hich I shall barely reach in time; so, farewell for the present, dear
Miriam. I shall stay with Emma Gilroy, and return in a very few days.
Write to me, however, if I should be detained, to her father's care, and
keep a good heart, until the return of your fortunate

"EVELYN.

"P.S.--You know it is little matter, between sisters, which possesses
the property, so all share it. E."

Claude Bainrothe called that afternoon, and placed in my hand the copy
of the codicil that had been sent to Evelyn, together with the lawyer's
letter to which she had alluded, and which, on consulting with him, she
found it unnecessary to take with her to New York, her identity being
already established, beyond a doubt, with that of the legatee, in the
eyes of the American agent in possession of all the facts of the case
from the London attorney. I examined the codicil closely, and could find
no flaw! It purported to be the last will of the Lady Frances Pomfret,
who revoked all other bequests, in order to bestow her whole property on
her niece, Evelyn Erle.

I confess I had felt some doubts as to the existence at all of such a
person, of whom I had never before heard mention made, until I read her
last bequest, and saw with my own eyes the business-like letter,
confirming the whole transaction of Mr. James Mainwaring, the London
attorney, with its foreign post-mark, and huge office seal. This was
accompanied by one from a legal gentleman of New York, whose name was
familiar to me, as my father's agent, and which confirmed the truth of
the matter in the most effectual way; for, in his letter, Evelyn was
advised to come to New York and receive her legacy.

There was nothing more to be said, certainly; still I had strange
misgivings even then, which I felt to be both unjust and ungenerous, yet
could not wholly banish, and again I examined the codicil.

Claude Bainrothe smiled; it was the first time, let me state _en
passant_, that we had found ourselves alone together since his return.
"You scrutinize that will as if you were a legal flaw-finder, Miss
Monfort, instead of a very confiding young lady of poetical
proclivities."

"It is very short!" I said, sententiously, comparing at the same time
the handwriting with that of Mr. Mainwaring, who had in his letter
declared himself the copyist, the original codicil remaining in his
hands, together with the will it had annulled, and finding them the same
unmistakably.

"Short, but sweet," he