iend's suggestion,
consulted a file of newspapers--discovered the report--and became aware,
for the first time, that a collection of Brazilian diamonds, consigned
to the Liverpool firm, was missing from the wrecked vessel when she had
been boarded by the salvage party, and had not been found since. Events,
which it was impossible for him to mention (seeing that doing so
would involve a breach of confidence placed in him in his professional
capacity), had revealed to his knowledge a hiding-place in which these
same diamonds, in all probability, were concealed. This circumstance had
left him no alternative, as an honest man, but to be beforehand with the
persons, who (as he believed) contemplated stealing the precious stones.
He had, accordingly, taken them under his protection, until they were
identified and claimed by the rightful owners. In now appealing to these
gentlemen, he stipulated that the claim should be set forth in writing,
addressed to him under initials at a post-office in London. If the
lost property was identified to his satisfaction, he would meet--at a
specified place and on a certain day and hour--a person accredited by
the firm and would personally restore the diamonds, without claiming
(or consenting to receive) a reward. The conditions being complied
with, this remarkable interview took place; the writer of the letter,
described as an infirm old man very poorly dressed, fulfilled his
engagement, took his receipt, and walked away without even waiting to
be thanked. It is only an act of justice to add that the diamonds were
afterward counted, and not one of them was missing."

Miserable, deservedly-miserable married pair. The stolen fortune, on
which they had counted, had slipped through their fingers. The berths in
the steamer for New York had been taken and paid for. James had married
a woman with nothing besides herself to bestow on him, except an
incumbrance in the shape of a boy.

Late on the fatal wedding-day his first idea, when he was himself
again after the discovery in the summer-house, was to get back his
passage-money, to abandon his wife and his stepson, and to escape
to America in a French steamer. He went to the office of the English
company, and offered the places which he had taken for sale. The season
of the year was against him; the passenger-traffic to America was at its
lowest ebb, and profits depended upon freights alone.

If he still contemplated deserting his wife, he must al