ost
naturally. But there were a few dying embers in the grate, and when
I saw her thrust her hand again into the folds of her dress I became
distrustful of her intentions and, drawing a step nearer, looked over
her shoulder, when I distinctly saw her drop something into the
grate that clinked as it fell. Suspecting what it was, I was about to
interfere, when she sprang to her feet, seized the scuttle of coal that
was upon the hearth, and with one move emptied the whole upon the dying
embers. 'I want a fire,' she cried, 'a fire!' 'That is hardly the way
to make one,' I returned, carefully taking the coal out with my hands,
piece by piece, and putting it back into the scuttle, till--"

"Till what?" I asked, seeing him and Mr. Gryce exchange a hurried look.

"Till I found this!" opening his large hand, and showing me _a
broken-handled key._

X. MR. GRYCE RECEIVES NEW IMPETUS

"There's nothing ill
Can dwell in such a temple."

Tempest.

THIS astounding discovery made a most unhappy impression upon me. It was
true, then. Eleanore the beautiful, the lovesome, was--I did not, could
not finish the sentence, even in the silence of my own mind.

"You look surprised," said Mr. Gryce, glancing curiously towards the
key. "Now, I ain't. A woman does not thrill, blush, equivocate, and
faint for nothing; especially such a woman as Miss Leavenworth."

"A woman who could do such a deed would be the last to thrill,
equivocate, and faint," I retorted. "Give me the key; let me see it."

He complacently put it in my hand. "It is the one we want. No getting
out of that."

I returned it. "If she declares herself innocent, I will believe her."

He stared with great amazement. "You have strong faith in the women," he
laughed. "I hope they will never disappoint you."

I had no reply for this, and a short silence ensued, first broken by Mr.
Gryce. "There is but one thing left to do," said he. "Fobbs, you will
have to request Miss Leavenworth to come down. Do not alarm her; only
see that she comes. To the reception room," he added, as the man drew
off.

No sooner were we left alone than I made a move to return to Mary, but
he stopped me.

"Come and see it out," he whispered. "She will be down in a moment; see
it out; you had best."

Glancing back, I hesitated; but the prospect of beholding Eleanore again
drew me, in spite of myself. Telling him to wait, I returned to Mary's
side to make my excuses.

"Wha