he went to promulgate his revolutionary ideas. More than suspected
of being a member of several secret political societies. Has
resided for the last few years at Bon Repos, on the banks of
Windermere, from which place he communicates constantly with other
characters as desperate as himself. Russia has no more bitter and
determined enemy than Paul Platzoff. He is at once clever and
unscrupulous. While he lives he will not cease to conspire.'

"After this followed a description of Platzoff's personal
appearance, which it is needless to transcribe here.

"I start for Windermere by the first train to-morrow."

CHAPTER XXIII.

MR. MADGIN'S SECRET JOURNEY.

Mr. Madgin left home by an early train on the morning of the day
following that on which Lady Chillington had received a reply from Sir
John Pennythorne. His first intention had been to make the best of his
way to Windermere, and there ascertain the exact locality of Bon Repos.
But a fresh view of the case presented itself to his mind as he lay
thinking in bed. Instead of taking the train for the North, he took one
for the South, and found himself at Euston as the London clocks were
striking twelve. After an early dinner, and a careful consultation of
the Post-Office Directory, Mr. Madgin ordered a hansom, and was driven
to Hatton Garden, in and about which unfragrant locality the diamond
merchants most do congregate. After due inquiries made and answered, Mr.
Madgin was driven eastward for another mile or more. Here a similar set
of inquiries elicited a similar set of answers. Mr. Madgin went back to
his hotel well pleased with his day's work.

His inquiries had satisfied him that no green diamond of the size and
value attributed to the Great Hara had either been seen or heard of in
the London market during the last twenty years. It still remained to
test the foreign markets in the same way. Mr. Madgin's idea was that
this work could be done better by some trustworthy agent well acquainted
with the trade than by himself. He accordingly left instructions with an
eminent diamond merchant to have all needful inquiries made at Paris,
Amsterdam, and St. Petersburg, as to whether such a stone as the Great
Hara had come under the cognizance of the trade any time during the last
twenty years. The result of the inquiry was to be communicated to Mr.
Madgin by letter.

Next day Mr. Madgin journeyed down to Windermere. Arriv