nswered he sat with his brows gathered down in
astute thought. Presently he asked:

"Thurston, have you engaged counsel?"

"Yes; Mr. Romford has been with me this morning."

"Is he fully competent?"

"The best lawyer in the State."

"When does the court sit?"

"On Monday week."

"Have you any idea whether your trial will come on early in the
session?"

"I presume it will come on very soon, as Mr. Romford informs me there
are but few cases on the docket."

"Thank Heaven for that, as your confinement here promises to be of very
short duration. However, the limited time makes it the more necessary
for me to act with the greater promptitude. I came here with the full
intention of remaining in town as long as you should be detained in this
infernal place, but I shall have to leave you within the hour."

"Of course, Cloudy, my dear boy, I could not expect you to restrict
yourself to this town so soon after escaping from the confinement of
your ship!"

"Oh! you don't understand me at all! Do you think I am going away on my
own business, or amusement, while you are here? To the devil with the
thought!--begging your reverence's pardon. No, I am going in search of
Jacquelina. Since hearing your explanation, particularly that part of it
relating to your visit to Luckenough, upon the morning of the day of
Marian's death, and the various scenes that occurred there--certain
vague ideas of my own have taken form and color, and I feel convinced
that Jacquelina could throw some light upon this affair."

"Indeed! why should you think so?"

"Oh! from many small indexes, which I have neither the time nor
inclination to tell you; for, taken apart from collateral circumstances
and associations, they would appear visionary. Each in itself is really
trivial enough, but in the mass they are very indicative. At least, I
think so, and I must seek Jacquelina out immediately. And to do so,
Thurston, I must leave you this moment, for there is a boat to leave the
wharf for Baltimore this morning if it has not already gone. It will
take me two days to reach Baltimore, another day to get to her convent,
and it will altogether be five or six days before I can get back here.
Good-by, Thurston! Heaven keep you, and give you a speedy deliverance
from this black hole!"

And Cloudy threw his arms around Thurston in a brotherly embrace, and
then knocked at the door to be let out.

In half an hour Cloudy was "once more upon the waters," in