happened. She has persuaded herself that the
answers she innocently gave in her distress, to
Mrs. Lecount's questions on the subject of the
letter—the answers wrung from her under the
sudden pressure of confusion and alarm—may be
used to Magdalen's prejudice by the woman who
purposely startled her into giving the information.
I can only prevent her from taking some
desperate step on her side—some step by which
she may forfeit the friendship and protection of
the excellent people with whom she is now living
—by reminding her that if Mrs. Lecount traces
her master by means of the postmark on the
letter, we may trace Magdalen at the same time,
and by the same means. Whatever objection
you may personally feel to renewing the efforts
for the rescue of this miserable girl, which failed
so lamentably at York, I entreat you, for Norah's
sake, to take the same steps now which we took
then. Send me the only assurance which will
quiet her—the assurance, under your own hand,
that the search on our side has begun. If you
will do this, you may trust me when the time
comes, to stand between these two sisters, and
to defend Norah's peace, character, and future
prosperity, at any price.

"Most sincerely yours,

"HARRIET GARTH."

XI.

FROM MRS. LECOUNT TO MR. DE BLERIOT.

"October 28th.

"Dear Sir,—I have found the trace you
wanted. Mrs. Noel Vanstone has written to
her sister. The letter contains no address; but
the postmark is Allonby, in Cumberland. From
Allonby, therefore, the inquiries must begin.
You have already in your possession the personal
description of both husband and wife. I urgently
recommend you not to lose one unnecessary
moment. If it is possible to send to Cumberland
immediately on receipt of this letter, I beg you
will do so.

"I have another word to say before I close my
note—a word about the discovery in Mr.
Loscombe's office.

"It is no surprise to me to hear that Mr. Noel
Vanstone has made his will since his marriage;
and I am at no loss to guess in whose favour the
will is made. If I succeed in finding my master
—let that person get the money, if that person
can! A course to follow in this matter has
presented itself to my mind, since I received
your letter—but my ignorance of details of
business and intricacies of law, leaves me still
uncertain whether my idea is capable of ready and
certain execution. I will call at your office
tomorrow at two o'clock, for the purpose of consulting
you on the subject. It is of great importance,
when I next see Mr. Noel Vanstone, that he
should find me thoroughly prepared beforehand
in this matter of the will.

"Your much obliged servant,

"VIRGINIE LECOUNT."

XII.

FROM MR. PENDRIL TO MISS GARTH.

"Searle-street, October 29th.

"Dear Miss Garth,—I have only a moment to
assure you of the sorrow with which I have read
your letter. The circumstances under which you
urge your request, and the reasons you give for
making it, are sufficient to silence any objection
I might otherwise feel to the course you propose.
A trustworthy person, whom I have myself
instructed, will start for Allonby to-day; and as
soon as I receive any news from him, you shall
hear of it by special messenger. Tell Miss
Vanstone this, and pray add the sincere expression
of my sympathy and regard.

"Faithfully yours,

"WILLIAM PENDRIL."

XIII.

FROM MR. DE BLERIOT TO MRS. LECOUNT.

"Dark's Buildings, November 1st.

"Dear Madam,—I have the pleasure of
informing you that the discovery has been made,
with far less trouble than I had anticipated.

"Mr. and Mrs. Noel Vanstone have been
traced across the Solway Firth, to Dumfries;
and thence to a cottage, a few miles from the
town, on the banks of the Nith. The exact
address is, Baliol Cottage, near Dumfries.

"This information, though easily hunted up,
has nevertheless been obtained, under rather
singular circumstances.

"Before leaving Allonby, the persons in my
employ discovered, to their surprise, .that a
stranger was in the place pursuing the same
inquiry as themselves. In the absence of any
instructions preparing them for such an
occurrence as this, they took their own view of the
circumstance. Considering the man as an
intruder on their business, whose success might
deprive them of the credit and reward of making
the discovery, they took advantage of their
superiority in numbers, and of their being first in
the field, and carefully misled the stranger before
they ventured any further with their own
investigations. I am in possession of the details of
their proceedings—with which I need not trouble
you. The end is, that this person, whoever he
may be, was cleverly turned back southward, on
a false scent, before the men in my employment
crossed the Firth.

"I mention the circumstance, as you may be
better able than I am to find a clue to it, and as
it may possibly be of a nature to induce you to
hasten your journey.

"Your faithful servant,

"ALFRED DE BLERIOT."

XIV.

FROM MRS. LECOUNT TO MR. DE BLERIOT,

"November 1st.

"Dear Sir,—One line to say that your letter
has just reached me at my lodging in London.
I think I know who sent the strange man to
inquire at Allonby. It matters little. Before he