new since I joined the force. A man as was a Member
of Parliament only last Session,--as belongs to no end of swell
clubs, a gent as well known in London as any gent about the town! And
I'd have had him back in three months, as sure as my name's Walker."
And that superintendent felt that his profession and his country were
alike disgraced.

And now George Vavasor vanishes from our pages, and will be heard of
no more. Roebury knew him no longer, nor Pall Mall, nor the Chelsea
Districts. His disappearance was a nine days' wonder, but the world
at large knew nothing of the circumstances of that attempt in Suffolk
Street. Mr Grey himself told the story to no one, till he told it to
Mr Palliser at Lucerne. Mr Scruby complained bitterly of the way in
which Vavasor had robbed him; but I doubt whether Scruby, in truth,
lost much by the transaction. To Kate, down in Westmoreland, no
tidings came of her brother, and her sojourn in London with her aunt
had nearly come to an end before she knew that he was gone. Even then
the rumour reached her through Captain Bellfield, and she learned
what few facts she knew from Mrs Bunsby in Cecil Street.

"He was always mysterious," said Mrs Greenow, "and now he has
vanished. I hate mysteries, and, as for myself, I think it will be
much better that he should not come back again." Perhaps Kate was of
the same opinion, but, if so, she kept it to herself.

CHAPTER LXXIII

In Which Come Tidings of Great Moment to All Pallisers

It was not till they had been for a day or two together at Lucerne
that Mr Grey told Mr Palliser the story of George Vavasor's visit to
him in Suffolk Street. Having begun the history of his connection
with Alice, he found himself obliged to go with it to the end, and as
he described the way in which the man had vanished from the sight of
all who had known him,--that he had in truth gone, so as no longer to
be a cause of dread, he could not without dissimulation, keep back
the story of that last scene. "And he tried to murder you!" said Mr
Palliser. "He should be caught and,--and--" Mr Palliser hesitated,
not liking to say boldly that the first cousin of the lady who was
now living with him ought to be hung.

"It is better as it is," said Grey.

"He actually walked into your rooms in the day time, and fired a
pistol at you as you were sitting at your breakfast! He did that in
London, and then walked off and went abroad, as though he had nothing
to fear!"