on wherever she might touch the
public. He wanted somebody to know what his real resources
were--somebody who could, from personal knowledge of his affairs, assert
their soundness without revealing their details. He believed that Mrs.
Dillingham would be so proud of the possession of his confidence, and so
prudent in showing it, that his general business reputation, and his
reputation for great wealth, would be materially strengthened by her.
All this she understood, because she knew the nature of the man, and
appreciated the estimate which he placed upon her.

Nothing remained for her that day but the dreaded return of Mr. Belcher.
She was now more than ever at a loss to know how she should manage him.
She had resumed, during her interview with him, her old arts of
fascination, and seen how easily she could make him the most troublesome
of slaves. She had again permitted him to kiss her hand. She had asked a
favor of him and he had granted it. She had committed a breach of trust;
and though she justified herself in it, she felt afraid and half ashamed
to meet the man whom she had so thoroughly befooled. She was disgusted
with the new intimacy with him which her own hand had invited, and
heartily wished that the long game of duplicity were concluded.

The General found more to engage his attention than he had anticipated,
and after a few hours' absence from the fascinations of his idol, he
began to feel uneasy about his book. It was the first time it had ever
left his hands. He grew nervous about it at last, and was haunted by a
vague sense of danger. As soon, therefore, as it became apparent to him
that a second call upon Mrs. Dillingham that day would be
impracticable, he sent Phipps to her with a note apprising her of the
fact, and asking her to deliver to him the little account-book he had
left with her.

It was with a profound sense of relief that she handed it to the
messenger, and realized that, during that day and evening at least, she
should be free, and so able to gather back her old composure and
self-assurance. Mr. Belcher's note she placed with her copy of the book,
as her authority for passing it into other hands than those of its
owner.

While these little things, which were destined to have large
consequences, were in progress in the city, an incident occurred in the
country, of no less importance in the grand out come of events relating
to Mr. Belcher and his victim.

It will be remembered that af