t. She
rose, and pointed to the door. "Go back to America, as soon as you
please," she said; "and find the money you want--if you can."

As a proof that she was in earnest she took her copy of the cipher out
of the bosom of her dress, and threw it into the fire. "The original is
safe in my old man's keeping," she added. "Leave the room."

James rose with suspicious docility, and walked out, having his own
private ends in view.

Half an hour later, Mrs. Westerfield's old man was interrupted over his
work by a person of bulky and blackguard appearance, whom he had never
seen before.

The stranger introduced himself as a gentleman who was engaged to marry
Mrs. Westerfield: he requested (not at all politely) to be permitted to
look at the cipher. He was asked if he had brought a written order to
that effect, signed by the lady herself. Mr. Bellbridge, resting his
fists on the writing-table, answered that he had come to look at the
cipher on his own sole responsibility, and that he insisted on seeing it
immediately. "Allow me to show you something else first," was the reply
he received to this assertion of his will and pleasure. "Do you know
a loaded pistol, sir, when you see it?" The barrel of the pistol
approached within three inches of the barman's big head as he leaned
over the writing-table. For once in his life he was taken by surprise.
It had never occurred to him that a professed interpreter of ciphers
might sometimes be trusted with secrets which placed him in a position
of danger, and might therefore have wisely taken measures to protect
himself. No power of persuasion is comparable to the power possessed by
a loaded pistol. James left the room; and expressed his sentiments in
language which has not yet found its way into any English Dictionary.

But he had two merits, when his temper was in a state of repose. He
knew when he was beaten; and he thoroughly appreciated the value of
the diamonds. When Mrs. Westerfield saw him again, on the next day, he
appeared with undeniable claims on her mercy. Notice of the marriage
had been received at the church; and a cabin had been secured for her on
board the steamer.

Her prospects being thus settled, to her own satisfaction, Mrs.
Westerfield was at liberty to make her arrangements for the desertion of
poor little Syd.

The person on whose assistance she could rely was an unmarried elder
sister, distinguished as proprietor of a cheap girls' school in one
of the subu