s expected to take on trust. I
am possessed of written proofs, copies of originals, the authenticity of
which Maitre Voigt himself can attest. Bear that in mind, and permit me
to refer you, at starting, to a date long past--the month of February, in
the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six."

"Mark the date, Mr. Vendale," said Bintrey.

"My first proof," said Obenreizer, taking a paper from his pocket-book.
"Copy of a letter, written by an English lady (married) to her sister, a
widow. The name of the person writing the letter I shall keep suppressed
until I have done. The name of the person to whom the letter is written
I am willing to reveal. It is addressed to 'Mrs. Jane Anne Miller, of
Groombridge Wells, England.'"

Vendale started, and opened his lips to speak. Bintrey instantly stopped
him, as he had stopped Maitre Voigt. "No," said the pertinacious lawyer.
"Leave it to me."

Obenreizer went on:

"It is needless to trouble you with the first half of the letter," he
said. "I can give the substance of it in two words. The writer's
position at the time is this. She has been long living in Switzerland
with her husband--obliged to live there for the sake of her husband's
health. They are about to move to a new residence on the Lake of
Neuchatel in a week, and they will be ready to receive Mrs. Miller as
visitor in a fortnight from that time. This said, the writer next enters
into an important domestic detail. She has been childless for years--she
and her husband have now no hope of children; they are lonely; they want
an interest in life; they have decided on adopting a child. Here the
important part of the letter begins; and here, therefore, I read it to
you word for word."

He folded back the first page of the letter and read as follows.

"* * * Will you help us, my dear sister, to realise our new project?
As English people, we wish to adopt an English child. This may be
done, I believe, at the Foundling: my husband's lawyers in London will
tell you how. I leave the choice to you, with only these conditions
attached to it--that the child is to be an infant under a year old,
and is to be a boy. Will you pardon the trouble I am giving you, for
my sake; and will you bring our adopted child to us, with your own
children, when you come to Neuchatel?

"I must add a word as to my husband's wishes in this matter. He is
resolved to spare the child whom we make