all Judge LeMonde's hunting dogs,
came bounding toward him, loudly barking. This great animal was
dangerous to strangers but, knowing Very, he came up to him and licked
his hand with his red tongue. Very spoke to him and admired his noble
form--his high forehead, intelligent eyes, wide nostrils, deep chest,
long yellow body, slim but muscular legs--then walked on to the front
piazza and rang the doorbell.

While he is waiting there let us take a peep inside. Miss Viola
LeMonde, by a law of mind not yet explained, had a premonition that a
certain clergyman would visit her that morning. So she had a particular
care as to her apparel. She called her faithful maidservant Nora to
bring her a white dress, which had a faint shade of blue mixed with the
white. This gown, which exactly fitted her shapely figure, she put on,
and around her neck and wrists she placed soft and delicate ruching.
Then she went to the flower conservatory and selecting a deep-red
rosebud, placed it against some dark green leaves and pinned it to her
dress. Her hair was formed at the back in a large knot of gold, while
over her beautiful brows it was brushed smooth, giving her a look like
a Madonna.

When Very rang the bell Viola was in the sitting-room to the right of
the hall. Nora opened the door and invited him into the drawing-room at
the left of the hall. With a perversity which no mere man understands,
and we suppose is unaccountable to woman's mind, Viola would not at
once greet the minister, but laid that duty upon her mother. In a
minute or two Madame LeMonde, a stately dame in form and mien, worthy
of the position she occupied, walked into the room and cordially shook
hands with Mr. Very. "I am glad to see you this fine morning, Mr.
Very," she said. "Did you escape the base designs of those wicked men
last night! Viola told me of the plot they had laid to do you harm. I
am sorry that my husband and son were away, that they could not help
you in your need."

"Yes, Mrs. LeMonde, thanks to the timely warning that your good
daughter sent me, I was able to thwart their evil purposes; and at this
moment the ringleaders, Sam Wiles, Zibe Turner, and Harve Davis are in
the county jail. I have called personally to thank your daughter for
her kindness to me. Is she at home this morning?"

"She is, Mr. Very, and if you will excuse me, I will send her into the
room."

By this time Viola had brought her perverse little heart into harmony
with her re