come to Chicago without Miller's knowledge. That same evening
Miller sent me a telegram stating that Pattmore had just received a long
letter, evidently from Mrs. Thayer; on reading it he had shown great
excitement, and had afterwards become gloomy and dejected to an unusual
degree. Miller wished to know whether I had any special instructions
about the letter. As this was the letter which Miss Seaton had secured
the day before, I replied that he need not trouble himself about it, but
that he must keep a close watch upon Pattmore, and endeavor to retain
him in Greenville as long as possible.

By the early mail next morning I received a letter from Dr. Stuart, of
Greenville; having finished the work upon which he had been engaged, he
had begun the analysis of Mrs. Pattmore's bowels; he said that he would
let me know the result within a few days.

The whole affair was now gradually drawing to a focus, and I felt
confident of a successful termination. I therefore instructed Mrs. Warne
to describe me to Mrs. Thayer, and to say that I was watching her
movements constantly.

About nine o'clock that morning Mrs. Thayer went out as usual with Miss
Seaton, and they proceeded straight to Lucille's rooms. They were the
first arrivals, and Mrs. Thayer was admitted to Lucille's presence at
once; but Miss Seaton immediately went back to her boarding-house, as I
wished to have Mrs. Thayer return home alone. Mrs. Thayer was in a more
impressionable state than ever before. The day was dark and lowering,
showing every sign of an approaching storm; outside there had been the
noisy bustle of active business life, while within the limits of
Lucille's mystic chamber all was hushed in a deathly silence. The
monotonous swinging of the lamps, the perfume-laden air, the ghastly
skeletons, and the imperious bearing and powerful will of Lucille--all
struck upon her imagination with resistless force. As she sank into the
seat which Lucille pointed out, she felt like a criminal entering the
prisoner's dock for trial. She felt that she must relieve herself from
her load of guilt or she would forever suffer the torments of remorse.

"Well, my child," said Lucille, in her most solemn tones, "to-day you
have come to learn all, and I trust that you have nerved yourself to
sustain the revelations which I have to make. I have been through many
difficulties and terrible dangers since I last saw you, and a very sad
story has been laid before me. Your situa