ne of the documents on his master's table,
which had attracted his attention from a slight peculiar ity in the
form and color of the paper. He had only time, during Mr. Loscombe's
momentary absence, to satisfy his curiosity by looking at the beginning
of the document and at the end. At the beginning he saw the customary
form used in making a will; at the end he discovered the signature of
Mr. Noel Vanstone, with the names of two attesting witnesses, and the
date (of which he is quite certain)--_the thirtieth of September last._

"Before the clerk had time to make any further investigations, his
master returned, sorted the papers on the table, and carefully locked up
the will in the strong box devoted to the custody of Mr. Noel Vanstone's
documents. It has been ascertained that, at the close of September,
Mr. Loscombe was absent from the office. If he was then employed in
superintending the execution of his client's will--which is quite
possible--it follows clearly that he was in the secret of Mr. Vanstone's
address after the removal of the 4th of September; and if you can do
nothing on your side, it may be desirable to have the lawyer watched on
ours. In any case, it is certainly ascertained that Mr. Noel Vanstone
has made his will since his marriage. I leave you to draw your own
conclusions from that fact, and remain, in the hope of hearing from you
shortly,

"Your faithful servant,

"ALFRED DE BLERIOT."

X.

_From Miss Garth to Mr. Pendril._

"Portland Place, October 28th.

"MY DEAR SIR--Mrs. Lecount has just left us. If it was not too late to
wish, I should wish, from the bottom of my heart, that Norah had taken
your advice, and had refused to see her.

"I write in such distress of mind that I cannot hope to give you a clear
and complete account of the interview. I can only tell you briefly what
Mrs. Lecount has done, and what our situation now is. The rest must be
left until I am more composed, and until I can speak to you personally.

"You will remember my informing you of the letter which Mrs. Lecount
addressed to Norah from Aldborough, and which I answered for her in her
absence. When Mrs. Lecount made her appearance to-day, her first words
announced to us that she had come to renew the subject. As well as I can
remember it, this is what she said, addressing herself to Norah:

"'I wrote to you on the subject of your sister, Miss Vanstone, some
little time since, and Miss Garth was so good as to answ