ling into the hands of the adventurer, Saul
Jacobi. For the moment his own soul seemed to yearn over the boy who
was his sisters' darling and the object of their thoughts and prayers.

"Look here, old fellow," he went on, as Cedric seemed relapsing into
moody silence, "there is no use beating about the bush. I have come
down to-night to have a talk with you, because a report has reached my
ears. Is it true that you have been mad enough to engage yourself to
the lady calling herself Miss Jacobi?" Then Cedric flushed up, and his
eyes blazed with anger.

"May I ask if the report be true?" went on Malcolm, taking no notice of
Cedric's fiery looks.

"I object to the manner in which you frame your question," returned
Cedric proudly. Strange to say, at that moment he reminded Malcolm of
Elizabeth. "Granted that such a report were true, I fail to see where
the madness comes in. Any man might consider himself fortunate in
winning the affections of a woman like Leah Jacobi."

"And you are engaged to her? Speak out, man; I suppose you don't intend
to keep your engagement dark?"

"Of course not," angrily; but Cedric's manner was decidedly
embarrassed, and he seemed unwilling to look Malcolm in the face. "But
I must tell you, Herrick, that I strongly object to the way you are
questioning me. I don't want to quarrel with you, but what the deuce
can it matter to you if I choose to keep my private affairs to myself
for a week or two! I have reasons of my own for not wishing my sisters
to hear of my engagement for a fortnight or so. I--I," hesitating and
floundering in his sentence, "meant to tell them myself, and to
introduce Leah to them. It is a confounded shame," lashing himself up
to great wrath, "that it should have leaked out in this underhand
fashion. May I ask how you got your information?"

Malcolm considered for a moment; then he made up his mind that it was
best to be perfectly open.

"I had it from a man who knows the Jacobis. His name is Hugh Rossiter.
He is a friend of the Godfreys."

Cedric started. "I had quite forgotten that," he muttered; "the fat's
in the fire with a vengeance." Then aloud, "Why, the fellow's in love
with Leah himself. He made up to her, only Jacobi would not hear of it.
He said he could not bear the idea of the roving, uncomfortable life
she would have to lead as his wife."

"Mr. Rossiter is not well off, is he?" asked Malcolm tentatively. Then
Cedric looked at him as if he suspected some