e the travelers' bags were being placed in the chaise, Mr. Bowmore
was struck by an idea.

He produced from his coat-pocket a roll of many papers thickly covered
with writing. On the blank leaf in which they were tied up, he wrote
in the largest letters: "Frightful domestic calamity! Vice-President
Bowmore obliged to leave England! Welfare of a beloved daughter! His
speech will be read at the meeting by Secretary Joskin, of the Club.
(Private to Joskin. Have these lines printed and posted everywhere. And,
when you read my speech, for God's sake don't drop your voice at the
ends of the sentences.)"

He threw down the pen, and embraced Mrs. Bowmore in the most summary
manner. The poor woman was ordered to send the roll of paper to the
Club, without a word to comfort and sustain her from her husband's
lips. Percy spoke to her hopefully and kindly, as he kissed her cheek at
parting.

On the next morning, a letter, addressed to Mrs. Bowmore, was delivered
at the cottage by private messenger.

Opening the letter, she recognized the handwriting of her husband's old
friend, and her old friend--Major Mulvany. In breathless amazement, she
read these lines:

"DEAR MRS. BOWMORE--In matters of importance, the golden rule is never
to waste words. I have performed one of the great actions of my life--I
have saved your husband.

"How I discovered that my friend was in danger, I must not tell you
at present. Let it be enough if I say that I have been a guest under
Justice Bervie's hospitable roof, and that I know of a Home Office spy
who has taken you unawares, under pretense of being your footman. If
I had not circumvented him, the scoundrel would have imprisoned your
husband, and another dear friend of mine. This is how I did it.

"I must begin by appealing to your memory.

"Do you happen to remember that your husband and I are as near as may be
of about the same height? Very good, so far. Did you, in the next place,
miss Bowmore's traveling coat and cap from their customary peg? I am the
thief, dearest lady; I put them on my own humble self. Did you hear a
sudden noise in the hall? Oh, forgive me--I made the noise! And it
did just what I wanted of it. It brought the spy up from the kitchen,
suspecting that something might be wrong.

"What did the wretch see when he got into the hall? His master, in
traveling costume, running out. What did he find when he reached the
garden? His master escaping, in a post-chaise, on the roa