ominy and doom."

"Stuff!" said Jasper, stubbornly, though he winced at her words: "I
don't, on reflection, see that anything can be proved against me. I am
not bound to know why a lady changes her name, nor how she comes by her
money. And as to her credit with tradesmen,--nothing to speak of: most
of what she has got is paid for; what is not paid for is less than the
worth of her goods. Pooh! I am not so easily frightened; much obliged
to you all the same. Go home now; 't is horridly late. Good-night, or
rather good-morning."

"Jasper, mark me, if you see that woman again; if you attempt to save
or screen her,--I shall know, and you lose in me your last friend, last
hope, last plank in a devouring sea!"

These words were so solemnly uttered that they thrilled the heart of
the reckless man. "I have no wish to screen or save her," he said, with
selfish sincerity. "And after what you have said I would as soon enter
a fireship as that house. But let me have some hours to consider what is
best to be done."

"Yes, consider--I shall expect you to-morrow."

He went his way up the twilight streets towards a new lodging he had
hired not far from the showy house. She drew her mantle close round her
gaunt figure, and, taking the opposite direction, threaded thoroughfares
yet lonelier, till she gained the door, and was welcomed back by the
faithful Bridget.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Hope, tells a flattering tale to Mr. Rugge. He is undeceived by a
solicitor; and left to mourn; but in turn, though unconsciously, Mr.
Rugge deceives the solicitor, and the solicitor deceives his
client,--which is 6s. 8d. in the solicitor's pocket.

The next morning Arabella Crane was scarcely dressed before Mr. Rugge
knocked at her door. On the previous day the detective had informed him
that William and Sophy Waife were discovered to have sailed for America.
Frantic, the unhappy manager hurried away to the steam-packet office,
and was favoured by an inspection of the books, which confirmed the
hateful tidings. As if in mockery of his bereaved and defrauded state,
on returning home he found a polite note from Mr. Gotobed, requesting
him to call at the office of that eminent solicitor, with reference to
a young actress, named Sophy Waife, and hinting "that the visit might
prove to his advantage!" Dreaming for a wild moment that Mr. Losely,
conscience-stricken, might through his solicitor pay back his L100, he
rushed incontinent to Mr.