, stiffly.

"I think, sir," said musical Monckton, "that he left your house about
fourteen years ago, and you lost sight of him for a time?"

"That is so, sir."

"He entered the service of a Mr. Robert Bartley as a merchant's clerk."

"I doubt that, sir."

"I fear, sir," sighed Monckton, musically, "that is not the only
thing he did which has been withheld from you. He married a lady
called Lucy Muller."

"Who told you that?" cried the Colonel. "It's a lie!"

"I am afraid not," said the meek and tuneful ecclesiastic. "I am
acquainted with the lady, a most respectable person, and she has shown me
the certificate of marriage."

"The certificate of marriage!" cried the Colonel, all aghast.

"Yes, sir, and this is not the first time I have given this information
in confidence. Mrs. Walter Clifford, who is a kind-hearted woman, and has
long ceased to suffer bitterly from her husband's desertion, requested me
to warn a young lady, whose name was Miss Mary Bartley, of this fact. I
did so, and showed her the certificate. She was very much distressed, and
no wonder, for she was reported to be engaged to Mr. Walter Clifford; but
I explained to Miss Bartley that there was no jealousy, hostility, or
bitterness in the matter; the only object was to save her from being
betrayed into an illegal act, and one that would bring ruin upon herself,
and a severe penalty upon Mr. Walter Clifford."

Colonel Clifford turned very pale, but he merely said, in a hoarse voice,
"Go on, sir."

"Well, sir," said Monckton, "I thought the matter was at an end, and,
having discharged a commission which was very unpleasant to me, I had at
all events saved an innocent girl from tempting Mr. Walter Clifford to
his destruction and ruining herself. I say, I thought and hoped so. But
it seems now that the young lady has defied the warning, and has married
your son after all. Mrs. Walter Clifford has heard of it in Derby, and
she is naturally surprised, and I am afraid she is now somewhat
incensed."

"Before we go any further, sir," said Colonel Clifford, "I should like
to see the certificate you say you showed to Miss Bartley."

"I did, sir," said Monckton, "and here it is--that is to say, an attested
copy; but of course sooner or later you will examine the original."

Colonel Clifford took the paper with a firm hand, and examined it
closely. "Have you any objection to my taking a copy of this?" said
he, keenly.

"Of course not," said Monckt