r many minutes. She suddenly broke out with--

"I can't credit it. Not even in the face of the facts. What, a poor
little beggarly wretch of a half-breed gipsy like me, the sole heiress
of an old aristocratic manor? Stuff and nonsense! Even if I have a right
to it, I shall never get it."

"Oh, yes, you will," said Sybil, confidently. "I never heard of a
clearer case than yours, as you have stated it. You have only to prove
three marriages, three births, and one identity. And as marriages and
births are always registered in your country, there will be no
difficulty in that."

"_Our_ marriages and births were always registered for the same reason
that this license was kept, that some of us might come into the family
fortune sometime and be made a lady or a gentleman of. And it begins to
look like I was going to be the lady."

"Well, but don't spoil your fortune by marrying Satan," said Sybil.

"Marry Satan? I'd see him in Pandemonium first!" exclaimed the little
student of Milton.

"I'm glad to hear you say so! Keep to that, and get out of this den of
thieves as soon as ever you can," added Sybil.

"Now, may Satan fly away with me if ever I desert my friends. They
risked their necks to rescue me from want in Dover, and have provided
for me like a princess. If _that's_ the way you good people requite
kindness, I think I'll stick to my poor scamps. At least, I will never
leave them, until I can give them each and all money enough to retire
upon honestly."

"But you will have to leave them, before you can do that. You will have
to live among law-abiding people, before you can get a lawyer to take up
such a case as yours. I think, if ever I am free again, I would like to
have you home with me; and I am sure my dear husband would take up your
cause, as he has taken up that of many a poor client, without money, and
without price."

Here the girl burst into such peals of laughter, that Sybil could but
gaze on her in astonishment.

"Oh, you know, that is too good!" exclaimed Iska, as soon as she
recovered from her mirthful paroxysm.

"What is too good?" inquired Sybil, slightly displeased.

"Oh, that you should invite me to your house, and recommend me to your
husband's good offices! One would think that you had had enough of
taking up stray women and flinging them at your husband's head!"
exclaimed the girl, with another paroxysm of laughter.

Sybil turned pale, and remained silent for a few moments; then she sai