-room, a few minutes before she was due on the stage as
Prince Bon-Bon.

Mr. Harker at once hastened to apologise for the intrusion; but, in the
midst of his words, he broke off short, for Jessica and the actress were
gazing at one another in a mutual recognition. Jessica remembered her at
once as the lady who had been with Adrien Leroy; then came the earlier
memory, which had so puzzled her on the night she had seen the actress
entering the theatre.

"Jessica!" exclaimed Miss Lester, blankly, and she turned on the
astounded Harker. "What's the meaning of this?"

The few minutes were nearly up, and the call-boy and the dresser had met
in several consultations with regard to the difficulty of getting Miss
Lester on to the stage in time, before Mr. Harker's explanations were
through.

Ada, now thoroughly assured as to her own future, thanks to her recent
visit to Barminster, was quite willing to look after her niece better
than in the past; especially as her presence formed a strong link in the
chain of evidence the actress intended shortly to bring against Jasper
Vermont. She assured Harker that she would take care of the girl, and
with this he was content; then, leaving Jessica in her aunt's charge, he
made his way to his own office, prior to taking a journey down to
Barminster Castle.

CHAPTER XXIII

The unexpected appearance of Jasper Vermont startled both Lady Constance
and Adrien.

"Jasper!" exclaimed Adrien, almost sternly, drawing the silken wrap
around Lady Constance as if to shield her from all eyes but his own. "I
did not expect you here to-night."

"No," answered Jasper. "I have travelled post-haste to try and save you
from heavy trouble; the matter is so pressing that you must give me my
way and attend to it at once. I am sure Lady Constance would forgive
this intrusion, if she only knew of what serious importance it is to
you, and, indeed, to us all."

He moved forward as he spoke; and the light of the full moon falling on
his smooth, clean-shaven face, showed it so ghastly white, so moved by
strong emotion that Lady Constance started back a step, while Leroy
himself stared in surprise.

"Good Heavens!" he said, "whatever is the matter to make you drive down
in such a state? What is wrong? Is it the theatre?" A faint contemptuous
smile crossed his face as he thought of Ada.

"Pshaw!" exclaimed Vermont, scornfully. "The theatre! No, Adrien,
there's not a mo