res should be given
with absolute accuracy."

"Of course, that would be much better," cried the man; "but, you see, I
have gone thoroughly into the question with Mr. Alder already. He said
he would mention what I told him to the editor--put my position before
him, in fact."

"Oh, he has done so," said Miss Baxter, "and did it very effectively
indeed; in fact, your reasons are quite unanswerable. You fear, of
course, that you will lose your situation, and that is very important,
and no one in the _Bugle_ office wishes you to suffer for what you have
done. Of course, it is all in the public interest."

"Of course, of course," murmured Hazel, looking down on the table.

"Well, have you all the documents ready, so that they can be published
at any time?"

"Quite ready," answered the man.

"Very well," said the girl, with decision; "here are your fifty pounds.
Just count the money, and see that it is correct. I took the envelope as
it was handed to me, and have not examined the amount myself."

She poured the sovereigns out on the table, and Hazel, with trembling
fingers, counted them out two by two.

"That is quite right," he said, rising. He went to a drawer, unlocked
it, and took out a long blue envelope.

"There," he said, with a sigh that was almost a gasp. "There are the
figures, and a full explanation of them. You will be very careful that
my name does not slip out in any way."

"Certainly," said Miss Jennie, coolly drawing forth the papers from
their covering. "No one knows your name except Mr. Alder, Mr. Hardwick,
and myself; and I can assure you that I shall not mention it to anyone."

She glanced rapidly over the documents.

"I shall just read what you have written," she said, looking up at him;
"and if there is anything here I do not understand you will, perhaps,
be good enough to explain it now,--and then I won't need to come here
again."

"Very well," said Hazel. The man had no suspicion that his visitor was
not a member of the staff of the paper he had been negotiating with. She
was so thoroughly self-possessed, and showed herself so familiar with
all details which had been discussed by Alder and himself that not the
slightest doubt had entered the clerk's mind.

Jennie read the documents with great haste, for she knew she was running
a risk in remaining there after seven o'clock. It might be that Alder
would come to Brixton to let the man know the result of his talk with
the editor, or Mr. H