter, however, -knowing the importance of little things, allowed him to continue his -chatter. At the same time his quick eyes were taking in the character -of the room, making his own deductions and drawing his own inferences. -At last, when the other had exhausted his powers of description, Burrell -took from his pocket his favourite magnifying glass, cased in its -covering of chamois leather. Having prepared it for business, he went -down on his hands and knees and searched the floor minutely. What he was -looking for, or what he hoped to find, he did not know himself, but a -life's experience had taught him that clews are often picked up in the -most unexpected quarters. - -"I've known a man get himself hanged," he had once been heard to remark, -"simply because he neglected to put a stitch to a shirt button and had -afterward to borrow a needle and thread to do it. I remember another who -had the misfortune to receive a sentence of fifteen years for forgery, -who would never have been captured, but for a peculiar blend of tobacco, -which he would persist in smoking after the doctors had told him it was -injurious to his health." - -So slow and so careful was his investigation, that the landlord, who -preferred more talkative company, very soon tired of watching him. -Bidding him lock the door and bring the key downstairs with him when he -had finished, he returned to the culinary operations from which he had -been summoned. Burrell, however, still remained upon his knees on the -floor, searching every crack and crevice with that superb and -never-wearying patience that was one of his most remarkable -characteristics. It was quite certain, as the landlord had said, that -the floor had been most thoroughly and conscientiously scrubbed since -the night of the murder. He rose to his feet and brushed his knees. - -"Nothing there," he said to himself. "They've destroyed any chance of my -finding anything useful." - -Walking to the fireplace he made a most careful examination of the -grate. Like the floor, it had also been rigorously cleaned. Not a -vestige of ash or dust remained in it. - -"Polished up to be ready for the newspaper reporters, I suppose," said -Burrell sarcastically to himself. "They couldn't have done it better if -they had wanted to make sure of the murderer not being caught." - -After that he strolled to the window and looked out. The room, as has -already been stated elsewhere, was only a garret, and the small window -opened upon a slope of tiled roof. Above the eaves and at the bottom of -the slope just mentioned, was a narrow lead gutter of the usual -description. From the window it was impossible, unless one leaned well -out, to look down into the street below. - -"Just let me think for a moment," said Burrell to himself, as he stood -looking at the roofs of the houses opposite; "the night of the murder -was a warm one, and this window would almost certainly be open. I -suppose if the people in the houses on the other side of the way had -seen or heard anything, they would have been sure to come forward before -now. The idea, however, is always worth trying. I've a good mind to make -a few inquiries over there later on." - -As he said this he gave a little start forward, and leaning out of the -window, looked down over the tiles into the gutter below. A small -fragment of a well-smoked cigarette could just be descried in it. - -"My luck again," he said with a chuckle. "If some reporter or sensation -hunter didn't throw it there, which is scarcely likely, I may be on the -right track after all. Now who could have been smoking cigarettes up -here? First and foremost I'll have a look at it." - -On entering, he had placed his walking stick on the table in the middle -of the room. He turned to get it, and as he did so he took from his -pocket a small housewife. His multitudinous experiences had taught him -the advisability of carrying such an article about with him, and on this -occasion it promised to prove more than ordinarily useful. From one -compartment he selected a long, stout needle which he placed in a hole -in the handle of the walking stick. Then returning once more to the -window, and leaning well out, he probed for the cigarette lying so -snugly five or six feet below him. Twice he was unsuccessful, but the -third attempt brought the precious relic to his hand. Taking it to the -table, he drew up a chair and sat down to examine it. It was sodden and -discoloured, but the rim of the gutter had in a measure protected it, -and it still held together. His famous magnifying glass was again -brought into action. Once upon a time there had been printing on the -paper, but now it was well-nigh undecipherable. As I have already -remarked, however, Burrell was a man gifted with rare patience, and -after a scrutiny that lasted some minutes, he was able to make out -sufficient of the printing to know that the maker's name ended with -"olous," while the place in which the cigarette had been manufactured -was _Cairo_. - -"I wonder," said the detective to himself, "if this is destined to be of -any service to me. At first glance it would appear as if my first -impression was a wrong one. Mr. Henderson, who is accused of the murder, -has lately returned from Cairo. Though, perhaps he never purchased any -tobacco there, it would certainly do him no good to have it produced as -evidence, that the butt end of a cigarette from that place was found in -the gutter outside the window of the murdered woman's room." - -After another prolonged inspection of the room, and not until he had -quite convinced himself that there was nothing more to be discovered in -it, he descended to the lower regions of the house, returned the key to -the landlord, and immediately left the building. Crossing the street, he -made his way to the house opposite. The caretaker received him, and -inquired the nature of his business. He gave his explanation, but a few -questions were sufficient to convince him that he must not expect to -receive any assistance from that quarter. The rooms, so he discovered, -from which it would have been possible to catch any glimpse of what was -going on in Teresina's apartment in the opposite house, were tenanted -only in the daytime. - -"Nothing to be learned there," said Burrell to himself, when he had -thanked the man and had left the house. "Now the question to be decided -is, what shall I do next?" - -He stood upon the pavement meditatively scratching his chin for a few -moments. Then he must have made up his mind, for he turned sharply round -and walked off in the direction of the Tottenham Court Road. Taking a -'bus there, he made his way on it to Oxford Street, thence, having -changed conveyances, he proceeded as far as Regent Street. It was a -bright, sunny morning, and the pavements of that fashionable -thoroughfare were crowded with pedestrians. As the burly, -farmerish-looking man strode along, few, if any, of the people he passed -would have believed him to be the great detective whose name had struck -a terror, that nothing else could have inspired, into the hearts of so -many hardened criminals. When he was a little more than half-way down -the street, he turned sharply to his left hand, passed into another and -shorter thoroughfare, then turned to his left again, and finally -entered another street on his right. He was now in the neighbourhood of -quiet-looking houses of the office description. There was nothing about -them to indicate that their occupants were the possessors of any great -amount of wealth, and yet one could not help feeling, as one looked at -them, that there was a substantial, money-making air about them. Having -reached a particular doorway, Burrell paused, consulted the names -engraved upon the brass plate on the wall outside, and then entered. He -found himself in a small hall, from which a narrow flight of -linoleum-covered stairs led to the floors above. These stairs he -ascended, to presently find himself standing before a door on which the -names of Messrs. Morris and Zevenboom were painted. Disregarding the -word "Private," which for some inexplicable reason was printed -underneath the name of the firm, he turned the handle and entered. A -small youth was seated at a table in the centre of the apartment, busily -engaged making entries in a large book propped up before him. He looked -up on seeing Burrell, and, in an off-hand fashion, inquired his -business. - -"I want to see Mr. Zevenboom if he's at home," said the latter. "If he -is, just tell him, my lad, that I should like to speak to him, will -you?" - -"That's all very well," said the boy with an assurance beyond his years, -"but how am I to do it if I don't know your name? Ain't a thought -reader, am I?" - -"Tell him Mr. Burrell would like to speak to him," said the detective -without any appearance of displeasure at the lad's impertinence. "I -fancy he will know who I am, even if you don't!" - -"Right you are, I'll be back in a moment." - -So saying, the lad disappeared into an inner apartment with an air that -seemed to insinuate that if Mr. Zevenboom might be impressed by the -stranger, it was certainly more than he was. His feelings received -rather a shock, however, when his employer informed him in a stage -whisper that Mr. Burrell "_was the great detective_" and made him show -him in at once and not keep him waiting. Jacob was accordingly ushered -in, with becoming ceremony, and found himself received by a little man, -whose beady black eyes and sharp features proclaimed his nationality -more plainly than any words could have done. - -"Ah, mein dear friend," said he, "I am glad to see you. It is long since -we have met, and you are looking as well as ever you did." - -"I am all right, thank you," said Burrell genially. "Thank goodness, in -spite of hard work, there's never very much the matter with me." - -Before he seated himself the other went to a cupboard at the back of his -desk and, having unlocked it, took from it a cigar box, one of a number -of others, which he placed upon the table at his guest's elbow. - -"Try one of these," he said, "you will smoke nothing better in all -Europe. I pledge you the word of Israel Zevenboom to that." - -"I can quite believe you," said Burrell, and then mindful of the -business that had brought him there, he added, "if there's one man in -all London who knows a good cigar I suppose you are that one." - -The little man grinned in high appreciation of the compliment. - -"Cigars or cigarettes, I tell you, it's all the same to me," he said, -spreading his hands apart. "There is no tobacco grown, or upon the -market, that I can not put a name to." - -"And you are familiar with all the best makers, I suppose?" - -The other again spread his hands apart as if such a question was not of -sufficient importance to require an answer. - -"I know them all," he continued pompously. "And they all know me. Morris -and Zevenboom is a firm whose name is famous with them all." - -A pause of upward of half a minute followed this remark, during which -Burrell lit his cigar. - -"And now what can I do for you, my friend?" the other inquired. "I shall -be most happy to oblige you as far as lies in my power. You were very -good to me in de matter of----" - -He paused for a moment. Then he thought better of it and came to a -sudden stop. - -"Well, in the matter that we both remember," he added finally. - -"I want a little information from you, that I believe it is in your -power to give," said Burrell, taking a note book from his pocket and -from it producing the scrap of cigarette he had taken from the gutter of -the house in Burford Street. He placed it on the desk before his -companion. - -"I want you to tell me if you can who are the makers of these -cigarettes, and whether they can be obtained in England?" - -The other took up his glasses and perched them on the end of his -delicate nose, after which he held the charred fragment of the cigarette -up to the light. This did not seem to satisfy him, so he took it to the -window and examined it more closely. He turned it over, smelt it, -extracted a shred of the tobacco, smelt that, and at last came back to -the table. - -"That cigarette was made by my good friend Kosman Constantinopolous, of -Cairo, a most excellent firm, but as yet they have no representatives in -England. Some day they will have." - -"Where is the nearest place at which these cigarettes can be obtained?" -asked Burrell. - -"In Paris--if you like I will give you the address," the other replied, -"or better still I will get some for you should you desire to have some. -They are expensive but the tobacco is good." - -"I won't trouble you to procure me any just now, thank you," Burrell -answered. "I only wanted to try and fix the maker's name. It comes into -some important business that I am just now at work upon. I suppose I -can rely upon your information being correct? It will make a big -difference to me." - -"My good friend, you may be quite sure of that," the other answered with -pride. "I am Israel Zevenboom, the expert, and after fifty years' -experience, should not be likely to make a mistake in such a simple -matter as that." - -Then, at Burrell's request, he thereupon wrote down the address of the -firm in Paris, after which the detective thanked him heartily for his -trouble and bade him good-bye. - -"To-morrow," said Burrell to himself, "if all goes well, I will take a -run down to Mr. Henderson's country seat and make a few inquiries there. -After that it looks as if Paris is likely to be the scene of my next -operations. There are one or two little preliminaries, however, that -must be settled before I leave England." - -He was as good as his word, and the mid-day train next day landed him -upon the platform at Detwich. He inquired how far it was to the Hall, -and on being informed of his direction, set off along the High Road at a -swinging pace. He was a man who never rode when he could walk, and, had -he not chosen another profession, it is possible he might have made a -name for himself in the athletic world as a pedestrian. - -"It seems a sad thing," he said to himself, as he turned in through the -lodge gates and began to cross the park, "that a young gentleman owning -such a beautiful place as this should be clapped into limbo on a charge -of murder. But here I suppose is what the literary gentlemen call the -'Irony of Fate.' However, it's my business to get him out of the scrape -he's in if I can, and not to bother my head about anything else." - -Having reached the house he sent his name in to Mrs. Henderson, and -asked for an interview. Her daughter Kitty was with her in the morning -room when the butler entered. - -"Mr. Jacob Burrell?" she said in a puzzled way, looking at the card the -man had handed to her. "I don't know the name, do you, Kitty?" - -"Why, yes, mother, of course I do," the girl replied. "How could you -forget? He is the famous detective whom the lawyers have engaged to take -up the case for poor Godfrey. Tell him that we will see him at once, -Williamson, and show him in here." - -A few moments later Burrell made his appearance and bowed to the two -ladies. That he was not at all the sort of individual they had expected -to see was evident from the expressions upon their faces. - -"Doubtless, ladies, you have heard my name and the business upon which I -am engaged," he said, by way of introducing himself. - -They acknowledged that they had done so, and when they had invited him -to be seated, inquired what success he had so far met with. He shook his -head cautiously. - -"In these sort of cases you must not expect to succeed all at once," he -said. Then observing the look upon their faces he added: "You see, Mrs. -Henderson, a big case, unless the evidence is very clear and -straightforward, is not unlike a Chinese puzzle, being a lot of little -pieces cut out of one big block. Well, all the little cubes are tipped -out upon the floor in confusion, and before you can begin to put them -together it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the rough outlines -of the parts and to make yourself acquainted with the sizes, shapes, and -numbers of the pieces you have to work with. That done you can begin -your work of putting them together." - -"Mr. Burrell is quite right, mother," Kitty remarked. "We must be -patient and not expect too much at first. We ourselves know that -Godfrey is innocent, and Mr. Burrell will very soon demonstrate it to -the world, I am very sure." Then turning to the detective she continued: -"Since you have spared the time to come down here, it is only natural to -suppose that you desire to ask us questions. If so, please do not -hesitate to put them. My mother and I will--only too thankfully--do all -that lies in our power to assist you in your work." - -"Well, miss," said Burrell, "I won't deny that there are certain -questions I should like to put to you. In the meantime, however, if you -will allow me, I'll just take a walk round the place, and if I have your -permission to enter your brother's rooms, it's just possible I may be -able to find something that will be of advantage to him there." - -"Go where you please," said Mrs. Henderson. "Heaven knows at such a time -we should place no restrictions upon any one. If you can save my poor -boy--I shall be grateful to you forever." - -"Be sure, madam, I will do my best. I can't say more." - -Kitty rose from her chair. - -"Perhaps it would be better for me to show you my brother's studio -first," she said. "Will you come with me?" - -Burrell followed her out of the room and down the long corridor to the -room in question. Kitty left him there, and for upward of half-an-hour -he remained in the apartment, busily engaged upon what he called -"forming his own impressions." After that he passed through the French -windows out into the grounds beyond, had a few minutes' conversation -with some of the men, and, when he had exhausted that portion of the -business, returned to the house to find that luncheon had been provided -for him in the library. He thereupon sat down to it and made an -excellent meal. That finished, he was wondering what he should do next, -when Kitty entered the room. - -"I hope you have been well looked after, Mr. Burrell," she said. "You -are quite sure there is nothing else you would like?" - -"Nothing at all, thank you," he answered, "unless I might ask you for a -cigarette?" - -"A cigarette," she replied, with a suggestion of astonishment, for he -did not look like the sort of man who would have cared for anything less -than a pipe or a strong cigar. "That is very unfortunate, for I am -afraid we have not one in the house. My brother Godfrey, you see, never -smokes them, and I remember his saying just before----" she paused for a -moment and a look of pain came into her face, "just before this trouble -occurred," she continued, "that the supply he had laid in for his -friends was exhausted and that he must order some more." Then she -appeared to recollect something, for her face brightened. "Ah!" she -cried, "now I come to think of it, we _do_ happen to have a box which -Mr. Fensden left here before he went away. If you'll excuse me, I'll get -it." - -He thanked her and she left the room, whereupon he walked to the window -and stood looking out upon the lawn, drumming with the fingers of his -right hand upon the pane before him. What his thoughts were at that -moment will in all probability never be known, but when, a few minutes -later, Kitty returned with a box of cigarettes in her hand, he turned to -greet her with as much excitement in his face as he had ever been known -to show about anything. The box in question was flat and square, with -some Arabic writing in gold upon the lid and the inscription Kosman -Constantinopolous et Cie, Cairo. - -Jacob Burrell may or may not have been a cigarette smoker (for my part -I have never seen him with so mild a weed between his lips). I only know -that on this particular occasion he stood with the cigarette in one hand -for some time without lighting it, and the box in the other. - -"Did I understand you to say that Mr. Fensden gave these cigarettes to -your brother?" he inquired at last, after he had turned certain matters -over in his mind. - -"Yes," she replied. "He used to say laughingly that the weakest of all -Godfrey's weak points was his dislike to Egyptian cigarettes, and that -if he would only try to cultivate the taste for that tobacco, he would -be converted from barbarism to comparative civilization. You have seen -Mr. Fensden, of course?" - -"I saw him in Court," Burrell replied, apparently without much interest. -"And now, I think, with your permission, miss, I will return to the -station. I have seen all that is necessary for my purpose here, and am -anxious to get back to town as soon as possible. There are several -matters there that demand my attention." Kitty was silent for a moment. -Then she gained her courage and spoke out. - -"Mr. Burrell," she said, laying her hand upon his arm, "I suspect you -can very well imagine what a terrible time of suspense this is for us. -As I said this morning, we all know that my brother is innocent of the -crime with which he is charged. But how can we prove it? All our hopes -are centred upon you. You have done such wonderful things in the past -that surely you can bring the real perpetrator of this hideous crime to -justice. Can you not give us even a grain of hope to comfort us? My poor -mother is fretting herself to a shadow about it." - -"I scarcely know what I can say just yet," he replied. "I, of course, -have begun to form my own theories, but they are too unsubstantial as -yet for me to be able to pin any faith upon them--much less to allow you -to do so. This, however, I will tell you, and any one who knows me will -tell you that it is something for me to admit. What I say is that up to -the present moment, I have been more successful than I had dared to hope -I should be. Like yourselves, I have a conviction that your brother is -innocent, and you may believe me when I say that it won't be my fault if -we can't prove it. May I ask you to rest content with that? I can not -say more." - -"I can not thank you sufficiently for your kindness," she answered. -"Your words give me fresh hope. May I tell Miss Devereux what you say?" - -"Miss Devereux?" asked Burrell, who for the moment had forgotten the -young lady in question. - -"It is to Miss Devereux that my brother is engaged," Kitty answered. -"You may imagine how sad she is. Yet she has been, and still is, so -brave about it." - -"Not braver than you are, I'll be bound," said Burrell gallantly. "And -now I will wish you good-afternoon." - -He did so, and refusing her offer of a carriage to take him, was soon -striding across the park on his way back to the railway station. As he -walked along he thought of what he had done that day, and of the strange -good fortune that had so far attended his efforts. - -"It is only the merest guess," he said to himself, "and yet it's the -old, old story. It is when they think themselves most secure, and that -detection is impossible, that they are in the greatest danger. At that -point some minute circumstance is sufficient to give them away, and it's -all over. This looks as if it will prove another example of the one -rule." - -It was nearly five o'clock when he reached London. Arriving there he -called a hansom and bade the man drive him with all speed to Mr. Codey's -office. As it happened he was only just in time to catch the lawyer, who -was on the point of leaving. - -"Halloa, Burrell," cried the genial Mr. Codey on seeing him, "you seem -excited. What's the matter now?" - -"I didn't know that I had anything to be excited about," Burrell replied -with a smile at the lawyer's attempt to draw him out. "I only thought I -would drop in upon you, sir, to let you know that I am leaving for the -Continent first thing to-morrow morning. I may be away a week, possibly -a fortnight. I'm not able to put a definite time upon it, for it will -all depend upon circumstances." - -"Then I suppose, as usual, you are beginning to find yourself on the -right track," the lawyer remarked drily. - -"And, just as usual, sir, I reply that that's as may be," said the -other. "I don't deny that I've got hold of a piece of information that -may eventually put me on the proper line--but I've got to sift it -first--before I can act upon it. That's why I'm going abroad." - -"Don't be any longer than you can help about it, then," returned the -lawyer. "You know when the trial comes off?" - -"As well as you do, sir! That's why I want to get away at once. There's -no time to be wasted--that's if we're to be properly posted." - -"Well, then, good-bye, and may good luck go with you." - -Next morning Burrell, acting on the plan he had made, left London for -Paris, with the portion of cigarette in his pocket. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - -The first night of his sojourn in Paris was spent at the residence of a -friend who was also a well-known Stamp Collector. They dined at a -Restaurant together, and spent the remainder of the evening at a Cafe -discussing matters connected with their joint hobby. Had one looked in -upon Jacob Burrell then, as he sat sipping a glass of brandy and water, -it would have been difficult to imagine that this man who was so -emphatic and precise about Water Marks, Batonne Papers, Misprints, and -Fudges, was in Paris for the sole reason of elucidating a terrible -crime, and in the hope of bringing the criminal to justice. - -Next morning he was up early and, as soon as was compatible with calling -hours, was on his way to the office of which Zevenboom had given him the -address. Sending his name in to the head of the firm, he asked for an -interview. This was promptly granted him and he was ushered into the -proprietor's office, a charming little apartment fragrant with the odour -of the divine weed. Now Burrell's French is not particularly good, but -Monsieur Zacroft's English was certainly a good deal worse. However, -they managed after a fashion, and with the help of a clerk, to make each -other understand, and that was perhaps all that was wanted. Zacroft -inquired with much solicitude after the bodily welfare of his good -friend Zevenboom, and on being assured that the latter enjoyed excellent -health, so far as Burrell was aware, proceeded to ask in what way he -could be of service to the Englishman. The latter immediately commenced -to explain, speaking in a louder tone than usual and using many -gesticulations, as an Englishman so often does, in the hope of making -his meaning clearer to his auditor. Later on Burrell produced the -charred remnant of the cigarette. The Frenchman admitted that the -cigarette shown to him was of the same brand as that manufactured by -Messrs. Kosman & Constantinopolous of Cairo, of which wealthy firm, he -took care to point out, he was the Parisian representative. He was also -acquainted with Mr. Victor Fensden, and admitted that he had supplied -that gentleman with cigarettes of the brand mentioned for some years -past. - -Burrell admitted to himself that so far this was very good. He hoped -that there would be still better news to follow. - -"Perhaps you can tell me when he obtained his last consignment from -you?" he said, after a short pause. - -The manager begged Burrell to excuse him while he went into his shop to -ask the question. When he returned he laid a piece of paper before the -other. The latter took it up and examined it carefully, though he was -not at all prepared to find that the information would be of much value -to him. The surprise he received, however, almost took his breath away. -It was the work of a moment to whip out his pocket-book and to open it. - -He turned the leaves until he arrived at the entry he wanted. - -"And am I to understand you to say that Mr. Fensden wrote to you from -England for them? Are you quite sure of it?" - -"Quite sure," replied the other, and intimated in exceedingly poor -English that he was prepared to show his customer's letter in proof of -the genuineness of his assertion. He did so, and Burrell examined it -carefully. Ultimately he prevailed upon the other to permit him to keep -the letter. - -"I wouldn't lose it for a thousand pounds," he said to himself. "Good -gracious, this is nothing less than a stupendous piece of luck. It's the -last thing in the world I should have thought of." - -He thanked the little tobacco merchant for his courtesy, and bade him -farewell, promising to remember him most affectionately to Zevenboom -when next he should see him. After that he went off to make arrangements -about his journey from Paris to Naples. - -It was at a late hour of the night when he reached that famous Italian -city. Tired out he betook himself to his hotel, slept the sleep of the -just, and rose in the morning with the pleasant feeling that the day -before him was likely to prove a busy and also an exciting one. After he -had breakfasted, which he made a point of doing in the solid English -fashion, he smoked a contemplative cigar, and interested himself after -his own fashion in the billings and cooings of a young newly married -couple, who were staying at the hotel awaiting the arrival of the -out-going Australian Mail Boat. Then, having discovered the interpreter -whom the hotel manager had found for him, he set off for the street in -which he had been told Teresina Cardi and her mother had dwelt. - -"'See Naples and die' they say," he muttered to himself, as he made his -way out of one into another tortuous and unsavoury street. "It should -have been '_smell_ Naples and die.' A connoisseur could discover a -hundred fresh unsavouries in every hundred yards." - -At last they found themselves in the street in question, and, after some -little hunting, discovered the house in which the murdered girl had -resided with her mother. The interpreter questioned the head of the -family who lived on the ground floor. With many flourishes and bows, the -latter, whose only work in life, it would appear, was to smoke -cigarettes upon the doorstep, informed him that the Signora Cardi was -dead and that the funeral had been a most imposing one. - -"Ask him what has become of the daughter," said Burrell, who was anxious -to discover whether or not the man were aware of the murder. - -"Gone," was the laconic reply. Eventually he condescended to add, "An -Englishman came to see her, and the signorina went away with him. I can -tell you no more." - -He manufactured for himself another cigarette, with the air of a man who -has done everything he could to prove himself hospitable, and is not -quite certain whether he has succeeded in the attempt. At this juncture -Burrell rattled the money in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he thinks he would know the man again if he were to see -him," he said. "Tell him also that I will pay him well for any -information he may give me." - -A vehement debate ensued--which might have lasted from three to five -minutes. At the end the interpreter translated. - -"He says, your Excellency, that he could pick the man out from a -hundred." - -"He's been a jolly long time saying it," said Burrell, and as he spoke -he took from his pocket half-a-dozen photographs which he had brought -with him for that purpose. "However, he shall try!" - -Among the number were likenesses of Fensden and Henderson. There were -also others of men who had nothing whatsoever to do with the case. The -proprietor of the ground floor rooms picked them up one by one and -examined them critically. When he reached Fensden's portrait he held it -up immediately. - -"That is the man," he said to the interpreter. "I need look no farther. -I should know him anywhere." - -Burrell replaced the photographs in his pocket. - -"Ask him if he has any idea where the man he speaks of stayed when he -was in Naples," Burrell remarked to the man, but upon this subject it -appeared that the other could give no sort of information, though he -volunteered for a reward to find out. This help, however, Burrell -declined. After rewarding him, he retraced his steps to the hotel. - -"It should not be difficult," he thought as he went along, "to discover -the Englishman's abode during the time he was in Naples. He is not the -sort of man to put up anywhere but at a good hotel." - -Foreseeing for this reason that the number of the hotels at which the -man he was inquiring about would be likely to stay, were limited, he -resolved to institute investigations that afternoon. He was very soon -successful. At the second at which he called he discovered that Fensden -had resided there and that he had left again on the 3rd of February. The -manager knew nothing of any _liaison_ with a girl of the city, nor could -he say where his guest went after he left Naples. His servants were -equally ignorant, though one of them believed Signor Fensden's -destination to have been Rome. Thanking the manager for his courtesy, -Burrell left the hotel more than a little disappointed, to spend the -remainder of the afternoon securing affidavits as to dates and generally -verifying the discoveries he had made. - -"Well, I suppose there's nothing for it but to try Rome," he said to -himself, when he had considered the matter in all its details. - -Early next morning he accordingly shook the highly scented dust of -Naples from his feet, and in due course reached the Italian capital. He -had been there many times before, and in consequence he was a great -favourite at the hotel where he usually resided. The owner welcomed him -effusively, somewhat as he would have done a long-lost brother of whom -he stood in some little awe, and trusted that he had come to make a long -stay. - -"I am afraid not," said Burrell. "I have got an important piece of -business on hand just now which must be completed as quickly as -possible. I am trying to hunt up the doings of an Englishman, who I have -reason to believe came here from Naples with a Neapolitan girl, in -February last. Possibly he may have stayed with you. Here is his -photograph. See if you can recognise him!" - -He thereupon produced the photograph of Fensden, and laid it on the -table for the manager's inspection. The latter, however, shook his head. -He could not remember the face among his guests. - -"In that case I must begin my rounds of the hotels again, I suppose," -said Burrell. - -After luncheon he did so. The result, however, was by no means -satisfactory. He made inquiries at every hotel of importance, and at -many that were not, but try as he would he could glean no tidings of the -pair whose doings he was so anxious to trace. - -"It's evident I've gone wrong somewhere," he said to himself. "I don't -think I will waste any more time in this place, but go straight on to -Vienna and look about me there. We know that the box hailed from the -Austrian capital and that the wedding ring was manufactured in the same -country. For my own part I don't believe they came to Rome at all." - -Once more he resumed his journey and at length had the satisfaction of -finding himself in Francis Joseph's famous city. He was very fond of -Vienna, partly because he had made two important captures there, and -possibly more so for the reason that one of the best deals in stamps he -had ever effected was brought to a head in that delightful city. On this -occasion he lost no time, but set to work immediately on his arrival. In -this town, however, the search was not destined to prove a difficult -one. He had not been more than twice unsuccessful when he tried the -Hotel National in the Kaearntner Strasse. The manager himself admitted -that he had a bad memory for faces, but he was quite sure of one thing, -if they had stayed at his hotel, his head waiter would be sure to -recollect them. That functionary was immediately summoned to the -council, and the photograph was placed before him. He had no sooner -looked upon it than he recognised it as being the likeness of the -gentleman who had stayed there with an Italian girl. They had come to -Vienna to be married it was said. - -"To be married?" said Burrell in astonishment. "What do you mean by -that? Weren't they married when they arrived?" - -Before the waiter could answer, light had dawned upon the manager, who -thereupon chimed in. - -"Ah, my friend, I remember now," he said. "That was the gentleman who -was married at the Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse. Now I can -recall the pair perfectly." - -"The Church of Funfhaus in the Gurtel Strasse, you said, I think," said -Burrell, making a note of the name in his pocket-book for future -reference. "Pray how long did the happy couple remain with you?" - -"For upward of a fortnight," the manager replied, consulting a book. -"But they were not happy all the time!" - -"What do you mean by that? Why were they not happy?" - -"For a very simple reason," the manager replied. "I mean that toward the -end of their stay it was becoming plain to most of us that the gentleman -was a little neglectful of his bride. Yet she was a beautiful girl! Ah! -a beautiful girl!" - -"It was the waning of the honeymoon," said Burrell cynically. "Poor -girl, it didn't last long." He paused for a while to pursue his own -thoughts, then he continued aloud, "Have you any idea where they went -after they left here?" - -The manager reflected for a moment. - -"To Munich, I believe. But of that I am not quite certain. We will ask -Adolphe." - -The head waiter was once more consulted, and corroborated his superior. -The couple had left for Munich with the intention of proceeding later to -Paris. He was sure of this for the reason that he had heard the -gentleman talking to the lady on the subject on the morning of their -departure. - -The next day was spent by Burrell in collecting further evidence. He -interviewed the worthy clergyman who had married them, obtained certain -necessary documents from him, discovered the jeweller who had sold them -the wedding ring, and when he had learned all he wanted to know, took -the train and started for Munich. - -In Munich he discovered the hotel at which they had stayed and sundry -other particulars which might, or might not, prove useful later on. -Thence he continued his journey to Paris, where more discoveries awaited -him. At last, and none too soon, he boarded the steamer which was to -carry him to England. Even this short voyage was not devoid of interest, -and by the time he reached London once more, he felt that there was not -very much standing between him and the end. But what remained was in all -probability more important than the beginning. There was a blank to be -filled in, and filled in it must be, somehow or another, before the -trial commenced. - -His first act on reaching home was to write out a true and complete -record of his doings since he had left London. This done he consulted -the memoranda he had received from the representative of Messrs. Kosman, -Constantinopolous & Co., in Paris, and then set off by train to the -little town of Staines. From Staines to the charming little village of -Laleham is a comparatively short and a most charming walk. It was almost -mid-day by the time he reached the village and began to look about him -for Laburnum Cottage. When he discovered it it proved to be a pretty -little thatched building standing in a garden which in summer would be -bright with hollyhocks, nasturtiums and other homely flowers. A card in -the window proclaimed the fact that apartments could be had within, but -at that particular season of the year this announcement would be little -likely to attract attention. Pushing open the gate, Burrell made his way -up the garden path to the neat little porch where he gave a smart -rat-tat with his stick upon the door. The sound had scarcely died away -before it was opened to him by a stout, matronly person, dressed in -black, and wearing a cap and a neat white apron. - -"Mrs. Raikes?" asked Burrell, to make sure she was the person he desired -to see. - -"That is my name, sir," said the woman. "Perhaps you will tell me what I -can do for you." - -"I want you to give me some information," Burrell answered. "I have come -down from London on purpose to see you." - -"From London, sir," she exclaimed, as if that were rather a remarkable -circumstance. "Will you be pleased to step inside?" So saying, she held -the door open for him to enter. He did so to find himself in a neat -little sitting room, unostentatiously yet comfortably furnished. Three -cases of stuffed birds decorated the walls, together with some pictures -on religious subjects, a bookcase, the latter scantily furnished, and -last, but not least, a Chippendale sofa, and two or three chairs that -would not have disgraced a ducal drawing-room. - -"Kindly take a seat, sir," said Mrs. Raikes, dusting one of the -aforementioned chairs with her apron as she spoke. "If it's apartments -you want I am quite sure I can satisfy you. Of course it's a bad season -of the year, but at the end of the month we shall begin to fill up. -There's some splendid boating on the river, as perhaps you know, and at -night, when the houseboats are all lit up, well, it's quite lively." - -Her desire to impress him with the gaieties of the place was almost -pathetic, and Burrell felt that he was acting meanly in permitting her -to go on, without acquainting her with the real object of his visit. - -"I am sorry to say that I am not in search of lodgings," he said. "My -business is of an altogether different nature. In the first place, I -think I ought to tell you that I am a detective." - -"A detective?" she cried in horror. "Lor', I _do_ hope, sir, there's -nothing wrong?" - -"Not so far as you are concerned, you may be sure," he answered. "I have -come down here to make some inquiries regarding a gentleman who was -known to be staying in your house some time back. His name was Fensden." - -The woman shook her head. - -"I haven't had a gentleman in my house of that name," she answered. "In -fact, the only gentleman I have had since the beginning of the year was -a Mr. Onslow. The name of Fensden I don't remember at all." - -Burrell consulted his pocket-book before he went further. - -"And yet the information I received was most complete," he continued. -"Victor Fensden, Esq., %George Onslow, Laburnum Cottage, -Laleham-on-Thames. There couldn't be anything plainer than that, could -there?" - -"It seems all right, sir," said the woman. "There is only one Laburnum -Cottage, and Mr. Onslow was certainly staying with us. He had his wife -with him, a sweet young thing, which was more than could be said of the -gentleman, I can assure you." - -It was plain from this that she and Mr. Onslow had not been on the best -of terms. Burrell took from his pocket the photograph of Fensden, and -handed it to her. He was beginning to have an inkling of the truth. - -"Is that the likeness of Fensden or of Mr. Onslow?" he inquired. - -"Mr. Onslow, sir, to be sure," she replied, "and a very good one of him -it is too. I hope he's not a friend of yours, because I couldn't abear -him. The way he treated his poor foreign wife of his was enough to make -an honest woman's blood boil." - -"So he had a foreign wife, had he?" said Burrell. "That's interesting. -Tell me all you can about him." - -"There's not much to be told, sir, except about his bullying and nagging -that poor young thing. She was a foreigner, as I have just said, but as -nice a young lady as ever stepped in at my door. When they first came -she told me that Mr. Onslow was an artist, and that they wanted to be -quiet and away from London. They didn't mind putting up with the -roughness of things, she said, so long as they could be quiet. Well, -sir, they had this room and the bedroom above, and for the first few -days everything went as smooth and as nice as could be. Then I noticed -that she took to crying, and that he went away day after day and once -for two days. At last he disappeared altogether, leaving her without a -halfpenny in the world. Oh! I'd have liked to have seen the brute and -have given him a bit of my mind. It would have done him good, I'll -promise him that. I shall never forget that poor young thing in her -trouble. She waited and waited for him to come back, but at last when -there was no sign of him, she came to me in my kitchen there to know -what she should do. 'I know you have not had your money, Mrs. Raikes,' -she said in a kind of piteous foreign way, that went to my heart. 'I can -not stay here any longer, and so, if you'll trust me, I'll go away to -London and try to find my husband. Even if I do not, you shall not lose -by us.' I told her I didn't want the money, and that I was as sorry for -her as a woman could be. Poor dear, I could see that her heart was -nearly broken." - -"And what happened then?" - -"Nothing, sir, except that she went away, and she hadn't been gone a -week before the money that was owing to me was sent in a Post Office -Order. From that day to this I've heard nothing of either of them and -that's the truth. Whether she found her husband I can not say, but if -she'd take my advice she'd never try to." - -"You are quite sure that you'd know the man again?" - -"I am certain I should," the woman replied. "I hope, sir, in telling you -all this, I've been doing no harm?" - -"You have been doing a great deal of good," Burrell replied. "Shortly -after she left you, poor Mrs. Onslow, as you call her, was most brutally -murdered, and I have been commissioned by the friends of the man who is -wrongfully accused of the crime to endeavour to discover the real -criminal." - -"Murdered, sir? you surely don't mean that?" - -"I do! A more abominable crime has not been committed this century." - -The good woman was honestly overcome by the news and during the -remainder of the interview scarcely recovered her composure. Before he -left, Burrell cautioned her most strongly against saying anything about -the case to her neighbours, and this injunction she promised faithfully -to observe. - -"By the way," said the detective, before he left, "do you remember -whether this man Onslow received any letters while he was staying with -you?" - -"Only one, sir, so far as I know," the woman replied. - -"You're quite sure of that?" - -"Quite sure, sir, and why I happen to be so certain is that it caused a -bit of unpleasantness between them. I was brushing the stairs just out -there, when the letter arrived. It was Mrs. Onslow that took it in, and -when she saw the post-mark she asked him who it was that he knew at -Richmond. He snatched the letter from her and told her to mind her own -business. That afternoon he went out and never came back. It's my belief -it was some woman at Richmond as enticed him away." - -"Have you any other reason for supposing that except the post-mark on -the envelope?" - -"Well, sir," returned the woman, "to be candid with you, I have, though -perhaps it's a tale I shouldn't tell. I was so sorry for that poor young -thing that I couldn't get her trouble out of my head, and nothing would -serve but that I must watch him. I saw him sitting down at the head of -the table where you are now, sir, about half-an-hour after he had -spoken so cross to his wife, and she, poor dear, was upstairs crying, -and I noticed that he was writing a telegram. Presently he calls to me. -'Mrs. Raikes,' said he, 'want to send a telegram at once, who can take -it for me?' 'There's Mrs. Hawkins's little boy next door, sir,' says I, -'he's taken messages for gentlemen I've had in the house before now, and -always done it very well. I saw him playing in the field at the back of -the house only this minute.' 'Call him in to me, then,' says he, 'and he -shall have sixpence for his trouble.' I called the lad in, and Mr. -Onslow gave him the message, and then off he went with it, but not so -fast but that I was able to run across to the corner of the field at the -back there, and catch him on the road. 'Tommy,' I said, 'let me have a -look at that telegram.' He was a good little boy, and handed it over to -me without a word. It was addressed to 'Montgomery, 13 Bridgeworth Road, -Richmond.' There was no other name to it, and the only other word was -'yes.' It didn't seem to me that there was anything out of the common -about it, and so I thought no more of it, until you spoke of his having -letters just now." - -"I think I'll make a note of the address in case it should be useful," -said Burrell. "And now I'll be off, thanking you again, Mrs. Raikes, for -the information you have given me." - -On leaving the cottage he walked back to Staines, caught a train to -London, and hastened to his house. Later on he made his way to Euston -Station. Another twenty hours elapsed before he was able to acquire the -information he wanted there--but he had the satisfaction of knowing, -when he had obtained it, that there remained now only one link to be -forged, and then the chain of evidence would be complete. That link was -forged at Richmond, and next day he handed in his report to the -astonished Codey. - -"Good heavens, Burrell," said that astute gentleman, "this is as -marvellous as it is horrible. What do you think?" - -"I think, sir, that we shall be able to prove that Mr. Henderson is -innocent." - - * * * * * - -At last, after all the weary waiting, the great day arrived. The -Sessions had commenced at the Old Bailey. For two or three days prior to -this, Godfrey had been busy with his solicitor and his counsel. It was -not, however, until the afternoon before the commencement that he could -elicit from Codey any information as to Burrell's discoveries. -Immediately he was ushered into the room where Codey was awaiting him, -Godfrey saw from the expression upon the other's face, that there was -something to tell. - -"You--have good news for me," he said, as they shook hands. - -"The very best of news," Codey replied. "My dear sir, you may rest -assured that your innocence is completely established. The whole plot -has come to light, and, when we give the word, the authorities will be -able to lay their hands upon the man who committed the deed." - -"But who is the man?" Godfrey hastened to ask, scarcely able to speak -for excitement. His pulse was beating like a sledge hammer inside his -head, until it seemed as if his brain must burst. - -"Don't ask me that now," said Codey. "Put your trust in me until -to-morrow. Then you shall know everything. Believe me, I have my own -very good reasons for asking this favour of you. Rest assured of one -thing; at latest the day after to-morrow you will be at liberty to go -where and do what you please." - -"But why can not it be settled at once? Why must it be the day after -to-morrow? It is cruel to keep me in suspense!" - -"Don't you understand that we can not bring forward our witnesses until -the proper moment arrives?" said the lawyer. "The English law has its -idiosyncrasies, and even in a case of life and death, the formalities -must be observed. There is one thing, however, I can promise you; that -is, that when the truth comes out, it will be admitted that such a -sensation has not been caused in a Court of Justice before." - -And with this assurance, meagre as it was, Godfrey had perforce to be -content. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -When Godfrey woke on the morning of his trial he lay for some moments -thinking over the strangeness of his position. He had been definitely -assured by Codey that nothing could prevent his being proved innocent, -yet how difficult it was to believe this when he was lying on a prison -bed in a prison cell with all the grim appurtenances of a convict's life -before him. The very books upon the shelf, the spy-hole in the door, -even his bed-clothes, reminded him that he was shut off from his fellow -men. At the usual signal he rose and dressed, and, having done so, -tidied his cell in the customary fashion. After this his breakfast was -served to him, and then he was permitted a short period of exercise in -the prison yard. He had not long returned to his cell before he was -informed that it was time for him to set off to the Court. - -Never, if he lives to be a hundred, will Godfrey Henderson forget the -scene that met his eyes when he entered the Court--the judge and the -sheriffs upon the Bench, the jurymen seated in their box, the rows of -counsel, and the line upon line of eager-eyed spectators. When Godfrey -made his appearance in the dock a sudden silence fell upon the Court. -The Clerk of Arraigns rose and read over the charge preferred against -him, namely, of murdering one Teresina Cardi, and this done he was -called upon in the usual manner to plead. Advancing to the front of the -dock Godfrey looked straight before him and said, in a calm, strong -voice: "Not guilty, my lord." The jury were then sworn, and as soon as -this important business had been completed the counsel for the -prosecution rose and told the story of the crime. He described the -engagement of the dead woman by the prisoner, his employment of her for -some considerable time, and then his hasty departure for the Continent. -It would be shown that he had received a letter from her while in Egypt, -and that almost immediately afterward he had returned to Naples. In the -latter city he had invited her to dine with him, and had taken her to -the Opera afterward. He commented upon the fact that the prisoner had -voluntarily admitted to the police authorities that he had endeavoured -to induce her to return to England. At that time, however, it must be -borne in mind that he had not met the lady he now desired to make his -wife. Whether he had seen anything of the deceased, prior to their -meeting in the Strand, it was as yet impossible to say. The fact, -however, remained that his engagement to the lady in the country was -ultimately announced. Despite that fact, only ten days before the -wedding was to take place, he was known to have met the deceased woman -at midnight, and had taken her to her home in Burford Street, leading -out of the Tottenham Court Road. By the medical evidence he would -presently call, he would prove that less than half-an-hour afterward she -was brutally murdered. Before half-past twelve, that is to say, within -an hour of the cabman picking them up in the Strand, he would prove that -the prisoner returned to his Hotel in Piccadilly, very white and -agitated, and had called for brandy. Since his arrest, an exhaustive -search had been made at his residence, with the result that a -blood-stained knife, which had been identified as having been purchased -by the prisoner in Cairo, had been discovered hidden behind a bookcase -in his studio. As for the motive of the crime he would point out that -the deceased woman wore a wedding ring, that she was known to entertain -a great affection for the prisoner, and that the latter was about to be -married to another lady. What was more probable than that he should wish -to have the other woman out of the way before he could do so? That was -certainly only a conjecture, but it was one that carried a large amount -of probability with it. He would now proceed to call his witnesses. - -The first witness called was the proprietor of the lodging-house, who -had identified the body. He was followed by the German cabinet-maker, -who had made the first and most important discovery. The police officer, -who had been called in when the door had been opened, followed next, -succeeded by the doctor who had made the post-mortem examination. The -question of identity and discovery having been settled, what the counsel -next proposed to do was to connect the prisoner with the crime. The -cabman who had picked them up in the Strand and had driven them to -Burford Street, was called, and the policeman who had seen them talking -together on the pavement there. Victor Fensden next deposed as to the -affection the deceased had entertained for the prisoner, and the efforts -he had made to induce the latter to give her up. He described Godfrey's -receipt of the letter from Teresina when on the Nile, and stated that -the prisoner had said nothing to him concerning his intention to visit -the woman in Naples. His next meeting with the prisoner was at the Mahl -Stick Club, where he had noticed a reluctance on his part to refer to -his association with the woman in the past. This was accentuated on the -following Saturday at the prisoner's residence in Midlandshire. He -recognised the knife produced, and recollected the circumstances under -which it had been purchased by the prisoner. This concluded Fensden's -evidence, and he accordingly sat down. Various other unimportant -witnesses followed, and then the case was adjourned for the day. - -Wrapped in suspense, Godfrey was driven back to the jail to turn the -evidence over and over in his mind all night long. Whatever trust he -might place in Burrell and his discoveries, it was quite certain that -another twenty-four hours would elapse before his deliverance could be -expected. Once more he scarcely slept. The various events connected -with the trial thronged his brain with merciless reiteration. With -phonographic distinctness he could recall almost every word that was -said. He could see the judge upon the Bench making his notes with -pitiless exactness, the various counsel in the well of the Court -whispering together, the importance of the jury, and the -self-sufficiency of the Court servants. Yet he had Codey's assurance -that all was to be put right in the end, and with this knowledge he was -perforce compelled to be content. - -At the same hour as on the previous day he was ordered to prepare -himself for his journey to the Court. The evidence already given against -him was so incriminating that the officials of the jail felt sure that -his condemnation was assured. They already looked upon him as a dead -man, and marvelled among themselves that he could carry himself with so -much assurance. - -Once more the Court was crowded. Fashionable London felt that the end of -one of the most interesting cases of late years was drawing near, and it -was anxious not to lose an opportunity of witnessing the _denouement_ of -the tragedy. - -"The Court is ready," said the warder, and once more Godfrey ascended -the stairs that had constituted the link between life and death for so -many hundreds of miserable beings before him. He found the judge, stern -and implacable as before, upon the Bench, the various counsel in their -places, and everyone eagerly awaiting his appearance. He bowed to the -judge and took up his position at the rails. He determined that, -whatever else they might think, they should not imagine that he was -afraid. Then, with the customary ceremonial, the case was commenced. - -The counsel for the prosecution having finished his case, Mr. Rolland, -having addressed the Court, prepared to call his witnesses. They were -few in number. The landlord of Godfrey's old studio in London deposed -that his rent had always been paid to the moment, and that he had heard -the deceased talk of the kindness she had received at the prisoner's -hands. "It was always in the language of a dependent," he said, "and in -no way that of a girl who believed her patron to be in love with her." - -When the prosecution had declined to cross-examine this witness, the -counsel for the defence arranged his gown and assumed an even more -important air. It was evident that something was about to happen. A -moment later Victor Fensden was recalled. - -"I am anxious, Mr. Fensden," said the counsel, "to ask you a question -regarding your return from the Continent. You have already told the jury -that you returned on the morning of the murder. Am I to understand that -that was really so?" - -"I arrived on Thursday, the 15th," said Victor, and a close observer -would have noticed that he shifted uneasily on his feet as he gave the -answer. - -"I should be glad also to have your repeated assurance that, from the -moment you saw the prisoner purchase that knife in Cairo, you did not -behold it again until it was handed you at the Magistrate's Court?" - -"That also is quite true," said Victor, who by this time was more at his -ease. - -"That is all I want to ask you. You may sit down," said the counsel. -"Call Simon Updale." - -In response to the summons, a short, stout man, who was the possessor of -a fiery beard and the reddest hair ever seen on a human being, made his -appearance and took up his position in the box. He deposed that his -name was Simon Updale, and that he was an able seaman on a steamer -plying between Dover and Calais. On a certain day, a month before the -murder, he had been made the subject of a complaint to the captain by -the previous witness, Mr. Fensden. He was quite certain of the date and -of the passenger's identity, for the reason that one of his mates had -broken his arm before reaching Dover and he wanted to accompany him to -the hospital. On account of the complaint, however, he was not permitted -to go. - -George Perran, steward on the same boat, was next called. He -corroborated what the previous witness had said, and recognised the -witness Fensden as being the gentleman who had made the complaint. - -"That," said Mr. Rolland, "proves conclusively that the witness in -question has committed wilful and corrupt perjury, inasmuch as that he -was in England a month before he stated in his evidence." - -Every eye in Court was riveted on Victor Fensden, whose face turned as -pale as the paper upon which I am writing. - -"I shall now call James Tidmarsh," said Mr. Rolland, and in response to -the summons a small boy climbed into the witness-box. - -His name, he stated, was James Tidmarsh, and he called himself an errand -boy, though as a rule he spent his time hanging about the vicinity of -Euston Station. He remembered distinctly on the night of Friday, the -16th, meeting a gentleman about eight o'clock outside the station who -carried a small wooden box in his hand. That gentleman stopped him and -asked him if he would care to earn half a sovereign. Upon his eagerly -answering in the affirmative, the stranger gave him the box in question -with the sum of fifteen shillings. "Take it to the station," he said, -"and hand it in at the parcel-office to be despatched to the address -written on the label. It won't cost more than a couple of shillings or -half-a-crown, and you can keep the change for yourself. I'll wait here -until you return to tell me it's all right." - -The boy then declared that he started off, handed the box in at the -parcel-office and paid the money. In taking the money the clerk had -_sauced_ him and he had retaliated to the best of his ability. The -result was that the policeman on the platform gave him a good shaking -and turned him out of the building. He informed the gentleman that he -had sent the parcel off, and he had not seen him since that moment until -he came into Court and had heard the witness Fensden give his evidence. -He, the witness to whom he alluded, was, without a shadow of doubt, the -gentleman who had handed him the box to send to Detwich Hall. - -The excitement in Court by this time may be better imagined than -described. The colour of Fensden's face was a dirty gray, and he seemed -to gasp for breath. The counsel for the prosecution seemed uneasy, and -even the judge leaned farther forward than usual, as if he were afraid -of losing a word of what was said. - -The clerk in the parcel-office was next called, and stated that he -remembered the incident in question. The box was a foreign one, and as -he had placed it on the floor he had remarked, "Another made in -Germany." - -The policeman who had turned the boy out of the station followed him. He -had seen the boy deposit a small box upon the counter and heard him say -something cheeky to the clerk. He thereupon bundled him out of the -station. - -When this witness had finished his tale Mr. Rolland said: "Call Jacob -Burrell." - -On hearing this a stir ran through the Court. The famous detective was -well known to all the officials within the building, and they, in the -light of this new discovery and the knowledge that this individual had -taken up the prisoner's case, began to regard the matter in a somewhat -different light. There was a slight flicker of a smile upon the austere -countenance of the judge when the counsel asked the detective his name. - -"Jacob Burrell," was the reply. - -"I understand," went on the counsel, "that you were instructed by my -friend, the solicitor for the defence, to make an investigation into -this case. In the course of that investigation did you visit Naples?" - -"I did," the other replied. - -"And what did you discover there?" - -"I found that the witness Fensden, although he has denied the matter on -oath, was in Naples three weeks after the prisoner passed through on his -way to England." - -The counsel here informed the jury that five affidavits to this effect -would be produced and read. Addressing the witness once more he said: - -"Are you aware that the witness Fensden spent the greater part of his -time in Naples in the company of the deceased woman?" - -"I found that to be the case. On February 3rd they left Naples together -for Vienna, stayed together at the Hotel National, in the Kaearntner -Strasse, and were married on the 26th of that month at the Church at -Funfhaus, in the Gurtel Strasse. The wedding-ring, which was still upon -the left hand when it was sent to the prisoner, was purchased at the -shop of Messrs. Radler & Hass, in the Kohlmarkt." - -"The head of that firm is now in Court," said Mr. Rolland, "and will -give his evidence. Call Herr Radler." - -Herr Radler thereupon entered the box which Burrell had vacated, and -stated that he well remembered selling the ring in question to an -Englishman who was accompanied by a beautiful Italian lady. The -gentleman he recognised as the witness Fensden, and from the photograph, -that had been shown to him of the dead woman, he was able to swear that -it was for her the ring was purchased. - -Victor Fensden, at this point, sprang to his feet as if to speak, but -his voice failed him, and he sat down again. - -A sworn copy of the marriage certificate having been produced and read, -and handed up for the inspection of the jury, Jacob Burrell was -recalled. - -"When you had traced the witness and the deceased to Vienna, what did -you do?" - -"I returned to England, _via_ Paris and Calais," he answered. "On -reaching London I followed up certain clews I had received, and found -that the witness and the deceased lived for a short time together in the -country." - -"At what place?" - -"At the village of Laleham on the River Thames." - -Here the counsel for the prosecution rose to protest. - -"Your lordship," he said, "I must respectfully submit that the question -as to whether Mr. Fensden cohabited with the deceased is not relevant to -the case. We are trying the prisoner at the Bar and not Mr. Fensden." - -His opponent took up the challenge. - -"I respectfully submit that I am in the right," said Rolland. "In -eliciting this information I am leading up to the question of motive, -and I am sure my learned friend will admit that that is an all-important -point. - -"I am afraid I must rule against you," said the judge, addressing the -Prosecuting counsel. "Anything that tends to throw a light upon the -proceedings of the deceased so short a time prior to the murder can -scarcely fail to be relevant." - -Once more readjusting his gown, Mr. Rolland invited Burrell to proceed. - -"How long did witness and the deceased occupy the house at Laleham?" - -"For more than a fortnight. Then Fensden left her in a strange place -without a penny in the world." (Here a murmur of indignation ran through -the Court, which, by the judge's orders, was instantly suppressed.) - -"That will do," said Mr. Rolland. "Call Elizabeth Raikes." - -The owner of Laburnum Cottage next entered the box, and, though much -flurried by the novel position in which she found herself, gave evidence -to the effect that the deceased and Fensden had occupied apartments at -her house for the period mentioned by the previous witness. She was -quite sure, from things she had overheard, that they were not happy -together, and she knew that the man treated the woman cruelly. Sometimes -he was away for a couple of days, and one day he disappeared altogether -without paying for anything they had had while in the house, and leaving -his wife totally unprovided for. She had heard the present case talked -about, but had not associated the victim with the Mrs. Onslow who had -occupied rooms at her cottage. - -"I have two more witnesses to call," said Mr. Rolland, when Mrs. Raikes -had stepped down. "Then, my lord, I shall have completed my case. Call -Mrs. Wilhelmina Montgomery." - -A tall, handsome woman, fashionably attired, stepped into the -witness-box and took the oath. In response to the question put her by -the counsel for the defence, she stated that her name was Wilhelmina -Montgomery, and that she was the widow of George Montgomery, late of -Sheffield. "I live at No. 13, Bridgeworth Road, Richmond," she -continued. "I first met the witness, Victor Fensden, at Baden, while -travelling with some friends, in December last. We became very intimate, -and, when he returned to England early in March, he called upon me at -my house. Eventually he asked me to marry him, and after some -hesitation I consented to do so. I have three thousand a year invested -in Consols, and a considerable amount of ready money lying idle at the -bank. This may or may not have been his motive, but I have no knowledge -of that. Mr. Fensden was anxious for an immediate marriage, but to this -I would not consent. I knew that he was in the hands of the Jews, but I -would have paid off his indebtedness after marriage. He stayed at my -house on several occasions, as did others of my friends. One day I went -out to do some shopping, and on my return discovered him in my boudoir. -He held a piece of yellow soap in his hand and a large number of -door-keys were spread out on the table before him. I asked him what he -was doing, and he answered that he was endeavouring to find a key -similar to the one he had lost. My housekeeper had furnished him with -several, and he had at last found one that fitted the imprint in the -soap. On the night of the murder he informed me that it would be -necessary for him to attend an important meeting, and that it was just -possible he would not be back until late. As a matter of fact, it was -considerably after one o'clock, perhaps half-past one, when he -returned. On the Saturday following he left me to go down to -Midlandshire to pay a visit to an old friend, he said, who was about to -be married. Before he went he once more pressed me for an early -marriage, suggesting, knowing that I am fond of travelling, that we -should immediately set off for a long trip round the world." - -The box which had contained the hands was then handed to her, and she -was asked if she recognised it. - -"Yes," she answered immediately. "If you look underneath I think you -will find a large inkstain. (This proved to be the case.) I brought some -things in it from Vienna. How Mr. Fensden obtained possession of it, -however, I do not know." - -The counsel for the prosecution having no questions to ask, the witness -was allowed to stand down. - -"Call Joseph Hodder," said Mr. Rolland, and, to Godfrey's amazement, one -of his own under-gardeners entered the box. Having taken the oath, he -stated, in reply to the counsel's question, that, on the Sunday -following the murder, it was his duty to attend to the stoking of the -fires of the various conservatories at the Hall. He knew that his -master and the ladies had gone to Church, because he had passed them in -the park, and that the strange gentleman had remained at home, because, -when he had passed the drawing-room window on his way to his work, he -saw him sitting before the fire reading. Having attended to the fires in -the vineries and other garden-houses, he returned to the Hall itself to -look after the heat in the new winter garden that Mr. Henderson had -built. From this house in question it is quite possible to see into the -studio, and, to his surprise, he discovered the gentleman visitor was no -longer in the drawing-room, but was kneeling beside the big bookcase -near the fireplace in the studio. It looked as if he were feeling for -something behind it, but what that something was he had no idea. When he -was asked why he had not given information on this matter before, he -replied that he had not attached any importance to it until he had -talked it over with the head gardener on the day following the search by -the police. Then he had gone to Miss Henderson, and had told her. She -had written at once to his master's lawyer, and that was all he knew -about it. - -"The evidence of this man," said Mr. Rolland, "completes my case." - -The words had scarcely left his lips before Victor Fensden was seen to -spring to his feet. Once more he opened his mouth as if to speak, and -once more he failed to utter a word. Then, with a loud cry, he fell -forward in a swoon. Two of the policemen near at hand ran forward to -pick him up. Between them, they carried him out of the Court to an -adjoining room. In the Court itself at that moment, it would have been -possible to have heard a pin drop. Then the judge found his voice. - -"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the jury, "after the astounding -evidence you have just heard, I am thankful to say that, in my opinion, -there is not the least shadow of a reason for continuing the case -against the prisoner at the bar. In this I feel sure you will concur -with me." - -The foreman of the jury entirely agreed with his lordship, and at the -same time desired to express, on behalf of himself and his brother -jurymen, their great regret that a gentleman of Mr. Henderson's position -should, by another man's action, have been placed in such an unhappy -predicament. - -"With that I quite agree," said the counsel for the prosecution. - -This was the signal for general applause in Court, which, somehow, was -not checked by the judge as quickly as is customary in such cases. - -When silence had been restored, the latter addressed Godfrey. - -"Godfrey Henderson," he said, and his voice was very impressive, "by -reason of the false evidence that has been given against you, by a cruel -and vindictive man, you have been brought to the dock of this Court, and -charged with the perpetration of a most cruel and bloodthirsty crime. Of -that crime twelve of your countrymen have declared you to be innocent, -and to their testimony I emphatically add my own. While it is not in my -power to offer you the hope of receiving any return for the anxiety you -have suffered, I can say something that I know you will value much more; -that is, that you leave this Court a free man, and without the shadow of -a stain upon your character." - -"I thank you, my lord," said Godfrey, quietly, and at that moment one of -the ushers of the Court entered and approached the judge. - -"Gentlemen," said the latter, again addressing the Court, "I think it -only right to make it known to you that a Higher Power than that I -represent has intervened, and the wretched man, who has caused all this -misery and suffering, has been suddenly called to appear before a -greater Tribunal. May God have mercy upon his soul!" - -Then the Court was cleared, and Godfrey found himself shaking hands with -Sir Vivian and the men who had worked so hard to prove his innocence. -When he had thanked them from the very bottom of his heart, Sir Vivian -took his arm. - -"Come away now, come away," said the old gentleman. "There are other -people waiting to welcome you." - -Seizing Godfrey by the arm, he hurried him out into the street to a cab -which was waiting there. Ten minutes later he was locked in his mother's -arms. - -"O Godfrey," said Molly, as he embraced her in her turn, "I knew that -God would send you back to me!" - - * * * * * - -A week later Godfrey and Molly were married by special license, and left -England the same day for the South of France. They are now back again at -the Hall, and as happy as two young people could well expect to be. The -clouds that shadowed their lives at one time are now completely -dispersed, but, if Godfrey lives to be a hundred, he will never forget -the agony he suffered in connection with what the newspapers called "The -Mystery of the Clasped Hands." - -THE END - - - - -APPLETONS' TOWN AND COUNTRY LIBRARY. - -PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY. - - - * * * * * - - 1. _The Steel Hammer_. By L. ULBACH. - 2. _Eve_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 3. _For Fifteen Years_. By L. ULBACH. - 4. _A Counsel of Perfection_. By L. MALET. - 5. _The Deemster_. By H. CAINE. - 5-1/2. _The Bondman_. By H. CAINE. - 6. _A Virginia Inheritance_. By E. PENDLETON. - 7. _Ninette_. By the author of Vera. - 8. "_The Right Honourable._" By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 9. _The Silence of Dean Maitland_. By M. GRAY. - 10. _Mrs. Lorimer_. By L. MALET. - 11. _The Elect Lady_. By G. MACDONALD. - 12. _The Mystery of the "Ocean Star."_ By W. C. RUSSELL. - 13. _Aristocracy_. - 14. _A Recoiling Vengeance_. By F. BARRETT. - 15. _The Secret of Fontaine-la-Croix_. By M. FIELD. - 16. _The Master of Rathkelly_. By H. SMART. - 17. _Donovan_. By E. LYALL. - 18. _This Mortal Coil_. By G. ALLEN. - 19. _A Fair Emigrant_. By R. MULHOLLAND. - 20. _The Apostate_. By E. DAUDET. - 21. _Raleigh Westgate_. By H. K. JOHNSON. - 22. _Arius the Libyan_. - 23. _Constance_, and _Calbot's Rival_. By J. HAWTHORNE. - 24. _We Two_. By E. LYALL. - 25. _A Dreamer of Dreams_. By the author of Thoth. - 26. _The Ladies' Gallery_. By J. MCCARTHY and Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 27. _The Reproach of Annesley_. By M. GRAY. - 28. _Near to Happiness_. - 29. _In the Wire Grass_. By L. PENDLETON. - 30. _Lace_. By P. LINDAU. - 30-1/2. _The Black Poodle_. By F. ANSTEY. - 31. _American Coin_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 32. _Won by Waiting_. By E. LYALL. - 33. _The Story of Helen Davenant_. By V. FANE. - 34. _The Light of Her Countenance_. By H. H. BOYESEN. - 35. _Mistress Beatrice Cope_. By M. E. LE CLERC. - 36. _The Knight-Errant_. By E. LYALL. - 37. _In the Golden Days_. By E. LYALL. - 38. _Giraldi_. By R. G. DERING. - 39. _A Hardy Norseman_. By E. LYALL. - 40. _The Romance of Jenny Harlowe_, and _Sketches of Maritime Life_. - By W. C. RUSSELL. - 41. _Passion's Slave_. By R. ASHE-KING. - 42. _The Awakening of Mary Fenwick_. By B. WHITBY. - 43. _Countess Loreley_. By R. MENGER. - 44. _Blind Love_. By W. COLLINS. - 45. _The Dean's Daughter_. By S. F. F. VEITCH. - 46. _Countess Irene_. By J. FOGERTY. - 47. _Robert Browning's Principal Shorter Poems_. - 48. _Frozen Hearts_. By G. W. APPLETON. - 49. _Djambek the Georgian_. By A. G. VON SUTTNER. - 50. _The Craze of Christian Engelhart_. By H. F. DARNELL. - 51. _Lal_. By W. A. HAMMOND, M. D. - 52. _Aline_. By H. GREVILLE. - 53. _Joost Avelingh_. By M. MAARTENS. - 54. _Katy of Catoctin_. By G. A. TOWNSEND. - 55. _Throckmorton_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 56. _Expatriation_. By the author of Aristocracy. - 57. _Geoffrey Hampstead_. By T. S. JARVIS. - 58. _Dmitri_. By F. W. BAIN, M. A. - 59. _Part of the Property_. By B. WHITBY. - 60. _Bismarck in Private Life_. By a Fellow-Student. - 61. _In Low Relief_. By M. ROBERTS. - 62. _The Canadians of Old_. By P. GASPE. - 63. _A Squire of Low Degree_. By L. A. LONG. - 64. _A Fluttered Dovecote_. By G. M. FENN. - 65. _The Nugents of Carriconna_. By T. HOPKINS. - 66. _A Sensitive Plant_. By E. and D. GERARD. - 67. _Dona Luz_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 68. _Pepita Ximenez_. By J. Valera. Translated by Mrs. M. J. SERRANO. - 69. _The Primes and their Neighbors_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 70. _The Iron Game_. By H. F. KEENAN. - 71. _Stories of Old New Spain_. By T. A. JANVIER. - 72. _The Maid of Honor_. By Hon. L. WINGFIELD. - 73. _In the Heart of the Storm_. By M. GRAY. - 74. _Consequences_. By E. CASTLE. - 75. _The Three Miss Kings_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 76. _A Matter of Skill_. By B. WHITBY. - 77. _Maid Marian, and Other Stories_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 78. _One Woman's Way_. By E. PENDLETON. - 79. _A Merciful Divorce_. By F. W. MAUDE. - 80. _Stephen Ellicott's Daughter_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 81. _One Reason Why_. By B. WHITBY. - 82. _The Tragedy of Ida Noble_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 83. _The Johnstown Stage, and Other Stories_. By R. H. FLETCHER. - 84. _A Widower Indeed_. By R. BROUGHTON and E. BISLAND. - 85. _The Flight of a Shadow_. By G. MACDONALD. - 86. _Love or Money_. By K. LEE. - 87. _Not All in Vain_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 88. _It Happened Yesterday_. By F. MARSHALL. - 89. _My Guardian_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 90. _The Story of Philip Methuen_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 91. _Amethyst_. By C. R. COLERIDGE. - 92. _Don Braulio_. By J. VALERA. Translated by C. BELL. - 93. _The Chronicles of Mr. Bill Williams_. By R. M. JOHNSTON. - 94. _A Queen of Curds and Cream_. By D. GERARD. - 95. "_La Bella" and Others_. By E. CASTLE. - 96. "_December Roses_." By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 97. _Jean de Kerdren_. By J. SCHULTZ. - 98. _Etelka's Vow_. By D. GERARD. - 99. _Cross Currents_. By M. A. DICKENS. - 100. _His life's Magnet_. By T. ELMSLIE. - 101. _Passing the Love of Women_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 102. _In Old St. Stephen's_. By J. DRAKE. - 103. _The Berkeleys and their Neighbors_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 104. _Mono Maclean, Medical Student_. By G. TRAVERS. - 105. _Mrs. Bligh_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 106. _A Stumble on the Threshold_. By J. PAYN. - 107. _Hanging Moss_. By P. LINDAU. - 108. _A Comedy of Elopement_. By C. REID. - 109. _In the Suntime of her Youth_. By B. WHITBY. - 110. _Stories in Black and White_. By T. HARDY and Others. - 110-1/2. _An Englishman in Paris_. - 111. _Commander Mendoza_. By J. VALERA. - 112. _Dr. Paull's Theory_. By Mrs. A. M. DIEHL. - 113. _Children of Destiny_. By M. E. SEAWELL. - 114. _A Little Minx_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 115. _Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon_. By H. CAINE. - 116. _The Voice of a Flower_. By E. GERARD. - 117. _Singularly Deluded_. By S. GRAND. - 118. _Suspected_. By L. STRATENUS. - 119. _Lucia, Hugh, and Another_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 120. _The Tutor's Secret_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 121. _From the Five Rivers_. By Mrs. F. A. STEEL. - 122. _An Innocent Impostor, and Other Stories_. By M. GRAY. - 123. _Ideala_. By S. GRAND. - 124. _A Comedy of Masks_. By E. DOWSON and A. MOORE. - 125. _Relics_. By F. MACNAB. - 126. _Dodo: A Detail of the Day_. By E. F. BENSON. - 127. _A Woman of Forty_. By E. STUART. - 128. _Diana Tempest_. By M. CHOLMONDELEY. - 129. _The Recipe for Diamonds_. By C. J. C. HYNE. - 130. _Christina Chard_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 131. _A Gray Eye or So_. By F. F. MOORE. - 132. _Earlscourt_. By A. ALLARDYCE. - 133. _A Marriage Ceremony_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 134. _A Ward in Chancery_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 135. _Lot 13_. By D. GERARD. - 136. _Our Manifold Nature_. By S. GRAND. - 137. _A Costly Freak_. By M. GRAY. - 138. _A Beginner_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 139. _A Yellow Aster_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN ("IOTA"). - 140. _The Rubicon_. By E. F. BENSON. - 141. _The Trespasser_. By G. PARKER. - 142. _The Rich Miss Riddell_. By D. GERARD. - 143. _Mary Fenwick's Daughter_. By B. WHITBY. - 144. _Red Diamonds_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 145. _A Daughter of Music_. By G. COLMORE. - 146. _Outlaw and Lawmaker_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 147. _Dr. Janet of Harley Street_. By A. KENEALY. - 148. _George Mandeville's Husband_. By C. E. RAIMOND. - 149. _Vashti and Esther_. - 150. _Timar's Two Worlds_. By M. JOKAI. - 151. _A Victim of Good Luck_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 152. _The Trail of the Sword_. By G. PARKER. - 153. _A Mild Barbarian_. By E. FAWCETT. - 154. _The God in the Car_. By A. HOPE. - 155. _Children of Circumstance_. By Mrs. M. CAFFYN. - 156. _At the Gate of Samaria_. By W. J. LOCKE. - 157. _The Justification of Andrew Lebrun_. By F. BARRETT. - 158. _Dust and Laurels_. By M. L. PENDERED. - 159. _The Good Ship Mohock_. By W. C. RUSSELL. - 160. _Noemi_. By S. BARING-GOULD. - 161. _The Honour of Savelli_. By S. L. YEATS. - 162. _Kitty's Engagement_. By F. WARDEN. - 163. _The Mermaid_. By L. DOUGALL. - 164. _An Arranged Marriage_. By D. GERARD. - 165. _Eve's Ransom_. By G. GISSING. - 166. _The Marriage of Esther_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 167. _Fidelis_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 168. _Into the Highways and Hedges_. By F. F. MONTRESOR. - 169. _The Vengeance of James Vansittart_. By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. - 170. _A Study in Prejudices_. By G. PASTON. - 171. _The Mistress of Quest_. By A. SERGEANT. - 172. _In the Year of Jubilee_. By G. GISSING. - 173. _In Old New England_. By H. BUTTERWORTH. - 174. _Mrs. Musgrave--and Her Husband_. By R. MARSH. - 175. _Not Counting the Cost_. By TASMA. - 176. _Out of Due Season_. By A. SERGEANT. - 177. _Scylla or Charybdis?_ By R. BROUGHTON. - 178. _In Defiance of the King_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 179. _A Bid for Fortune_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 180. _The King of Andaman_. By J. M. COBBAN. - 181. _Mrs. Tregaskiss_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 182. _The Desire of the Moth_. By C. VANE. - 183. _A Self-Denying Ordinance_. By M. HAMILTON. - 184. _Successors to the Title_. By Mrs. L. B. WALFORD. - 185. _The Lost Stradivarius_. By J. M. FALKNER. - 186. _The Wrong Man_. By D. GERARD. - 187. _In the Day of Adversity_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 188. _Mistress Dorothy Marvin_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 189. _A Flash of Summer_. By Mrs. W. K. CLIFFORD. - 190. _The Dancer in Yellow_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 191. _The Chronicles of Martin Hewitt_. By A. MORRISON. - 192. _A Winning Hazard_. By Mrs. ALEXANDER. - 193. _The Picture of Las Cruces_. By C. REID. - 194. _The Madonna of a Day_. By L. DOUGALL. - 195. _The Riddle Ring_. By J. MCCARTHY. - 196. _A Humble Enterprise_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 197. _Dr. Nikola_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 198. _An Outcast of the Islands_. By J. CONRAD. - 199. _The King's Revenge_. By C. BRAY. - 200. _Denounced_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 201. _A Court Intrigue_. By B. THOMPSON. - 202. _The Idol-Maker_. By A. SERGEANT. - 203. _The Intriguers_. By J. D. BARRY. - 204. _Master Ardick, Buccaneer_. By F. H. COSTELLO. - 205. _With Fortune Made_. By V. CHERBULIEZ. - 206. _Fellow Travellers_. By G. TRAVERS. - 207. _McLeod of the Camerons_. By M. HAMILTON. - 208. _The Career of Candida_. By G. PASTON. - 209. _Arrested_. By E. STUART. - 210. _Tatterley_. By T. GALLON. - 211. _A Pinchbeck Goddess_. By Mrs. J. M. FLEMING (A. M. Kipling). - 212. _Perfection City_. By Mrs. ORPEN. - 213. _A Spotless Reputation_. By D. GERARD. - 214. _A Galahad of the Creeks_. By S. L. YEATS. - 215. _The Beautiful White Devil_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 216. _The Sun of Saratoga_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 217. _Fierceheart, the Soldier_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 218. _Marietta's Marriage_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 219. _Dear Faustina_. By R. BROUGHTON. - 220. _Nulma_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 221. _The Folly of Pen Harrington_. By J. STURGIS. - 222. _A Colonial Free-Lance_. By C. C. HOTCHKISS. - 223. _His Majesty's Greatest Subject_. By S. S. THORBURN. - 224. _Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer_. By A. RAINE. - 225. _A Soldier of Manhattan_. By J. A. ALTSHELER. - 226. _Fortune's Footballs_. By G. B. BURGIN. - 227. _The Clash of Arms_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 228. _God's Foundling_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 229. _Miss Providence_. By D. GERARD. - 230. _The Freedom of Henry Meredyth_. By M. HAMILTON. - 231. _Sweethearts and Friends_. By M. GRAY. - 232. _Sunset_. By B. WHITBY. - 233. _A Fiery Ordeal_. By TASMA. - 234. _A Prince of Mischance_. By T. GALLON. - 235. _A Passionate Pilgrim_. By P. WHITE. - 236. _This Little World_. By D. C. MURRAY. - 237. _A Forgotten Sin_. By D. GERARD. - 238. _The Incidental Bishop_. By G. ALLEN. - 239. _The Lake of Wine_. By B. CAPES. - 240. _A Trooper of the Empress_. By C. ROSS. - 241. _Torn Sails_. By A. RAINE. - 242. _Materfamilias_. By A. CAMBRIDGE. - 243. _John of Strathbourne_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 244. _The Millionaires_. By F. F. MOORE. - 245. _The Looms of Time_. By Mrs. H. FRASER. - 246. _The Queen's Cup_. By G. A. HENTY. - 247. _Dicky Monteith_. By T. GALLON. - 248. _The Lust of Hate_. By G. BOOTHBY. - 249. _The Gospel Writ in Steel_. By ARTHUR PATERSON. - 250. _The Widower_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 251. _The Scourge of God_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 252. _Concerning Isabel Carnaby_. By ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER. - 253. _The Impediment_. By D. GERARD. - 254. _Belinda--and Some Others_. By ETHEL MAUDE. - 255. _The Key of the Holy House_. By ALBERT LEE. - 256. _A Writer of Books_. By G. PASTON. - 257. _The Knight of the Golden Chain_. By R. D. CHETWODE. - 258. _Ricroft of Withens_. By HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE. - 259. _The Procession of Life_. By HORACE A. VACHELL. - 260. _By Berwen Banks_. By A. RAINE. - 261. _Pharos, the Egyptian_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 262. _Paul Carah, Cornishman_. By CHARLES LEE. - 263. _Pursued by the Law_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - 264. _Madame Izan_. By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. - 265. _Fortune's my Foe_. By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 266. _A Cosmopolitan Comedy_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 267. _The Kingdom of Hate_. By T. GALLON. - 268. _The Game and the Candle_. By RHODA BROUGHTON. - 269. _Dr. Nikola's Experiment_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 270. _The Strange Story of Hester Wynne_. By G. COLMORE. - 271. _Lady Barbarity_. By J. C. SNAITH. - 272. _A Bitter Heritage_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 273. _The Heiress of the Season_. By Sir WILLIAM MAGNAY, Bart. - 274. _A Voyage at Anchor_. By W. CLARK RUSSELL. - 275. _The Idol of the Blind_. By T. GALLON. - 276. _A Corner of the West_. By EDITH HENRIETTA FOWLER. - 277. _The Story of Ronald Kestrel_. By A. J. DAWSON. - 278. _The World's Mercy_. By M. GRAY. - 279. _The Gentleman Pensioner_. By ALBERT LEE. - 280. _A Maker of Nations_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 281. _Mirry-Ann_. By NORMA LORIMER. - 282. _The Immortal Garland_. By ANNA ROBESON BROWN. - 283. _Garthowen_. By ALLEN RAINE. - 284. _The Lunatic at Large_. By J. STORER CLOUSTON. - 285. _The Seafarers_. By JOHN BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. - 286. _The Minister's Guest_. By ISABEL SMITH. - 287. _The Last Sentence_. By M. GRAY. - 288. _Brown of Lost River_. By MARY E. STICKNEY. - 289. _The Jay-Hawkers_. By ADELA E. ORPEN. - 290. _The Flower of the Flock_. By W. E. NORRIS. - 291. _A Private Chivalry_. By FRANCIS LYNDE. - 292. _King Stork of the Netherlands_. By ALBERT LEE. - 293. _Path and Goal_. By ADA CAMBRIDGE. - 294. _My Indian Queen_. By GUY BOOTHBY. - 295. _A Hero in Homespun_. By WM. E. BARTON. - 296. _A Royal Exchange_. By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. - - * * * * * - -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. - - - - - * * * * * - -FOR NATURE LOVERS AND ANGLERS. - - * * * * * - - -Familiar Fish: Their Habits and Capture. - -A Practical Book on Fresh-Water Game Fish. By EUGENE MCCARTHY. With an -Introduction by Dr. David Starr Jordan, President of Leland Stanford -Junior University, and numerous Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - This informing and practical book describes in a most interesting - fashion the habits and environment of our familiar freshwater game - fish, including anadromous fish like the salmon and sea trout. The - life of a fish is traced in a manner very interesting to Nature - lovers, while the simple and useful explanations of the methods of - angling for different fish will be appreciated by fishermen old and - young. As one of the most experienced of American fishermen, Mr. - McCarthy is able to speak with authority regarding salmon, trout, - ouananiche, bass, pike, and pickerel, and other fish which are the - object of the angler's pursuit. His clear and practical counsel as - to fly-casting, and rods and tackle and their use, and his advice - as to outfits and the various details of camp life, render his book - a most useful companion for all sportsmen and campers. Dr. David - Starr Jordan has read the manuscript, and has lent the weight of - his approval by writing an introduction. The book is profusely - illustrated with pictures and serviceable diagrams. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. - - * * * * * - - -By F. SCHUYLER MATHEWS. - -Familiar Flowers of Field and Garden. - - Illustrated by the Author. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $1.75; - Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $2.25. - -Familiar Trees and their Leaves. - - Illustrated from Nature by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Features of the Roadside. - - With Illustrations by the Author. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - -Familiar Life in Field and Forest. - - With many Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.75. - - * * * * * - -The Art of Taxidermy. - - By JOHN ROWLEY. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. - -Insect Life. - - By JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK. 12mo. Library Edition, cloth, $2.50; - Teachers' and Students' Edition, $1.50. - -The Insect World. - - By CLARENCE M. WEED. 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents. - -Bird-Life. - - A Study of our Common Birds. By FRANK M. CHAPMAN, Assistant Curator - of Mammalogy and Ornithology in the American Museum of Natural - History. Illustrated by Ernest Seton Thompson. 12mo, cloth, $1.75. - With 75 full-page Plates in Colors, 8vo, cloth, $5.00. - -Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. - - By FRANK M. CHAPMAN. With nearly 200 Illustrations. 12mo. Library - Edition, cloth, $3.00; Pocket Edition, flexible morocco, $3.50. - - - - - * * * * * - -RECENT FICTION. - - * * * * * - - -The Brass Bottle. - -A Romance. By F. ANSTEY, author of "Vice Versa," etc., With -Frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Not only is the plot of the book novel, like all of Anstey's work, - but he has developed it with rare skill. The rollicking hilarity - and absurdity of the conception are carried off with a gravity and - seriousness that is the very essence of droll fun. The man who - loves to laugh will find 'The Brass Bottle' a fountain of - mirth."--_Brooklyn Eagle_. - -The Eagle's Heart. - -A Story of the West. By HAMLIN GARLAND, author of "A Spoil of Office," -"A Member of the Third House," "Wayside Courtships," etc. 12mo. Cloth, -$1.50. - - "'The Eagle's Heart' is Mr. Garland's best work, considered as a - story of sustained interest, strong characters, and exciting - incidents."--_Cleveland Plain Dealer_. - - "Hamlin Garland may be seen at his best in 'The Eagle's Heart.'... - He has graphically depicted the wild life on the Western plains; - he has added a symmetrical and intensely interesting character - study of the typical plainsman, and through the whole there runs a - dainty love motive. These elements are combined with artistic - skill."--_Chicago Tribune_. - - "Mr. Garland gives us as true a historical novel as any of the - colonial period or the days of the War for Independence. He - presents the dignity of the life and its service to the nation. - 'The Eagle's Heart' is a splendid achievement."--_New York Mail - and Express_. - -The Footsteps of a Throne. - -A Romance. By MAX PEMBERTON. Uniform with "Kronstadt" and "The Phantom -Army." Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "The reader's attention is held breathlessly until the last page - has been turned."--_Boston Journal_. - - "The book trade has all at once had a great revival. Quite ten - thousand copies of Mr. Max Pemberton's new story, 'Footsteps of a - Throne,' have already been issued in this country alone. Of - course, this is generally regarded as by far the best story, as - well as one of the most dramatic, the author has yet - written."--_From a special London cable to the New York Herald_. - - - - - * * * * * - -ADA CAMBRIDGE'S NOVELS. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Path and Goal. - -This latest book shows the constant human interest which characterizes -the work of this sympathetic and charming writer. There is an -entertaining plot, and the backgrounds of the varying scenes of action -are sketched most vividly. - -Materfamilias. - -"The story is fragrant with the breath of farms, the aroma of the salt -sea, and the even sweeter essence that exhales from the homely virtues, -practiced amid simple surroundings, where family ties are strong, and -where love, loyal and true, reigns as queen."--_Philadelphia Item_. - -A Humble Enterprise. - -"A restful, sympathetic, domestic story, full of tender pathos, -excellent character drawing, and genuine, lovable human nature--a story -to be read, not once, but again and again."--_London Daily Mail_. - -Fidelis. - -"The original flavor of Ada Cambridge is not lost but enriched by being -ingrafted on a sturdy stock. Her pictures of Australia and of rural -England are as attractive as ever, her story better than ever."--_New -York Evening Post_. - -My Guardian. - -"A story which will, from first to last, enlist the sympathies of the -reader by its simplicity of style and fresh, genuine feeling.... The -author is _au fait_ at the delineation of character."--_Boston -Transcript_. - -The Three Miss Kings. - -"An exceedingly strong novel. It is an Australian story, teeming with a -certain calmness of emotional power that finds expression in a continual -outflow of living thought and feeling."--_Boston Times_. - -Not All in Vain. - -"A worthy companion to the best of the author's former efforts, and in -some respects superior to any of them."--_Detroit Free Press_. - -A Marriage Ceremony. - -"Highly original in conception, its action graceful though rapid, and -its characters sparkling with that life and sprightliness that have made -their author rank as a peer of delineators."--_Baltimore American_. - -A Little Minx. - -"A thoroughly charming novel, which is just the finest bit of work its -author has yet accomplished."--_Baltimore American_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY ALLEN RAINE. - -Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - * * * * * - - -Garthowen: A Welsh Idyl. - -"Wales has long waited for her novelist, but he seems to have come at -last in the person of Mr. Allen Raine, who has at once proved himself a -worthy interpreter and exponent of the romantic spirit of his -country."--_London Daily Mail_. - -By Berwen Banks. - -"Mr. Raine enters into the lives and traditions of the people, and -herein lies the charm of his stories."--_Chicago Tribune_. - -"Interesting from the beginning, and grows more so as it -proceeds."--_San Francisco Bulletin_. - -"It has the same grace of style, strength of description, and dainty -sweetness of its predecessors."--_Boston Saturday Evening Gazette_. - -Torn Sails. - -"It is a little idyl of humble life and enduring love, laid bare before -us, very real and pure, which in its telling shows us some strong points -of Welsh character--the pride, the hasty temper, the quick dying out of -wrath.... We call this a well-written story, interesting alike through -its romance and its glimpses into another life than ours."--_Detroit -Free Press_. - -"Allen Raine's work is in the right direction and worthy of all -honor."--_Boston Budget_. - -Mifanwy: A Welsh Singer. - -"Simple in all its situations, the story is worked up in that touching -and quaint strain which never grows wearisome no matter how often the -lights and shadows of love are introduced. It rings true, and does not -tax the imagination."--_Boston Herald_. - -"One of the most charming tales that has come to us of late."--_Brooklyn -Eagle_. - - - - - * * * * * - -BOOKS BY J. A. ALTSHELER. - - * * * * * - - -In Circling Camps. - -A Romance of the American Civil War. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Mr. Altsheler has an enviable reputation. His method is that of - Fenimore Cooper.... In 'In Circling Camps' he tells a good, strong, - human story for its own sake, and not for the sake of showing off - his talent as a literary story-teller. He gives us some great - battle pieces, notably Shiloh and Gettysburg. His admiration of the - nobler qualities of 'old friends turned foes' is so hearty and so - sincerely dramatic that we love and pity the terrible valor of - both."--_Richard Henry Stoddard, in the New York Mail and Express_. - - "The author seeks to interpret some of the situations of the civil - war, and read to us out of the well-known records the story of - personal bravery, the drama of personal history, and the old story - of love which went on behind the grim scenes of - war."--_Philadelphia Call_. - -A Herald of the West. - -An American Story of 1811-1815. 12mo. Cloth, $ 1.50. - - "A portion of our history that has not before been successfully - embodied in fiction.... Extremely well written, condensed, vivid, - picturesque, and there is continual action.... A rattling good - story, and unrivaled in fiction for its presentation of the - American feeling toward England during our second - conflict."--_Boston Herald_. - -A Soldier of Manhattan. - -And his Adventures at Ticonderoga and Quebec. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, -50 cents. - - "The story is told in such a simple, direct way that it holds the - reader's interest to the end, and gives a most accurate picture of - the times."--_Boston Transcript_. - - "Graphic and intensely interesting.... The book may be warmly - commended as a good specimen of the fiction that makes history - real and living."--_San Francisco Chronicle_. - -The Sun of Saratoga. - -A Romance of Burgoyne's Surrender. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. - - "Taken altogether, 'The Sun of Saratoga' is the best historical - novel of American origin that has been written for years, if not, - indeed, in a fresh, simple, unpretending, unlabored, manly way, - that we have ever read."--_New York Mail and Express_. - - "A sprightly and spirited romance gracefully written in a crisp, - fresh style that is simply delightful to read."--_Philadelphia - Press_. - - - - - * * * * * - -"AN EPIC OF THE WEST." - - * * * * * - - -The Girl at the Halfway House. - -A Romance of the Plains. By E. HOUGH, author of "The Story of the -Cowboy." 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - The author of "The Girl at the Halfway House," Mr. E. Hough, gained - general recognition by his remarkable book, "The Story of the - Cowboy," published by D. Appleton and Company in this country, and - also published in England. - - "The Girl at the Halfway House" has been called an American epic - by critics who have read the manuscript. The author illustrates - the strange life of the great westward movement which became so - marked in this country after the civil war. A dramatic picture of - a battlefield, which has been compared to scenes in "The Red Badge - of Courage," opens the story. After this "Day of War," in which - the hero and heroine first meet, there comes "The Day of the - Buffalo." The reader follows the course of the hero and his - friend, a picturesque old army veteran, to the frontier, then - found on the Western plains. The author, than whom no one can - speak with fuller knowledge, pictures the cowboy on his native - range, the wild life of the buffalo hunters, the coming of the - white-topped emigrant wagons, and the strange days of the early - land booms. Into this new world comes the heroine, whose family - finally settles near at hand, illustrating the curious phases of - the formation of a prairie home. The third part of the story, - called "The Day of the Cattle," sketches the wild days when the - range cattle covered the plains and the cowboys owned the towns. - The fourth part of the story is called "The Day of the Plow," and - in this we find that the buffalo has passed from the adopted - country of hero and heroine, and the era of towns and land booms - has begun. - - Nothing has been written on the opening of the West to excel this - romance in epic quality, and its historic interest, as well as its - freshness, vividness, and absorbing interest, should appeal to - every American reader. - - - - - * * * * * - -A NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE. - - * * * * * - - -Betsy Ross. - -_A Romance of the Flag_. By CHAUNCEY C. HOTCHKISS, author of "In -Defiance of the King," etc. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. - - "Betsy Ross" is a historical romance based upon the story of the - maker of the first official American flag. Mrs. Ross was a charming - young widow of but little more than twenty-three when she was - commissioned to make the flag from a design submitted to her by - Washington. Her husband had been killed by an accident at the - Philadelphia arsenal within a few months after his marriage. - - The romance which the author has woven around the origin of our - flag will quicken the pulse of every reader by the wealth of - striking characters and dramatic incidents, and the absorbing - interest of the plot. History has furnished a motive which has - been curiously neglected in fiction, and the picturesque figures - of the time, sea-rangers and Quakers, redcoats and Continental - soldiers, and even Washington himself, have to do with the - development of a strange and thrilling story wherein Betsy Ross - takes the leading part. The ancient tavern, the home of the - Philadelphia merchant, the flag-maker's little shop, and the - quaint and charming life of the time, are shown as the background - of a series of swift incidents which hold the reader's attention. - "Betsy Ross" is a book to be read, and the reader will recommend - it. - - The Betsy Ross of history was a singularly bright and winsome - woman, and intensely patriotic. Mr. Hotchkiss's story has been - confined to the romantic days of her early womanhood. The house in - which the flag was completed, and in and about which most of the - action of the novel takes place, still stands on Arch Street, - Philadelphia, and the attempt to preserve it as one of the shrines - connected with American history is meeting with deserved success. - Mrs. Ross (afterward Mrs. Claypoole) died at the great age of - ninety-three, and her remains lie in Mount Moriah Cemetery. - - * * * * * - -D. 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