ly; "what happened next?"

Next she tells of the sudden appearance of the strange detective; and
here O'Meara seems very much interested, and Mr. Wedron very little.

He does not interrupt her, nor display much interest, until she reaches
the point in her narrative when she discovers the loss of Sybil's
letter.

"Well!" he cries, as she hesitates once more. "Go on! go on! about that
letter."

"Gentlemen," says Constance, contritely, "here, if I could, I would
spare myself. When Doctor Heath came, to return the bottle borrowed by
the detective, I accused him of taking the letter."

"What!" starting violently; "you suspected him?"

"I insulted him."

"And he--"

"He resented the insult in the only way possible to a gentleman. He
accepted it in silence, and turned his back upon me."

"Ah! and since that time?"

"Since that time I have received no intimation that Doctor Heath is
aware of my existence."

"Ah-h-h!" ejaculates Mr. Wedron; "and you have not found the letter?"

"No. Its fate remains a mystery."

"Do you still believe that Doctor Heath could account for its
disappearance, if he would?"

"On sober second thought, I could see no motive for taking the letter.
I was hasty in my accusation. I came to that decision long ago."

"You were deeply grieved over the _mesalliance_ of Miss Lamotte?"

"She was my dearest friend."

"Was?" inquiringly.

Constance pales slightly, but does not correct herself.

"Miss Lamotte's strange marriage has been since explained, I believe?"

"_No, sir!_ not to my satisfaction."

"What! Was it not to save a scapegrace brother?"

"Stop, sir! That scapegrace brother is the one of all that family most
worthy your respect and mine. You wish me to tell you of the family; let
me begin with Evan."

Beginning where she had dropped her story, Constance goes on. She
outlines the visits of the two detectives; she tells how Frank Lamotte
received the news of his sister's flight.

Then she paints in glowing, enthusiastic language, the interview with
Evan in the garden. She pictures his grief, his rage, his plea that she
will stand fast as his sister's friend and champion. She repeats his odd
language; describes his sudden change of manner; his declaration that he
will find a reason for Sybil's conduct, that shall shield Sybil, and be
acceptable to all.

Then she tells how the rumor that Sybil had sacrificed herself for
Evan's sake grew and spread, and how the boy had sanct