Justices turned to other business, which occupied them for a full two
hours.

But, I pray you, mark the sequel.

Mr. Smithers, in his relief and delight at the Magistrates' approbation,
hurried home, fished out a copy of No. 3, exposed it proudly in his shop
window, and went off to the Packhorse Inn for a drink.

Less than an hour later, Mrs. Trewbody, having packed her family into
the jingle for their afternoon's ride with Miss Platt, the governess,
strolled down into the town to do some light shopping; and, happening to
pass the photographer's window, came to a standstill with a little gasp.

A moment later she entered the shop; and Mrs. Smithers, answering the
shop bell, found that she had taken the photograph from the window and
was examining it eagerly.

"This is quite a surprise, Mrs. Smithers. A capital photograph! May I
ask how many copies my husband ordered?"

"I'm not aware, ma'am, that the Admiral has ordered any as yet; though I
heard Smithers say only this morning as he hoped he'd be pleased with
it."

"I think I can answer for that, although he _is_ particular. But I
happen to know he disapproves of these things being exposed in the
window. I'll take this copy home with me, if I may. Has your husband
printed any more?"

"Well no, ma'am. There was one other copy; but Lady Felix-Williams
happened to be passing just now, and spied it, and nothing would do but
she must take it away with her."

"Lady Felix-Williams?" Mrs. Trewbody stiffened with sudden distrust.
"Now, what would Lady Felix-Williams want with this?"

"I'm sure I can't tell you, ma'am: but she was delighted. 'A capital
likeness,' she said; 'I've never seen a photograph before that caught
just that expression of his.'"

"I should very much like to know what _she_ has to do with his
expression," Mrs. Trewbody murmured to herself, between wonder and
incipient alarm. But she concealed her feelings, good lady; and, having
paid for her purchase, carried it home in her muff and stuck it upright
against one of the Sevres candlesticks on her boudoir mantel-shelf.

And there the Admiral discovered it three-quarters of an hour later.
He came home wanting his tea; and, finding the boudoir empty, advanced
to ring the bell. At that moment his eyes fell on Smithers' replica of
the very photograph he had passed for furtherance to the Home Secretary.
He picked it up and gave vent to a long whistle.

"Now, how the dickens--"

His wife