cy; and
he came down to Gravesend, to see Mrs. Staines.

On the road, he gave his mind seriously to the delicate and dangerous
task. It did not, however, disquiet him as it would you, sir, or you,
madam. He had a great advantage over you. He was a liar--a smooth,
ready, accomplished liar--and he knew it.

This was the outline he had traced in his mind: he should appear very
subdued and sad; should wear an air of condolence. But, after a while,
should say, "And yet men have been lost like that, and escaped. A man
was picked up on a raft in those very latitudes, and brought into Cape
Town. A friend of mine saw him, months after, at the hospital. His
memory was shaken--could not tell his name; but in other respects he was
all right again."

If Mrs. Staines took fire at this, he would say his friend knew all the
particulars, and he would ask him, and so leave that to rankle till next
visit. And having planted his germ of hope, he would grow it, and water
it, by visits and correspondence, till he could throw off the mask, and
say he was convinced Staines was alive: and from that, by other degrees,
till he could say, on his wife's authority, that the man picked up at
sea, and cured at her house, was the very physician who had saved her
brother's life: and so on to the overwhelming proof he carried in the
ruby ring and the letter.

I am afraid the cunning and dexterity, the subtlety and tact required,
interested him more in the commission than did the benevolence. He
called, sent up his card, and composed his countenance for his part,
like an actor at the Wing.

"Not at home."

He stared with amazement.

The history of a "Not at home" is not, in general, worth recording: but
this is an exception.

On receiving Falcon's card, Mrs. Staines gave a little start, and
colored faintly. She instantly resolved not to see him. What! the man
she had flirted with, almost jilted, and refused to marry--he dared to
be alive when her Christopher was dead, and had come there to show her
HE was alive!

She said "Not at home" with a tone of unusual sharpness and decision,
which left the servant in no doubt he must be equally decided at the
hall door.

Falcon received the sudden freezer with amazement. "Nonsense," said he.
"Not at home at this time of the morning--to an old friend!"

"Not at home," said the man doggedly.

"Oh, very well," said Falcon with a bitter sneer, and returned to
London.

He felt sure she was at home; an