re, sar," said the colored lady, partly opening the
door.

"Not here!" returned the visitor, pushing into the office in spite of
the negress, who was disposed to prevent his entrance. "Isn't Max in
town?"

"No sar; he went away to de Norf about a monf ago."

"Look here, you black imp," said the stranger, in a severe tone, "do you
mean to say that Max is _not_ in town?"

"I do, for sartin, sar."

"And he has left you to practise law for him in his absence?" returned
the visitor, with a grin.

"No sar, I takes care ob de buildin."

"Fudge! Maxwell always shuts up his room when he leaves town;" and the
stranger walked round the room towards the private apartment, much to
the consternation of Dido.

"No, Massa, he tell me, monf ago, to keep de room in order."

"No doubt he did," returned the stranger, placing his hand on the handle
of the door, and attempting to open it, which, by Dido's precaution, was
ineffectual.

"Is there no one in this room?" asked the gentleman.

"No sar, de room is locked, and Massa Maxwell hab carry off de key."

The stranger walked several times round the room, and thoroughly
scrutinized everything; after which, to the entire satisfaction of the
colored lady, he took his departure. Passing out of the building, he
crossed the street and entered a coffee-room, at the front window of
which he seated himself, as if with the intention of watching Maxwell's
office.

This person was the reader's old acquaintance, Vernon,--or, more
properly, Jerome Vaudelier, whose intervening history we are now called
upon to relate. It will be remembered that, at the request of his
father, and at the earnest desire of Henry Carroll, as well as by the
promptings of his own wish to do justice to the heiress, he had gone to
Vicksburg, for the purpose of keeping an eye on the movements of
Maxwell. On his arrival at the hotel, he found the attorney, and dined
With him; but after dinner he suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
All Vernon's inquiries were of no avail. The landlord said he had paid
his bill, and that was the last he had seen of him. Vernon was
perplexed, and on learning that no boat had left since dinner, he was at
a loss which way to proceed. Late in the afternoon he obtained, as he
thought, some clue to him; and he departed, without loss of time, to
Jackson, whither the attorney was supposed to have gone. His search,
however, was futile, and he returned to Vicksburg by the morning train.
Mu