y were actually driving home from this seance
with La d'Elphis that the terrible accident, which you of course
remember, occurred,--an accident which resulted in the younger sister's
death, while the elder miraculously escaped unhurt. Jeanne was buried in
her wedding-dress--and the flowers--you recall the wonderful flowers?
The woman's predictions as to Delavigne's constancy came strangely true;
who now remembers Jeanne, save her poor mother--and Delavigne?"

"Yes, it's a very curious, striking story," said Vanderlyn, slowly,
"but--forgive me for saying so--if your niece's marriage had taken place
on the morrow, would anything of all this have been remembered by either
herself or her sister? The predictions of Madame d'Elphis were of a kind
which it would be safe to make of any French girl, belonging to your
world, on the eve of her marriage----"

He stopped abruptly. In his wearied and yet morbidly active mind, an
idea, a suggestion, of which he was half-ashamed, was beginning to
germinate.

"I should be grateful," he said, slowly, "if you can tell me something
more about La d'Elphis. I am quite sure that I shall not be able to
prevent an interview between her and Pargeter,--but still something
might be done--Is she respectable? Can she, for example,"--his eyes
dropped,--"be bribed?"

Madame de Lera looked at Vanderlyn keenly. Perhaps she saw farther into
his mind than an American or an Englishwoman would have done.

"All these sorts of people can be bribed," she said, quietly. "As to her
private life, I know nothing of it, but either of my nephews would be
able to tell you whatever is known of her, for since that tragic affair
our family have always taken a morbid interest in La d'Elphis. Would you
like to know something about her now, at once? Shall I send for my
nephew?"

In answer to Vanderlyn's look, rather than to his muttered assent,
Madame de Lera left the room.

During the few moments of her absence, a plan began to elaborate itself
with insistent clearness in Vanderlyn's mind; he saw, or thought he saw,
that here might be an issue out of his terrible dilemma. And yet, even
while so seeing the way become clear before him, he felt a deep,
instinctive repugnance from the method which would have to be
employed....

There came the sound of footsteps, and, turning his back to the window,
he prepared himself for the inevitable question with which, during the
last three days, almost everyone he met had gree