or the wife may have written to members of her family. Both
myself and friend are of opinion that the latter chance is the likelier
of the two. If you have any means of access in the direction of the
wife's family, we strongly recommend you to make use of them. If not,
please supply us with the names of any of her near relations or intimate
female friends whom you know, and we will endeavor to get access for
you.

"In any case, we request you will at once favor us with the most exact
personal description that can be written of both the parties. We may
require your assistance, in this important particular, at five minutes'
notice. Favor us, therefore, with the description by return of post.
In the meantime, we will endeavor to ascertain on our side whether any
information is to be privately obtained at Mr. Loscombe's office. The
lawyer himself is probably altogether beyond our reach. But if any one
of his clerks can be advantageously treated with on such terms as may
not overtax your pecuniary resources, accept my assurance that the
opportunity shall be made the most of by, dear madam, your faithful
servant,

"ALFRED DE BLERIOT."

VII.

_From Mr. Pendril to Norah Vanstone._

"Serle Street, October 27th. 1847.

"MY DEAR MISS VANSTONE--A lady named Lecount (formerly attached to Mr.
Noel Vanstone's service in the capacity of housekeeper) has called at my
office this morning, and has asked me to furnish her with your address.
I have begged her to excuse my immediate compliance with her request,
and to favor me with a call to-morrow morning, when I shall be prepared
to meet her with a definite answer.

"My hesitation in this matter does not proceed from any distrust of Mrs.
Lecount personally, for I know nothing whatever to her prejudice. But
in making her request to me, she stated that the object of the desired
interview was to speak to you privately on the subject of your sister.
Forgive me for acknowledging that I determined to withhold the address
as soon as I heard this. You will make allowances for your old friend,
and your sincere well-wisher? You will not take it amiss if I express my
strong disapproval of your allowing yourself, on any pretense whatever,
to be mixed up for the future with your sister's proceedings.

"I will not distress you by saying more than this. But I feel too
deep an interest in your welfare, and too sincere an admiration of the
patience with which you have borne all your trials, to