nge!" observed Oaklands musing. "I don't make it out. I would
not willingly wrong, even in thought, an innocent man. Archer," he
continued, "you have a shrewd keen wit and sound judgment; tell me in
confidence, man, who do you think has done this?"

"Nay, I am no diviner to guess other men's secrets," replied Archer;
"and these are subjects about which it is not over safe to hazard
conjectures. I have told you all I can learn about it, and it is for you
to draw your own conclusions, It is no use repeating things to you of
~184~~which you are already aware; I might as well tell you dogs bark
and cats mew--that Wilford has black hair, and Wentworth is a stout man
with a high colour--or any other well-known truism. But I am detaining
you--good-morning." So saying, he shook hands with us and left us.

After walking some distance in silence Oaklands exclaimed abruptly: "It
must be so! it is Wilford who has done this thing--you think as I do, do
you not, Frank?"

"I am sure we have not evidence enough to prove it," replied I; "but I
confess I am inclined, as a mere matter of opinion, to agree with you,
though there are difficulties in the way for which it is not easy to
account. For instance, why should Wilford have gone to that party last
night and have incurred the risk of entrusting the execution of his
schemes to another, instead of remaining to carry them out himself?"

"That is true," said Oaklands thoughtfully, "I do not pretend to
understand it all clearly; but, somehow, I feel a conviction that
Wilford is at the bottom of it."

"You should recollect, Harry, that you greatly dislike this man--are,
as I conceive, prejudiced against him--and are therefore, of course,
disposed to judge him harshly."

"Yes I know all that; still you'll see it will come out, sooner or
later, that Wilford is the man. Her poor old father! I have often
observed how he appeared to doat upon that girl, and how proud he was
of her: his pride will be converted into mourning now. It is fearful
to think," continued Oaklands, "of what crimes men are guilty in their
reckless selfishness! Here is the fair promise of an innocent girl's
life blighted, and an old man's grey hairs brought down with sorrow
to the grave, in order to gratify the passing fancy of a heartless
libertine." He paused, and then continued, "I suppose one can do nothing
in the matter, having no stronger grounds than mere suspicion to go
upon?"

"I should say nothing likely t