fe, nor widow--she will be angry with me if I
don't obtain her some compensation."

"She deserves compensation," said the Colonel, gravely.

"Especially if she holds her tongue," said Monckton.

"Whether she holds her tongue or not," said the Colonel. "I don't see
how I can hold mine, and you have already told my daughter-in-law. A
separation between her and my son is inevitable. The compensation
must be offered, and God help me, I'm a magistrate, if only to
compound the felony."

"Surely," said Monckton, "it can be put upon a wider footing than that;
let me think," and he turned away to the open window; but when he got
there he saw a lot of miners clustering about. Now he had no fear of
their recognizing him, since he had not left a vestige of the printed
description. But the very sight of them, and the memory of what they had
done to his dead accomplice, made him shudder at them. Henceforth he
kept away from the window, and turned his back to it.

"I think with you, sir," said he, mellifluously, "that she ought to have
a few thousands by way of compensation. You know she could claim alimony,
and be a very blister to you and yours. But on the other hand I do think,
as an impartial person, that she ought to keep this sad secret most
faithfully, and even take her maiden name again."

Whilst Monckton was making this impartial proposal Bartley opened the
door, and was coming forward with his deed, when he heard a voice he
recognized; and partly by that, partly by the fellow's thin lips, he
recognized him, and said, "Monckton! That villain here!"

"Monckton," said Colonel Clifford, "that is not his name. It is Meredith.
He is a clergyman." Bartley examined him very suspiciously, and Monckton,
during this examination, looked perfectly calm and innocent. Meantime a
note was brought to Colonel Clifford from Grace: "Papa was the witness.
He is quite sure the bridegroom was not our Walter. He thinks it must
have been the other clerk, Leonard Monckton, who robbed Mr. Bartley, and
put some of the money into dear Walter's pockets to ruin him, but papa
saved him. Don't let him escape."

Colonel Clifford's eye flashed with triumph, but he controlled himself.

"Say I will give it due attention," said he; "I'm busy now."

And the servant retired.

"Now, sir," said he, "is this a case of mistaken identity, or is your
name Leonard Monckton?"

"Colonel Clifford," said the hypocrite, sadly, "I little thought that I
should be