er, just placed at
the door of the opera house, struck his attention, and he stepped back
to examine it.

"'First appearance of a young American, a protege of Olympia.' Just read
that poster, Mr. Hepworth, and tell me what you think of it," he said,
lifting himself into the carriage. "Mrs. Stacy, my dear, just look that
way, and tell me if you can guess who it is that will make a first
appearance Monday night? You know that young lady, and so does Mr.
Hepworth. Now, make a guess."

"How can you?" said Mrs. Stacy. "You know, Matthew, dear, I never was
good at conundrums and such like."

Matthew puffed himself out with a deep, long breath, and clasping two
huge hands encased in flame-colored gloves on his knee, leaned toward
Hepworth.

"You try, now."

Hepworth shook his head, and Stacy burst out with his mystery.

"It's the identical child that was brought up at the inquest in
Forty-third street--Daniel Yates' little daughter."

"No!" exclaimed Mrs. Stacy. "That little creature?"

"It ain't nobody else--you may bet high on that, Mrs. Stacy."

Hepworth kept perfectly still, but his heart fairly stopped beating.

"But how did you find out, Matthew, dear?"

"Oh! we aldermen find out everything. The girl was brought up in the
country, near Sing-Sing, in a cedar-post cottage that the executor
wanted to raise some money on. I went up to see it, and had a good look
at the girl. Yes, my dear, she was, to say, very handsome, but proud.
Daniel Yates had brought her up like a queen, and I give you my word she
looked it; but there was no mistake about it. The executor had just
gobbled up everything Yates left, and there was no one to look after
him, so that the girl was just nowhere financially. I found out that the
cottage could not be sold or mortgaged, nor let either, according to
law, though the executor tried it on hard, and came again and again
about it, especially after she left it. So I found out everything about
the girl. That primer donner took a fancy to her, and adopted her right
out of hand because of her voice, and to-morrow night you can both of
you see her, for I mean to have a box up among the British arrestocracy
that night, and I invite you both free gratis for nothing."

"Are you sure of this?" questioned Hepworth, who had not spoken till
now.

"Just as sure as I am that Alderman Stacy sits before you. But if you
don't believe it, ask the girl yourself. I mean to call on her, and Mrs.
Stacy will