wever."

"What is that?"

"That if anything should transpire; if Hannah should be found, or--or my
presence required in any way,--you will not keep me in ignorance. That
you will let me know the worst when it conies, without fail."

"I will."

"And now, good-night. Mrs. Veeley is coming back, and you would scarcely
wish to be found here by her."

"No," said I.

And yet I did not go, but stood watching the firelight flicker on her
black dress till the thought of Clavering and the duty I had for the
morrow struck coldly to my heart, and I turned away towards the
door. But at the threshold I paused again, and looked back. Oh, the
flickering, dying fire flame! Oh, the crowding, clustering shadows!
Oh, that drooping figure in their midst, with its clasped hands and its
hidden face! I see it all again; I see it as in a dream; then darkness
falls, and in the glare of gas-lighted streets, I am hastening along,
solitary and sad, to my lonely home.

XXIV. A REPORT FOLLOWED BY SMOKE

"Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises; and oft it hits
Where Hope is coldest, and Despair most sits."
--All's Well that Ends Well.

WHEN I told Mr. Gryce I only waited for the determination of one fact,
to feel justified in throwing the case unreservedly into his hands,
I alluded to the proving or disproving of the supposition that Henry
Clavering had been a guest at the same watering-place with Eleanore
Leavenworth the summer before.

When, therefore, I found myself the next morning with the Visitor Book
of the Hotel Union at R---- in my hands, it was only by the strongest
effort of will I could restrain my impatience. The suspense, however,
was short. Almost immediately I encountered his name, written not half
a page below those of Mr. Leavenworth and his nieces, and, whatever
may have been my emotion at finding my suspicions thus confirmed, I
recognized the fact that I was in the possession of a clue which would
yet lead to the solving of the fearful problem which had been imposed
upon me.

Hastening to the telegraph office, I sent a message for the man promised
me by Mr. Gryce, and receiving for an answer that he could not be with
me before three o'clock, started for the house of Mr. Monell, a client
of ours, living in R----. I found him at home and, during our interview
of two hours, suffered the ordeal of appearing at ease and interested
in what he had to say, while my heart w