eed it was. The fact is, the
letter was not written.

Falcon affected not to notice her keen look. He flowed on, "The address
he put on that letter astonished me. 'Kent Villa.' Of course I knew Kent
Villa: and he called you 'Rosa.'"

"How could you come to me without that letter?" cried Rosa, wringing her
hands. "How am I to know? It is all so strange, so incredible."

"Don't you believe me?" said Falcon sadly. "Why should I deceive you?
The first time I came down to tell you all this, I did not KNOW who Mrs.
Staines was. I suspected; but no more. The second time I saw you in the
church, and then I knew; and followed you to try and tell you all this;
and you were not at home to me."

"Forgive me," said Rosa carelessly: then earnestly, "The letter! when
can I see it?"

"I will send, or bring it."

"Bring it! I am in agony till I see it. Oh, my darling! my darling!
It can't be true. It was not my Christie. He lies in the depths of the
ocean. Lord Tadcaster was in the ship, and he says so; everybody says
so."

"And I say he sleeps in hallowed ground, and these hands laid him
there."

Rosa lifted her hands to heaven, and cried piteously, "I don't know what
to think. You would not willingly deceive me. But how can this be?
Oh, Uncle Philip, why are you away from me? Sir, you say he gave you a
letter?"

"Yes."

"Oh, why, why did you not bring it?"

"Because he told me the contents; and I thought he prized my poor
efforts too highly. It did not occur to me you would doubt my word."

"Oh, no: no more I do: but I fear it was not my Christie."

"I'll go for the letter at once, Mrs. Staines."

"Oh, thank you! Bless you! Yes, this minute!"

The artful rogue did not go; never intended.

He rose TO GO; but had a sudden inspiration; very sudden, of course.
"Had he nothing about him you could recognize him by?"

"Yes, he had a ring I gave him."

Falcon took a black-edged envelope out of his pocket.

"A ruby ring," said she, beginning to tremble at his quiet action.

"Is that it?" and he handed her a ruby ring.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Mrs. Staines uttered a sharp cry and seized the ring. Her eyes dilated
over it, and she began to tremble in every limb; and at last she sank
slowly back, and her head fell on one side like a broken lily. The
sudden sight of the ring overpowered her almost to fainting.

Falcon rose to call for assistance; but she made him a feeble motion not
to do so.

She got the better of