ke an affidavit
or something of the kind on his own account, but knew enough of that
man Clausel to make him confess the truth. Which he did the very next
day, and made Clausel sign it, and Mr. Robbie has a copy of the man's
statement which he is sending with this to Mr. Romaine in London; and
that is the reason why Rowley (who is a _dear_) has come over and is
waiting in the kitchen while I write these hurried lines. He says,
too, that Major Chevenix was only just in time, since Clausel's
friends are managing an exchange for him, and he is going back to
France. And so in haste I write myself,--Your sincere friend,

FLORA.

"_P.S._--My aunt is well; Ronald is expecting his commission.

"_P.P.S._--You told me to write it, and so I must: 'I love you,
Anne.'"

The enclosure was a note in a large and unformed hand, and ran--

"DEAR MR. ANNE, RESPECTED SIR,--This comes hopeing to find you well
as it leaves me at present, all is well as Miss Flora will tell you
that double-died Clausel has contest. This is to tell you Mrs. Mac R.
is going on nicely, bar the religion which is only put on to anoy
people and being a widow who blames her, not me. Miss Flora says she
will put this in with hers, and there is something else but it is a
dead secret, so no more at present from, sir,--Yours Respectfully,

"JAS. ROWLEY."

Having read these letters through, I placed them in my breast-pocket,
stepped to the table and handed Alain's document gravely back to him;
then turned to Mr. Romaine, who shut his snuff-box with a snap.

"It only remains, I think," said the lawyer, "to discuss the terms which
(merely as a matter of generosity, or say, for the credit of your house)
can be granted to your--to Mr. Alain."

"You forget Clausel, I think," snarled my cousin.

"True, I had forgotten Clausel." Mr. Romaine stepped to the head of the
stairs and called down, "Dudgeon!"

Mr. Dudgeon appeared, and endeavoured to throw into the stiffness of his
salutation a denial that he had ever waltzed with me in the moonlight.

"Where is the man Clausel?"

"I hardly know, sir, if you would place the wine-shop of the 'Tete d'Or'
at the top or at the bottom of this street; I presume the top, since the
sewer runs in the opposite direction. At all events Mr. Clausel
disappeared about two minutes ago in the same direction as the sewer."

Alain sprang up, whistle in hand.

"Put it do