at any time this afternoon or to-morrow which you may
appoint. My next few hours are engaged. As soon as this letter is
dispatched, I am going to Kensington, with the object of ascertaining
whether certain doubts I feel about the means by which Mrs. Lecount may
have accomplished her discovery are well founded or not. If you will let
me have your answer by return of post, I will not fail to get back
to St. John's Wood in time to receive it. Believe me, dear sir, yours
sincerely,

"MAGDALEN VANSTONE."

II.

_From Mr. Loscombe to Mrs. Noel Vanstone._

"Lincoln's Inn, November 5th.

"DEAR MADAM--Your letter and its inclosure have caused me great concern
and surprise. Pressure of business allows me no hope of being able
to see you either to-day or to-morrow morning. But if three o'clock
to-morrow afternoon will suit you, at that hour you will find me at your
service.

"I cannot pretend to offer a positive opinion until I know more of
the particulars connected with this extraordinary business than I find
communicated either in your letter or in your maid's. But with this
reserve, I venture to suggest that your remaining in London until
to-morrow may possibly lead to other results besides your consultation
at my chambers. There is at least a chance that you or I may hear
something further in this strange matter by the morning's post. I
remain, dear madam, faithfully yours,

"JOHN LOSCOMBE."

III.

_From Mrs. Noel Vanstone to Miss Garth._

"November 5th, Two o'Clock.

"I have just returned from Westmoreland House--after purposely leaving
it in secret, and purposely avoiding you under your own roof. You shall
know why I came, and why I went away. It is due to my remembrance of old
times not to treat you like a stranger, although I can never again treat
you like a friend.

"I set forth on the third from the North to London. My only object in
taking this long journey was to see Norah. I had been suffering for many
weary weeks past such remorse as only miserable women like me can feel.
Perhaps the suffering weakened me; perhaps it roused some old forgotten
tenderness--God knows!--I can't explain it; I can only tell you that I
began to think of Norah by day, and to dream of Norah by night, till I
was almost heartbroken. I have no better reason than this to give for
running all the risks which I ran, and coming to London to see her. I
don't wish to claim more for myself than I deserve; I don't wish to
tell you I