nothing more than a piece of blank
paper. My mother is not herself, as I have said before."

"I should like a peep at the contents of that envelope," he declared.

"You?"

"Is there any name written on the outside?"

"No."

"It would not be violating any one's rights, then, if you opened it."

"Only my mother's, sir."

"You say she is not in her right mind?"

"All the more reason why I should respect her whims and caprices."

"Wouldn't you open it if she were dead?"

"Yes."

"Will it be very different then from what it is now? A father's letters!
a blank piece of paper! What harm would there be in looking at them?"

"My mother would know it if I took them away. It might excite and injure
her."

"Put another envelope in the place of this one, with a piece of paper
folded up in it."

"It would be a trick."

"I know it; but if Craik Mansell can be saved even by a trick, I should
think you would be willing to venture on one."

"Craik Mansell? What has he got to do with the papers under my mother's
pillow?"

"I cannot say that he has any thing to do with them; but if he has--if,
for instance, that envelope should contain, not a piece of blank paper,
or even the letters of your father, but such a document, say, as a
certificate of marriage----"

"A certificate of marriage?"

"Yes, between Mrs. Clemmens and Mr. Orcutt, it would not take much
perspicacity to prophesy an acquittal for Craik Mansell."

"Mary Ann the wife of Mr. Orcutt! Oh, that is impossible!" exclaimed the
agitated spinster. But even while making this determined statement, she
turned a look full of curiosity and excitement toward the door which
separated them from her mother's apartment.

Mr. Gryce smiled in his wise way.

"Less improbable things than that have been found to be true in this
topsy-turvy world," said he. "Mrs. Clemmens might very well have been
Mrs. Orcutt."

"Do you really think so?" she asked; and yielding with sudden
impetuosity to the curiosity of the moment, she at once dashed from his
side and disappeared in her mother's room. Mr. Gryce's smile took on an
aspect of triumph.

It was some few moments before she returned, but when she did, her
countenance was flushed with emotion.

"I have it," she murmured, taking out a packet from under her apron and
tearing it open with trembling fingers.

A number of closely written sheets fell out.

XLIV.

THE WIDOW CLEMMENS.

Discovered