sitting alone in the left hand corner pew. Surely, you must
see him now?" said Salome, bending forward to look again at the stranger.

The next instant she sank back in her seat, nearly fainting.

The pew was empty!

"There is really no one there, my child. Your eyes have deceived you,"
murmured the abbess, gently.

"He was there a moment since, but he has vanished! Oh! mother, what is
the meaning of this?" gasped the girl, turning pale as death.

"The meaning is that your nervous system is shattered, and you are the
victim of optical illusions. Or else--if there was a man really in that
pew--he may have passed out through that little corner door leading
to the vestry. But hush! here comes the priest," said the abbess, as the
procession entered the chancel, preceded by the solemn notes of the
organ.

Since "Miss Levison" was obliged to keep her place in the choir, it was
well that she was an enthusiast in music, and thus able to lose all sense
of care and trouble in the exercise of her divine art.

But for the music she would scarcely have got through the morning
service.

And very much relieved she felt when the benediction was at length
pronounced, and she was at liberty to leave the chapel.

"Oh, madam, this mystery is killing me! I have seen, or fancied I have
seen, the Duke of Hereward in the church three times; yet no one else has
been able to see him! If it was the duke, he has come here for some
fixed purpose. He has, probably, by means of those expert London
detectives, traced me out, and discovered my residence under this sacred
roof. He has followed me here to give me trouble!" said Salome, as soon
she found herself alone with the superior.

"My child," said the lady, "I must reiterate that _you_ have
nothing--_he_ has everything to fear! I do not know, of course, for
even you are not sure that you have really seen him. If you have, he is
in this immediate neighborhood. If he is, why, then, the fact must be
known to nearly every one outside the convent walls. The Duke of Hereward
is not a man whose presence could be ignored. To-morrow, therefore, I
will cause inquiries to be made, and we shall be sure to find out whether
he is really here or not."

"Thanks, good mother, thanks. It will be a great relief to have this
question decided in any way," said Salome, gratefully.

The mother-superior smiled, gave the benediction, and retired.

At vespers that evening, Salome looked all over the church i