iety); 'and I took the ladies to a hotel. The hotel
possessed two merits from our point of view--it had a way out at the
back, through the stables, and it was kept by a landlord who was an
excellent good friend of mine. I arranged with him what he was to say
when inquiries were made; and I kept my poor ladies prisoners in their
lodgings for three days. The end of it is that Mr. Linley's policeman
has gone away to watch the Channel steam-service, while we return
quietly by way of Bremen and Hull.' There is the courier's account of
it. I have only to add that poor Mrs. Linley has been fairly frightened
into submission. She changes her mind again, and pledges herself once
more to apply for the Divorce. If we are only lucky enough to get our
case heard without any very serious delay, I am not afraid of my client
slipping through my fingers for the second time. When will the courts of
session be open to us? You have lived in Scotland, Randal--"

"But I haven't lived in the courts of law. I wish I could give you the
information you want."

Mr. Sarrazin looked at his watch. "For all I know to the contrary," he
said, "we may be wasting precious time while we are talking here. Will
you excuse me if I go away to my club?"

"Are you going in search of information?"

"Yes. We have some inveterate old whist-players who are always to be
found in the card-room. One of them formerly practiced, I believe, in
the Scotch courts. It has just occurred to me that the chance is worth
trying."

"Will you let me know if you succeed?" Randal asked.

The lawyer took his hand at parting. "You seem to be almost as anxious
about it as I am," he said.

"To tell you the truth, I am a little alarmed when I think of Catherine.
If there is another long delay, how do we know what may happen before
the law has confirmed the mother's claim to the child? Let me send one
of the servants here to wait at your club. Will you give him a line
telling me when the trial is likely to take place?"

"With the greatest pleasure. Good-night."

Left alone, Randal sat by the fireside for a while, thinking of the
future. The prospect, as he saw it, disheartened him. As a means of
employing his mind on a more agreeable subject for reflection, he opened
his traveling desk and took out two or three letters. They had been
addressed to him, while he was in America, by Captain Bennydeck.

The captain had committed an error of which most of us have been guilty
in our t