gment. The case, well put, found strength in the contention that the
last move had not been made, since the three most important characters
in the play had not been put to the question.

His mind ran over the chief incidents in that remarkable fight which
Arthur Dillon had waged in behalf of his people: the interview before
the election of Birmingham, ... the intrigues in London, the dexterous
maneuvers which had wrecked the campaign against the Irish, had silenced
McMeeter, stunned the Bishop, banished Fritters, ruined Sister Claire,
tumbled him from his lofty position, and cut off his shining future. How
frightful the thought that this wide ruin might have been wrought by an
Endicott, one of his own blood!

"A woman's instincts are admirable," he said, politely and gravely, "and
they have led you admirably in this case. But in face of three facts,
the failure of the detective, the declaration of Mr. Dillon, and your
failure to recognize your husband after five years, it would be absurd
to persist in the belief that this young man is your husband. Moreover
there are intrinsic difficulties, which would tell even if you had made
out a good case for the theory. No Endicott would take up intimate
connection with the Irish. He would not know enough about them, he could
not endure them; his essence would make the scheme, even if it were
presented to him by others, impossible. One has only to think of two or
three main difficulties to feel and see the utter absurdity of the whole
thing."

"No doubt," replied Sonia sweetly. "Yet I am determined not to miss this
last opportunity to find my husband. If it fails I shall get my divorce,
and ... bother with the matter no more."

Edith smiled faintly at the suggestive pause, and murmured the intended
phrase, "marry Quincy Lenox."

"Very well," said the lawyer. "You have only to begin divorce
proceedings here, issue a summons for the real Horace Endicott, and
serve the papers on Mr. Arthur Dillon. You must be prepared for many
events however. The whole business will be ventilated in the journals.
The disappearance will come up again, and be described in the light of
this new sensation. Mr. Dillon is eminent among his people, and well
known in this city. It will be a year's wonder to have him sued in a
divorce case, to have it made known that he is supposed to be Horace
Endicott."

"That is unavoidable," Edith prompted, seeing a sudden shrinking on the
part of Sonia. "Do not fo