was sold, years since, under instructions in my father's
will, and was purchased for the use of a community of nuns. We may look
at the outside, and we can do no more. In the meantime, don't despair of
my recovery; the sea is my old friend, and my trust is in God's mercy."

These last lines were added in a postscript:

"Have you heard any more of that poor girl, the daughter of my old
friend Roderick Westerfield--whose sad story would never have been
known to me but for you? I feel sure that you have good reasons for not
telling me the name of the man who has misled her, or the address at
which she may be found. But you may one day be at liberty to break your
silence. In that case, don't hesitate to do so because there may happen
to be obstacles in my way. No difficulties discourage me, when my end in
view is the saving of a soul in peril."

Randal returned to his desk to write to the Captain. He had only got as
far as the first sentences, when the servant returned with the lawyer's
promised message. Mr. Sarrazin's news was communicated in these cheering
terms:

"I am a firmer believer in luck than ever. If we only make haste--and
won't I make haste!--we may get the Divorce, as I calculate, in three
weeks' time."

Chapter XXX. The Lord President.

Mrs. Linley's application for a Divorce was heard in the first division
of the Court of Session at Edinburgh, the Lord President being the
judge.

To the disappointment of the large audience assembled, no defense was
attempted on the part of the husband--a wise decision, seeing that
the evidence of the wife and her witnesses was beyond dispute. But one
exciting incident occurred toward the close of the proceedings. Sudden
illness made Mrs. Linley's removal necessary, at the moment of all
others most interesting to herself--the moment before the judge's
decision was announced.

But, as the event proved, the poor lady's withdrawal was the most
fortunate circumstance that could have occurred, in her own interests.
After condemning the husband's conduct with unsparing severity, the Lord
President surprised most of the persons present by speaking of the wife
in these terms:

"Grievously as Mrs. Linley has been injured, the evidence shows that she
was herself by no means free from blame. She has been guilty, to say the
least of it, of acts of indiscretion. When the criminal attachment which
had grown up between Mr. Herbert Linley and Miss Westerfield had been
con