ests to that extent."

"Certainly not," admitted Mrs. Berners.

"Well, sir, the next morning after such a carousal, I naturally expected
my guests to sleep late, so I was not surprised that the stillness of
their rooms remained unbroken by any sound even up to ten o'clock. At
that hour however, the bank opened, and I went myself to get my check
cashed. There, sir, I got another check. Judge of my astonishment when
the cashier, after examining Mr. Horace Blondelle's paper, declared that
he knew no such person, and that there was no money deposited in that
bank to the credit of that name."

"It was a swindle!" exclaimed Mr. Berners, impulsively.

"It was a swindle," admitted the landlord. "Yes, sir, a swindle of the
basest sort, though I did not know it even then. I was inclined to be
angry with the cashier, but I reflected that there was probably a
mistake of some sort; so I hurried back home and inquired if Mr. Horace
Blondelle had shown himself yet. I was told that he had not yet even
rung his bell. Then I went to his private parlor, which had been the
scene of last night's dinner giving and Sabbath breaking. The servants
of the house had removed all signs of the carousal, and were moving
noiselessly about the room while restoring it to order, so as not to
disturb the rest of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Blondelle in the bedroom
adjoining. I told my people that, as soon as Mr. Blondelle should awake,
they must tell him that I begged leave to wait on him on a matter of
business. It is as well to say, that while I lingered in the room, the
nurse came in with the child, a pretty, fair-haired boy of five years
old. They occupied a little chamber at the end of the passage, in easy
reach of the child's mother. The nurse came in, hushing and cautioning
the child not to make a noise, lest he should wake up poor mamma and
papa, who were so tired. I mention this little domestic incident
because, in some strange way that I cannot begin to understand, it
quieted my misgivings, so that I went below and waited patiently for the
rising of Mr. Horace Blondelle. Madam, I might have waited till this
time!" said the landlord, pausing solemnly.

"Why? go on and tell me!" impulsively exclaimed Mrs. Berners.

"Why? I will soon let you know. I waited until long after noon. And
still no sound from the bedroom. I walked in and out of the
sitting-room, where the table was set for breakfast, and still no sound
from the bedroom. And in the sitting-r