eeded to
confide to him, under the seal of temporary secrecy, the stupendous
story of Alden Lytton's double marriage.

He expressed much amazement at the double treachery of the man, deep
sympathy with the sorrows of the suffering and forsaken wife, and great
indignation at the wrongs of the deceived and unhappy young lady.

He readily promised to co-operate with the minister in having the
culprit brought speedily to justice.

"You, madam, of course, as his wife, can take no active part in the
prosecution of this man. You can not even give testimony against him
with your own voice. But you must appear in court, to be identified by
the rector, the sexton and others who witnessed your marriage," said the
lawyer, in taking leave of his visitors.

The rector took Mrs. Grey back to her boarding-house, and while she was
gone upstairs to lay off her bonnet and shawl he told the Misses Crane
that their interesting boarder had confided her trouble to him; that she
had suffered the deepest wrong that any woman could be doomed to bear;
but he could not explain more then; they would know all about it in a
short time, when the wrongdoer should be brought to justice.

And having thus mystified the poor ladies, he further recommended Mary
Grey to their tenderest sympathy and care.

And so he went home, leaving them in a state of greater bewilderment
than ever.

CHAPTER XLIII.

ABOUT BLUE CLIFFS.

Before Mr. and Mrs. Alden Lytton had left Blue Cliff Hall they had made
arrangements for the complete renovation of that old ancestral seat, to
be carried on under the supervision of the Rev. Mr. Lyle.

And they expressed their intention to purchase and send furniture from
London and Paris to refit it.

But the works were scarcely commenced when they had to be suspended for
a few days.

Another death had occurred in the family circle.

Dr. Beresford Jones, after a very pleasant evening spent at Blue Cliff
Hall in company with Mrs. Fanning, Laura Lytton, his granddaughter,
Electra, and his great favorite, Mr. Joseph Brent, arose, saying:

"I will now retire to bed, and I recommend you, Electra, my dear, to do
the same, as we have to rise early to-morrow morning to set out on our
return to Beresford Manors."

And he kissed her good-night, bowed to the other members of the circle,
took up his taper and retired.

The next morning he went away indeed, but not to Beresford Manors.

For when Electra went into his room,