er laid a small book upon the table.

"This will do so better than I can, gentlemen," he said. "It is a list
of the various investments in which Mr. Jasper Vermont placed the wealth
he had so fraudulently amassed. His expenses were small; and the
investments which were made with Mr. Leroy's money, and which he had
hoped, of course, to put to his own use, amount to a large sum. When
realised, they will cover the enormous embezzlements, when the forged
bills are destroyed."

Adrien took up the book and glanced through it.

"Is this true?" he said, with an earnestness that all present
understood. "Am I still a rich man?"

"The statement is correct, sir," returned Mr. Harker respectfully. "You
will find that you have in reality benefited by his cunning and
astuteness, even after the racing debts are fully paid."

Adrien laid the book on the table.

"I am grateful," he said gravely. "But I would leave this room
penniless, and gladly, if by so doing I could bring one life back to
us." Then, almost overcome by his emotion, he abruptly left the room.

On the morrow, despite all efforts to hush the matter up, the news went
flying through the land. Adrien Leroy, the well-beloved of Vanity Fair,
had been betrayed by his friend and confidant. Great was the sensation
when all the facts came out into the full light, and it was known that
Adrien had been saved by the traitor's own daughter, who had given her
life that his might be spared.

Mr. Harker was well rewarded for the part he had taken in exposing
Jasper Vermont, and preserving the Leroys from the pitfalls and ruin he
had dug for them. All the forged bills were promptly burnt, and there
remained only those real amounts that Adrien had signed, and which, all
put together, only amounted to but a minute fraction of the supposed
sums owing by the young man.

Jessica was buried in Windleham churchyard; the funeral was attended by
all the Leroys, as well as by many of the countryfolk, for her sad
little story had become known. Ada Lester was also present; she paid her
last visit to the neighbourhood of Barminster on that day, and, with a
tact most unusual to her, refrained from attracting any attention so far
as the Leroys were concerned.

Well placed now in money matters, and proprietress of the Casket
Theatre, she settled down to learn the art of acting as well as dancing,
and eventually married her business manager. She also undertook to look
after her sister, who, h