t, had always accompanied me. I spoke of
you as a perfect lady, and as being a true friend of mine, and that you
often cautioned me against talking too much. I said that if it was De
Forest he alluded to, I was perfectly safe in his company. I asked him
if he thought it likely that I, whose interests were identical with his,
would be likely to prove untrue to him, and told him he might rest
perfectly assured that I would do nothing without his knowledge and
consent."

They walked to Stemples's and posted the letter. On the way they met De
Forest, but Mrs. Maroney took no notice of him. After mailing the
letter, they strolled through the pleasure grounds for some time. At
last they separated, each taking their respective way home.

At the tavern Madam Imbert was met by De Forest, who requested a private
interview. She readily consented, and, after tea, met him in the
sitting-room. De Forest related his sorrowful story, and asked her if
she knew what had caused Mrs. Maroney to treat him so harshly.

She said, "these things will happen once in a while; it is part of a
woman's nature to take sudden and unaccountable freaks; but all will be
right by-and-by." She quoted Scott's beautiful lines:

"O Woman! in our hours of ease
Uncertain, coy and hard to please,
And variable as the shade
By the light quivering aspen made:
When pain and anguish wring the brow,
A ministering Angel thou--"

De Forest fervently hoped that, as she had brought "pain and anguish"
to his brow, she would now become his "ministering angel," and went off
somewhat comforted. Madam Imbert saw Mrs. Maroney in the evening and
told her of the interview with De Forest. This made her feel quite
happy, and she even remarked: "I think I have been too hard on the poor
fellow."

White and Maroney were together when Mrs. Maroney's letter arrived.
Maroney read it carefully through and then went to his cell. In the
afternoon, White observed him writing and directed Shanks to open the
letter when he received it. Shanks did so and found it was to his wife.

He wrote that he was happy to hear that she was still true to him, and
to find that he had been deceived. He felt assured that the blow must
have been aimed by some of his enemies. If he were at liberty he would
find the man, but as he was not he would have to wait. He directed her
to endeavor to find out who had sent the letter. As she assured him she
would do nothing witho