lly with him. If the last
named knows anything, you must be careful.
(Signed) SEFTON."

After reading this, Mr. Mitchel completed his toilet, used the despatch
to light a cigarette, and then took his _fiancee_ to the opera.

CHAPTER XIV.

AN INTERRUPTED WEDDING.

During the time spent by Mr. Barnes in the South, his spies in New York
discovered little, or nothing, against the persons whom they had been
charged to watch. Indeed from the standpoint of a detective, the actions
of all had been most uninteresting. The usual round of social affairs,
the customary number of theatre or opera parties, the regular afternoon
teas, in fact the ordinary routine life of the man or woman of fashion,
was all that could be observed. Yet of course these weeks did not pass
without any occurrence of note. The chief one perhaps, was the naming of
the day, upon which the wedding of Mr. Mitchel and Miss Remsen was to
occur. This was May 5th, the very day upon which Mr. Barnes would reach
New York with Mr. Neuilly.

Thus, fate seemed hurrying on a climax which was to occur on the wedding
day. In New Orleans a detective was seeking evidence upon which he hoped
to convict a man of the heinous crime of murder, whilst in New York a
beautiful woman was bestowing her faith upon this same man, and with the
assistance of many fingers, preparing to bedeck herself in bridal finery
for his delectation. Meanwhile, the man himself acted most
unconcernedly. He seemed to consider himself beyond the risk of danger,
and he accepted his happiness as does one who had honorably earned it.

Of much interest to us, in the light of fast approaching events, was the
curious conduct of Dora Remsen during this period. It will be remembered
that Mr. Randolph had lost an opportunity of declaring himself, and that
he warned the young lady against Mr. Thauret as one not to be trusted.
This kind of advice, it is to be presumed, is offered by the one giving
it, with some idea, however distant, that it may be accepted. Yet the
histories of many lives would show that only a small percentage of
similar advice has ever been received with acquiescence. Indeed, it
might also be said that many persons have been hurried into each other's
arms by the interference of wiseacres, when perhaps, if left to
themselves, they would have drifted apart. At least so it seemed in this
case. Mr. Thauret had become not only a co