"'And now, Fifine, to say adieu until it be my happiness once again to
embrace you and that dear Carew, who must have more good qualities than
I have known centred in one individual, to deserve you. Think of me,
dearest cousin, and do not forget Jocasse.'"

"The association will aid you much," said my father, dryly.

"'Let him have a cheerful room, and put me anywhere, so that I have a
place in your heart. Your dearly attached cousin,

"'Emile de Gabriac.'"

"Is that all?" asked my father, as she concluded.

"A few words on the turn-down: 'Hortense has just sent me her picture.
She is blond, but her eyes want color; the hair, too, is sandy, and not
silky; the mouth--But why do I go on?--it is not Fifine's.'"

"Our cousin is the most candid of mortals," said my father, quietly;
"whatever opinion we may entertain of his other gifts, on the score of
frankness he is unimpeachable. Don't you think so, Miss Polly?"

"His letter is a most unreserved one, indeed," said she, cautiously.

And now a silence fell on all, for each was following out in his own way
some train of thought suggested by the Count's letter. As if to change
the current of his reflections, my father once more turned to the
letter-bag, and busied himself running hastily over some of the many
epistles addressed to him. Apparently there was little to interest or
amuse amongst them, for he threw them from him half read,--some, indeed,
when he had but deciphered the writers' names; one short note from
Hackett, his man of business, alone seemed to excite his attention, and
this he read over twice.

"Look at that, Dan," said he, handing the paper to MacNaghten, who,
walking to the window slowly, perused the following lines:--

"Dear Sir,--In accordance with the directions contained in
your note of Friday last, and handed to me by Mr. Fagan, I
placed at his disposal all the deeds and securities at
present in my possession, for him to select such as would
appear sufficient guarantee for the sum advanced to you on
that day. I now beg to state that he has made choice of the
title to Lucksleven silver mine, and a bond of joint
mortgage over a French estate which I apprehend to form part
of the dowry of Madame Carew. I endeavored to induce him to
make choice of some other equally valuable document, not
knowing whether this selection might be to your satisfaction;
he, however, persisted, and referred to the tenor of your
note to sub