sle: that will be the only
difference. Quite unimportant, of course. Upon my word, Lisle went about
it in a systematic fashion. Pity he gave his attention to music: a
distinguished burglar was lost to society when he turned organist." He
took up the paper and glanced at it again. "If I show this to her she
will pay his debt, as she did last time; and that she never shall do."
He doubled it up and thrust it in with the rest.

A shuffling step in the passage, a knock at the door, and Emma made her
appearance: "Miss Lisle has come in, sir."

Percival looked up a little astonished, but he only thanked her in his
quiet voice and closed his desk. He turned the key, and waited a moment
till Emma should have gone before he obeyed the summons. When, answering
Judith's "Come in," he entered the Lisles' room, he found her standing
by the window. She turned and looked at him, as if she were not quite
certain whom to expect.

"It is I," he said. "Thank you for sending for me."

"Sending for you? I didn't send. But I am glad you came," she added.

She had not sent for him, and Percival remembered that he had passed
Lydia Bryant on his way. The message--which, after all, was a mere
statement of a fact--was hers. He colored angrily and stood confused:
"You did not send? No--I see. I beg your pardon--I misunderstood--"

"It makes no difference," said Judith quickly. "Don't go: I wanted to
tell you--" She paused: "I have not been unjust, Mr. Thorne. Mr. Nash
has been at Standon Square this afternoon. After he had my telegram he
received a letter from Emmeline, and it was as I thought. She is with
Bertie."

"With Bertie? And he came here?"

"Yes--to see if it was as Emmeline said, that they were married at St.
Andrew's last Tuesday."

Percival looked blankly at her: "Married! It isn't possible, is it?"

[Illustration: "IT IS I," HE SAID. "THANK YOU FOR SENDING FOR ME."--Page
542.]

"Quite possible," said Judith bitterly. "Standon Square is in St.
Andrew's parish, as well as Bellevue street. It seems that Bertie had
only to have the banns mumbled over for three Sundays by an old
clergyman whom nobody hears in a church where nobody goes. It sounds
very easy, doesn't it?"

Percival stood for a moment speechless while the cool audacity of
Bertie's proceeding filtered slowly into his mind. "But if any one had
gone to St. Andrew's?" he said at last.

"That would have ended it, of course. I suppose he would have run away
without