The Cambrian

INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM "THE CAMBRIAN" OF 1804. ENGLAND THREATENS WAR WITH SPAIN. DESPERATE FIGHT WITH A FRENCH PRIVATEER. The cession of Louisiana to America is likely, it eeiiis. to provoke a war between Spain and the Cnited States, as the two Powers canot .satisfactorily settle their re- spective limit- A very considerable body of Spanish troops is stated to be marching to the frontiers ot Louisiana. It is suspected that Bonaparte, ever fertile in creating mis- chief. has provoked the rupture by way of retaliation on the Americans, who have lately maniie ted a becoming resentment against his tyrannical proceedings. From the war- like genius or the Spaniards, the Americans have, however, little to fear should hostilities actually take place. The principles of the Spanish Cabinet ap- pear to be acquiring more of the Gallic spiiit. and it is become doubtful whether our rela- tions with Spain will remain much longer in that kind of halt hostile, half pacific situation in which they have been since the commence- ment of the war. It is not true that. the Spanish Ambassador, M. D'Andagaa. lias quitted this coantry; he only went to Fal- mouth for the purpose of embarking Irs family to Spain, and has since returned to town. As w: to ho expected after the examp--> of Bremen. Hamburg is doomed l,) experience the bles>ed effect:! of French Ir.ternity, an other loan hiving been demanded by tho States of Hanover, or rather it shoird be said by the French. Upwards of 2,000^ per- sons, principally Hanoverians and .1, lntnbi- tants of Hamburg, lately embarked for America irom fcliat city, with t.ie intention of establishing themselves in the Govern- meut 01 the l mteet Siates.

Thai Dilatory Invasion. By accounts from the coast this morning, we learn t.iat on Luesday last (.apt Owen, in the luimortaiite, made a dash at 40 or do of the enemy s luggers and gan.brigs a. they were attempting to get into port, and as 1.0 got within range o. grapeshot. tlieie U ti.tie doubt they were se /ereiy peppered. They were thrown into great confusion, some run- ning into Lcuiogne and others into Vimeieux. They were so li.gnceried as to make little or no resistance, but the guns and mortars on shore were actively employed. A state- that the little amusea.oat WHICH tne squadron of the Bou- logne iiot.iia ga, e oar detachinc-nt a short time aga was a-n experiment on the part o: the eneu:y 10 a:'certain how many [II their gunboats couid be got ready to proceed to attack tins country 1:1 one t.de. i'he result of the exper. merit irorn his calculations piovts that tne pit's. io.ee at Boulogne would occupy a pace of ioai days in arranging without tae iuubojr .ere they could bestow a th night on t.ie ddiieulties which must af- teiwurus O.CL; m che.r attempt to cro-s THE Channel. Several i'.ie.-iiips have been fitted out from Deal and i'ort<u;>>uth xor the coast of France. (jloveinineiK nave it in eont-implati >rr to send otf with z,l- next cargo of convicts It): Botany Bay ail sa iiireigner.- -is shall be found on the .-cu co. st vviiii .at a proper licence from the alien otia-je.

Napoleon s Pin-Prick to Russia. The marginal ron against France of the: King of Sueicfi has itppeared bv his order to tHe inaijiier and all ltis subjects to quit 1* that kingdom within a limited time. and to all the French to qu-t the kingdom of Sweden, Jhe appearances, too. or th" un- friendly .sput..monts between the courts of St. Petersburg and Paris, being on the in- crease rather tlian on the diminution, are not altered. The French envoy at Peters.burgh has been recalled, 'ine ti us Mian Minister lias arrived at Mentz, where he is to ieaiu.n until the French Ambassador arrives at the Russian frontiers. If this compulsory, and done by Bonaparte to insinuate that the French Minister would not be sale in Russia without such a precaution, it is a veiy foolish *tep on h:s part. For no creature oat of France will believe such a thing. Evetyone will observe wita contempt the malignity of the Emperor; the insult will provoke Kussia; and render all accommodation more difficult.

Austria and the coming Struggle. Letter; fiom Vienna .state tiiat tiiough the Emperor is determined to tike no pari in the conflict betwixt Frar.ee and Russ.a, he s res^ d\ed to sp-ira no pains to keep up his military establishment on the mo t respect- able tooting. Every corp. i- kept up to its full complement, nr.d every vacancy immedi- ately .-uplitd. | lle Archduke is inciefi.tig.ib e m h-s attention to every department (ir the service; and it Austria were at lengtu forced' nito the war sue vvuuld be able too.ing int., the held an army not more formicwb e lor its discipline tiuin l'ro;u its numbers According to a letter from The Hague, the camp at z*e;.st, so far from breaking up, will probably be continued during a pert of the winter, a- a French courier leceniiy biough'. orders of (General Marmont to erect b ;rrac cs for his troops encamped there. 1 li s is re garded in Holland as another proof thai, tue I (Jalio-Batavian army, in b.-ing ca1 ed tiie right wing ot the Army of Eng. md. i. at the same time an army of observation with regard to the Continent. The Diet of Kat son, on the 27th elt,. ad- journed to the 11th of November, having nothing further to deliberate upon thus pass- ing over the violation of German tern tones by the .seizure and subsequent minder OT the Duke D'Enghien. L'nder the pre-ent cii cumstanccs of Europe, it was not indeed probable that the Diet would venture to tr raign the conduct o: the Corsican Empero' Bonaparte was expected to leave Aix-la- C hapelle on the 15th and proceed to Met.LZ. The circumstance of Talleyrand. Count Co- benzel and the Marquis Luccliesine having met it the former place has. created a sus- picion t.iat an alliance luis been formed be- tween France. Au-tria and Prussia. The Russian Government Ls making the most active preparations, The fore? already assembled in the <tni.in Islands amounts t"> 15.000. Another army. equal in number i has been assembled in the Cherson (Crimea) for the purpose, it is supposed, of embarking for the Mediterranean, and a camp of 30.000 men is forming on the Dne ster. From a view of the sentiments and situations of the great Continental Power', it should seem es if weiv were on the eve of great events.

Mediterranean Matters. Extract uf it letter from the Mediterranean, brought bv tite Agincourt :— "1 here are eleven :¡d uÍ the i-ne off ioulon with L »rd Nelson- and the French liilve eig;it the line in perfect readiness for sea whicii occasionally come out when our ships are <► distance fiom the siiore. The nihrm .suite of his lordship's health, it i, confident.y be- lieved in the fieet, will shortly cause him to return to England. The Ru-.si;<ii<. it is .-•us- pected intanci to send a force into Naples. Genoa is sa closely blockaded by tiie English that no ve.s.-el can come out without being j ciptuied. We keep a ship of the line in Naples Bay to watch the movements Ottttc-j French who are r.ot far off that neighbour- hood. The Straits ot Messina, and that neighbourhood are guarded by five frigates under Capt Cracrait, o: the Anson, to pre- vent the French t ikirg po-session of Seicilv. bird Keitli sailed on Saturday for the French coast in the Monarch, and Sir Home Popham in the Swiit, lugger, The Immor- talite and the other ves els which had been driven into the Downs have also saded for the French coast. The Flushing and Ostend flotillas have sailed for Boulogne and Dun- kirk. and there now no ganbo;,t, or other ves- els in either of the two Jonner port- except one frig it* off Ostend. Sir Sidney Smith is expected t- > leave town in a few days for the Downs. He is to have an active command. Orders were received on Friday at Ply- mouth tor ail the frigates to get ready for sea, as soon as po sible. It is imagined they are to cru:,se off Spain and Portugal and to the southward.

"Straight Tip" to Spain. Wednesday. Sept. iioth. Yesterday in consequence o: an invitation from Loid iiariowby, Secretary of State for the foreign department, a. deputation of the most, eminent mei'clumts engaged in the Spanish trade waited upon his io^dship. He stated, to them that the relations b. tween Spain and this country at the pre-ent mo- ment were felt by tiie Ivings Ministers to be in a very unsatisfactory state. Arma- merits were going on in the" ports o: Spain. and no saiheient, explanation could be ob- tained as to tiie object ot tiieai.. L'ndji tiio pretext of neutrality, also. Spam iurnr-hed to our enemy money, aiu; every t.nd of >up- plies for carrwuig on the v:r against us It was judged necessary, t!ie;foie, by his :\1:1.- jesty's Ministers, that this uncertain and d.s- advantageous state ot tilings sit;,aid not con- tinue; and lest the steps 1" n to bring the Spanish Government, to a s .tislactoiy ex- planation, and to procure suitable satisiac- tion, should not be attended by success, he thought it proper to apprize them of th: that uiey might take sucti measures ot pie- cautions, as tney siiould judge necessary to save themselves from lo-s ana inconvenience in the event of a rupture. TIle interview continued for some houis, during which many giievaiices were urged by the mercantile interest again-1 the Spanisii (iovernment, and particularly against the infract-on of that article .n the Letty o¡ Amiens which provided for a lestoration ot the English property tnat had been confis- cated in the poits ot Spam, or for an equ.t- abtt. indemnity in lien Pi it. The tunds were not affected, but policies were done to a very large. amount, on titeun- mediate pes ability of it. war with Spam. Tvventv-tive guineas were given lor tae retain of one hundred if hostilities were begun be- tAeen Great Britain and Spain in ta. course of three months. However warlike these progno-tics may he. Mr. Welleslev continues every prep n\,ti n for his itn.<on to Spam, and there is c vc:y likelihood of lus setting out lor that Court in the coarse of a very iew days. By a letter from an officer on board the illustrious, of 74 guns, off Ferrol, dated the 16th inst. it appears that most positive or- ders had been issued for the immediate equipment of all Spanish sinj-JT 0: war, at CorunnaandFerro).

Swansea's First" Sore Arrus" COWPOCK —Thomas Will'-mis (member of the Roval College of Surgeons. London), j apothecary, man-midwife, chemist, and dlug- 1,v 1 gist, Wind street. Swari-ea. Has htdy rê- ceived a large supply of genuine (. (1 ( MATTER irom a member of the iioval Jen- nerian Society, and has since inoculated yearly forty children in the town and neigh- bourhood of Swansea; all of which took the infection immediately; and being anxious to contribute t > the extirpation of that terrible malady, the small pox. which has swept away so many llundreds of, our finest children, he will inoculate the children, of gentlen'en and trade-men at five shillings each, and poor people « clnidren gratis.

Farewell to his Flock. Our much esteemed friend, the Rev. Thos Da vies, curate of St. Mary's in this town. took leave of us last Sunday in a farewell sermon which comprehended a general view oi; our Clif.stian obligations, md'ividua'"y ari-d collectively. His advice to his young friends was deeply and affect.nglv interesting its chief object to Multiply a race in wor.-uippers, Holy and just; thri-e happy if they know Their happiness and pei^evere^ upnght. Ar.d thus their Sabbath keep." The apostrophe to our venen.b e and worthy Vicar wa- as horiourab'e ::s it w,i. just'; the conclusion embodied all t.iat coud be uttered with all that could be lelt iiiuc-li impressed Himself, as conscious (,i his awful charge. And anxious mainly that the flock he led blight feel it too." Probably nothing interests the human mind so much as parting from those who have in any manner contributed to or promoted oar toaiporal well-doing. It niuv be judged therefore what was felt in pait'ng from him whose sole object was our eternal welfare. May those doctrines it was his study to dis- seminate among us be productive of the end he wished, and that though for a time he has bid us farewell, we may. profiting both by his precepts and example-—meet again!

Nelson's Blind Eye. It is generally understood that the gallant Lord Neison has lost one eye; and a iew davs ago a paragraph appeared in one of the pa- pers (from which it was copied by others) lamenting that his. remaining eve.wis con- siderably weaker of sight, oi late, and ex- pressing an apprehension that lie might alto, gether lose his sight. We beg leave to state tor the benefit of those of Ins luidship's ad- mirers who are not personally acquainted with him, that Lord Xelson is not blind of either eye. It is true that he, for a short time, lost the sight of one eye, but tn-.is has been happily restored. He has also a speck on the other eye; but that lie could see with both at no very distant date we are assured on the best authority, that of his lordship's own information, who has declared that "he could see best with what people called his worst eye."

THE GRAND OLD REMEDY f PrtWFI T'S 1 rCouglis,Colds,| Asthma,Bronchitisi I o a CHEMISTS & STORES.

CASE OF MR. HAWKES. Law Society's Adverse Report. High Court Exonerates Him of all Charges. In the matter of George Edwaid Gas oigne Hawkes, a solicitor. This ctus-e cam; boiori. tb., Lord Chief Justice, and Ju.stiec.s VvTds and Chanirell, sitting as a divisioiial couit, in the High Court of Justice. London, on I'u'.s- ei.ay on the report of the Statutory Committer, of the Incorporated Law Society, which had heard the application against the solicitor, made by Clement Hubert Trueman, David William* Davies, Jesse John Bailey, a:.d Charles Cheek Mr. Hawkes was described in the applica- tions as of No. 9, Castle Street, Swansea, and he was charged with professional misconduct. lae committee reported that the applicants filed their applications in per.-on, and stated that tiiey hicl not the means to obtain pro- fessional assistance. The committee consid- ering it a case in which assistance was desir- able, appointed Mr. W. R. Collins, solicitor, of Swansea, to represent the applicants. I'lie committee heard the matter on fouir days in November and one in December, 1902. Tiie respondent appeared in person and laid before the Court a very long and elaborate report, from which it appeared that the complainants were Robert Trueman, an engineer, residing at the Parade, Neath, David William Davies. a certificated be.iiilf, of Woodbine House, nri- ton Ferry, and John Bailey, an eJigineer an.l iron merol.ant of Port Talbot. l'he applica- tion of Charles Civak was not proceeded with. The respondent, Mr. Hawker, it was stated, was admitted a solicitor in May, 1892, and now practices at Neath. He was in tne office of Messrs. Viner Leader and Morris, soiicitors, Swansea, as mirrriging ckrk, from 1895 to 1300. He entered, it was said, into a bon l w itii Messrs. Viner Leeder and Co., not to practice within a certain distance of Swansea. A receiving evrderjti ba.ukruptcy was made against him on the 27th ilay, 18f»3, and in December, 1901, he obtained his d's- charge. The complainants aiffdavits c-ont!hi- ed 25 charges against Mr. Hawkes, but the statutory committee* only dealt with the fol- lowing tour, being of opinion that the others did not disclose any prima facie case of pro- fcssionul misconduct: — (1) That- the respondent brought an action against the complainant to recover the amount of a bill of costs which was not properly chargeable against the complainant, and that in that action he falsely swore that the com- plainant was indebted to him in a sum of £6312 Is., as set out in a bill of costs dated 29th Aprd, 1901. (2) That the respondent falsely swore that he paid a certain sum of £5 to the Official Re- eeiver. and that a sum of £17 13s. 6d. re- feried to in a certain affidavit made by res- pondent included a sum of £5 paid to the (Official Receiver. (3) That the resp indent levied execution at the complainant's residence m direct viola- tion of all agreement lIe had made that he would not do í"0, a.r:d that inconsequence the complainant had to peiy £93 5s. into Court to prevent the sale. (4/ That the respondent charged in a bill of costs which he taxed pursuant to an orditr elated the 3-d February, 1902, a sum of £1 h. ,<s paid to one D. W. Davies, whereas he nad not paid that sum ov any part of it. The above charges which were selected from the twenty-five brought by Mr. Irueman, were also found not to be proved, but other charges, also numerous, made by the other complain- ants, were gone into very and as a re- suit the committee reported that the respon dent advised and prepared an agreement which purported to be made in pursuance thereon from the comphiinant Bailey, to one Law, dated Augarst 27th, respectively, knowing them to be fictitious instruments intended to defeat the claim of Bailey's '.rus- tee in bankruptcy, and that the respondent made use of such fictitious instruments for ilie purpose of obtaining, all<^ dId obtain £94 12s. 4d. in an action entitled Bailey y. Got- hard, and that he borrowed £ 20 from Davies. ostensibly for the benefit of Bailey, but really for himself on the terms of paying a bonus out of the first money corning into his hands in respect of the claim of Bailey y, Gothard, and having jec-eived such money as above men- tioned the fictitious assignment above re- ferred to in cider to defeat the claim of Davies, assignee to the money, and that the respondent, also put forward by way of set- oS against the claim of Davies, assignee, certain fictitious J cos^s- The committeo also found that the re- spondent obtained the sum of £ 10 from the South Wales Finance Co. on his promise to pay it into the court, and to forward the offi- cial receipt .showing that he had done so, but that in breach ot his promise he returned the money, and that altaorgh about half of that sum represented an ainoiint owing to him for taxed costs, he misappiopriated to his own us.. the balance, wnich belonged to D. W. Davies. On these findings the committee reported that the respondent hd been guilty of professional misconduct wir hin the 'meaning d the Solicito'.s' Act 1885. The respondent, who appeared m person, was asked by the Court vwiat he had to say in ex- planation of the findings of the commit'ee. He said that out of twenty matters investi- gated, the commi-tee liad only iound these four charges against him in respect to litiga- tion wliicTi had been going on for two and a half years, aud he induced iu means that he was tmab.e to retain counsel. He imputed the manner in which he had been pursued and persecined to the enmity of Mr. Trneman. He tnen jnoceeded to deal with the findings of the comniit.ee one by one. With regard to the allegation that the agree- ment and the assignment were fictitious in- struments, he asseite that they were bona fide in proof of which he r.-fened to coues- pondence and documents shoeing that lie knew nothing of undischarged bankrupt. He submitted tliat he had a lien upon the judgment in the case for his costs With regard to the alleged fictitrous bills he denied the charge altogether. All the bills were he said, bona tide, which would have been proved, had not trie committee rejected evidence which he ji^ P ^ced befoie them, and as to the recerpt of the £ i0 froni tpe South Wales Finance Comjiany on his pro- mise to pay It into court ana to forward the official receipt he submitted that this simplv meant the- receipt irom his office as the receipt he gave to the company was only an acknow- ledgment without a stamp, and subsequently he signed a proper receipt with a stamp, which was accepted by the company. Has costs in the case amount to ,:£13. as was shown bv the County Court certificate, and if he had paid the money in it would all have been paid cut ^gam to him. He said he had placed a certificate before the committee Mr. Cohen, who appealed for the commit- tee. admitted that some of the representations made bv the respondent were correct, but submitted that the committee had coine to a decision on a very large mass of evidence, and explained that the connnntee had been some- what influenced by the fact that the respon- dent had not cross-examined as to one of the chief charges against linn. Mr. Hawkes ex- plained that he was taken bv surprise in the matter referred to, as it was sprung upon him bv surprise at the second hearing before the committee, but he pointed out that tin. charges against him rested upon the uncorro- borated evidence of Bailey, whom no court would believe on his own testimony, and of Davies. whose evidence before the committee contradicted his sworn affidavits. The Lord Chief Justice, in giving the judg- ment of the court, slid that this was a case of some difficulty, and he thought the Statu- tory Committee was placed in circumstances of great embarrassment in regard to it, in their having their attention directed to so many matters, and such a larije mass of evi- dence. both oral and documentary. Conse- quently the committee seemed to have been misled in regard to the findings which thev had finally arrived at. The evidence before the court showed that he was not acquainted with the fact of Bailey's fiist bankruptcy at the time the transactions took place. The other charges were satisfactorily explained by the respondent, and by the letters produced by him. The most difficult matter to explain was perhaps the matter of the reception bv the respondent of £10 on behalf of Davies fiom the South Wales Finance Company, as ;t appeared that the official receipt was promise I with the County Court receipt, but tlnn it was clear from the certificate produced that the respondent had JS13 owing to lfim for costs, and that payment into court would have, in effect, made no difference, as he would have been entitled to draw the money out again. It was no doubt impjudent and unwise con-1 duct, which could not be said to amount to ] professional misconduct, but as it was conduct which required explanation, the respondent I must pay his own costs. Mr. Trueman, who was present in court, I asked to be heard in the matter, but their Lordships said if he wished to be heard he 1 must appear by counsel. Mr. C. R. Trueman, who said that he had made a number of charges before the Law Society against the respondent, on which j charges the committee had renorted in favour of the respondent, now claimed to be heard on those charges. The Lord Chi f Justice Yon are asking the Court to punish the respondent. Your appli- cation is in the nature of a quasi-criminal charge, and is one which should be made by counsel. Mr. Tip email said that by section 13 of the Solicitors Act, 1888, a complainant was en- titled to apply to the Court to strike a solici- for off the rolls, and he cited "In re Lilley' (1892, 1 Q.B., 759) as an authority that such an application could be made by the com- plainant in person. The Lord Chief Justice said that the point raised by Mr. Trueman was an important one and lie thought it right to state the law clearly on the question as to whether a com- plainant could make such an application in person. Section 13 of the Solicitors Act. which enacted that "provided that any per- son who but for this Act would have been en- titled to apply to the Court to strike a solici- tor off the roll of solicitors, or to apply to re- quire a solicitor to answer allegations con- tained in an affidavit, shall be entitled so to apoly. although the committee is of opinion that there is no prima facie case of mi-scon- duct against the solicitor, and shall be en titled to be heard if the society brings the report of the committee before the Court," rc- served to persons in the position of Mr. True- iran the right to apply to the Court, both when the committee report against a solicitor and also when they do not find a prima facie case against a solicitor. It had for very many years "before the passing of that Act been the practice of the Court that such proceedings taken against solicitors should be conducted by counsel, and that practice had not been in anv way altered by anvihicg in the Solicitors Act. In "Ex parte Pitt (2 Bawling, 439), where an application ot a less serious nature was made against an attorney, it was held such an application must be made by counsel, j Lord Den man in his judgment saying, "The motion against an attorney being in the nature of a criminal information, the Court re- quires that it should be made in person. Otherwise we have not the sanction of a bar- rister for the propriety of such an applica- tion." He was of opinion that, on an applica- tion either alleging that the committee should have found a solicitor guilty of unprofessional conduct or asking the Court to strike a solici- tor off the rolls on the report of a committee, the Court was entitled to have the sanction and protection of counsel to such application, He was. therefore, of opinion that Mr. True- man could not be heard. He onlv desired to add that if the Court was only dealing with a matter of costs, as in "In re Lilley," a solici- tor or applicant mi^ht be heard in person. Mr. Justice Wills said that he had had, both at the Bar, where for many years lie re- presented the Incorporated Law* Society, and since, a great deal of experience in proceed- ings against solicitors and lie had never known an application of the kind. which Mr. Trueman desired to make which was not con- ducted by counsel. He entirely agreed that such an application could only be made by counsel, and that the applicant could not be heard. Mr. Justice Channell concurred.

DRINK JJOllNIMAN'S pUHE r-I'EA In Packet* only, an 1 Full We'ghfc without Wraoper. Always good alike. PIIICFS—1/4 TO 3 LB. Sold in icanxca and District by — TAYLORA Co,, U6, Castle-square; Oxfo'str-'et 100, Bryuymor-roi'l ,99, vV: 1 fer-raad and iho Dun:.ft, Mumbles.33, -r.e-lano, 8,-ans HEAD 69. G .rse-lano, Swansea. Bonn'KTT 7, Heat! fi U-stree^, Swanset. Co OPEUATIVE SociHTr, 9, Portland-street Sivnii-ea. CLAIIK, Gnwr, 77, Oxford-Street, S wansea. DAVIII-S 167, I)AVIES, I.KWIS & ( o., 8, ('onprre-stre^t, JONES nnwpr. 64, Llangyfelach-st.. MoottE, 14. St,. Htden's-road, WAT,-ON linos Gri e»rs, Brvr.ymor-rd.,Swa WILLIAMS, Gaecr. 58, Oxford-street, BEVAN, Chemist, M'>rriston. M- RGAN, Groeer, LEWIS, Gr cer, Herbe t-st:cot, Tontardiwe. EVANS, G er. Alitwen. DAVIES. GIO-. r. Clyiacli. JKNKIN •'Uos., Ld, Dlug STO-E^, Clydaeh. EDWARDS, Supply Store*. Ahercrave. WILLIAMS. G "ee- li ackpill. DAVIES G'oeer, Lkt sa inlet. DAVEY,Grocer. Hatod. EVANS & THORPE Rrynmill. BALDWIN ARL, The Stores, Mumbles. EVANS. rea, Dealers. Mumbles

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.} BETWEEN TWO FIRES BY MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON, Author of "Lady Mary of the Dark House, "The Woman in Grey," "Queen Sweet heart," "Fortune's Sport," "The Bam fitormers," &c. CHAPTER XIII. TOLD BY JULIETTE DE MEYERS. THE LAST HAND IN THE CHEAT GAME. "If there were still another inducement to offer--to buy your help, if you will nut give it." continued Miss Rcvelstoke, "there was It paper—or rather a parchment of some importance to you, perhaps 1 darted at the girl and caught at her wrist, hardly knowing what 1 did. "For Heaven's sake," I gasped, "whatdo you know of the parchment Y ''If I could get it for you '"What, you would bargain still, at such a moment ? If you but guessed Anything — ask anything you like for the parchment, if it is yours to give, and you shall have it." "I ask you to tell the authorities that Noel Brent was here last night from twenty minutes past twelve until—until '"I ntil half-past one," I finished, thought- les.sly then I saw by the lightening of her face that, young as she was. childishly: innocent as she looked, she had all along been cleverer, more self-controlled than I in this matter, and had been leading me on. "You will tell the police that ? "I must, if you will sell me the parchment at no less price. Yet, if I do what you ask it will spoil my life. The man I love will know, and he can never know the real truth." "Let me take him the diamonds and say to him that Noel Brent and I found them, That we were at your house last night. That would be true, for I was at the gate. I mis- judged Noel as you say your lover may mis- jucige yúu, but 1 see more clearly now. And though I hadn't quite given him a promise before we quarrelled, to make up to him for everything, I would marry him as soon as be was free. It is for you to help free him. Have I made it easier for you to do that ? "A trine," I said, with a sigh. "I must risk it. Anything for the parchment, for that may save me yet. Though how YOll can possibly have got it into your possession I cannot imagine. Surely the' police must have searched their prisoner before he—-—" "No, not before he had time to save it. Ho hid it in the stove in the room where the man was murdered. When I went to him to-clay—for I did go—he implored me quickly in Italian to find and bring it to you. And oh Mademoiselle de Nevers, he did not bid me sell it to you for a price. That was my thought. Yet you have promised now. And — Noel would not forgive me for this—I cannot let you have what I have gone through so much to get for nothing. It was awful— that room—the horror of it the stains of blood, all the frightful disorder of the death struggle; everything as it had been except that the dead man lay there no longer. I had to buy my way in; it cost me 'a hundred pounds, which I had to borrow until to- morrow but that was nothing. The terrible part was going into the room. I was not there five minutes, but it seemed an hour and there was the fear of being caught, of having the parchment seized after I had unearthed it from among the ashes. And the concierge waiting outside the door, pale as death, his eyes big and his great white face damp. Oh, I have a right to set my own price upon the [ parchment." "I think that you have. You are a brave girl and a loyal one," I said. "The price I will pay. But trust me. For Heaven's sake don't keep back the parchment until I have paid." "I do trust you," she answered.And here is the parchment." She whipped from her pocket the treaty-for I was sure of its identity at a glance—and put it into my hand. To j feel it in my fingers—to know it safe after all I had suffered; to know, too, what its blessed safety yet might mean for me, was i almost too much of joy. I trembled at the touch of the folded parchment. "Do you know what this is. Miss Revel- stoke ? I asked, "No," she said. "It was your property or Noel's. Of course I did not open it. I tried to brush and shake the ashes away without that." She said the words with such pretty dignity, such uue.iac primness, that I could have broken into a shriek of hysterical laughter. She had tried to clean it--this thing worth nothing, yet worth millions- this Franco- Russian Treaty! I could have kissed her. But instead I was going out to keep my word. Now that I had the parchment in my hand, ashes and all, I coulcl do anything. But the danger was not half over yet. I But the danger was not half over yet. I had the healing medicine in my grasp, yet I dared not think how many a slip might be between the cup and lip. I sent her away—for it would not be well that we should be seen together—and when I had dressed for the street L went out. I had eaten nothing. But Agllés, who is a tyrant, made me drink a cup of soup while I waited for the carriage. That brave English girl trusted me, and I would not fail her; but before my promise was kept there was something else to do- something else upon which depended iar more than my life—Maximo's honour, which I (deluding myself with the thought it was for his sake) had dared to risk. As I drove, having told my coachman to take me to the Foreign Office, thoughts, plans, hopes, and fears beat in my brain, like the fluttering wings of imprisoned birds. How was I to make all right—if all could yet be right ? Could I save him-— and myself for him ? J had in my hand the ace of trumps for that desecrate game in which I had staked Maximc's honour and my happiness. Miss Revelstoke held another high trump for me (strange that they should both come back through her!), but all the other trumps, and many a good card besides, were still the enemy s. Everything depended now on the way the next hand was played, and it was I who must lay down the first card. I had ordered my coachman to drive fast, for if I missed Maxime it would be too late to replace the treaty in the safe to-day, while who could tell what to-morrow might bring forth ? and I might, too, easily miss him at this hour. It was but a chance that he might still be at the Office, The fear of finding him gone was so absorbing that I could scarcely collect my thoughts but I rmid think, and clearly. I had got the treaty in the first place by a ruse; but what excuse could I make to-day to wheedle Maxime again into opening the safe from which I had purloined it ? Even a lover would scarcely be so good-naturedly reckless or his trust for a second time. Suddenly, however, an inspiration came to me—a plan by which I might induce him to unlock the safe door for me. My purse has a notebook attachment, with n tiny gold pencil held by a ribbon loop. I wrote a few lines—shakily, as the wheels travelled fast—tore out the leaf, folded it into a tiny square, and slipped it into my giove. Three minutes later my carriage drew up Lefoie the Foreign Office. I dreaded to learn my fate. "Was the Comte de Ribaumont in ? I asked. He was not—and down went my heart. But he was expected back again, as he had an appointment a little later. In ten minutes, perhaps, he would return. There was still hope for to- day, then I would not wait, but left word that I also in ten minutes would be back for a word with the Comte de Ribaumont. There was another card now to be played, since the ace must wait. I drove to the nearest telegraph office, and had written out the message which I wished to send, when a voice well known and loved spoke close behind me. "Juliette!" exclaimed Maxime. "I had just conic to telegraph to you. And now I find you I tuined with a start, laying my hand over the teh graph form on which Count IpanofFs name and address were written, also these words; "I hays changed my mind. You

Privateers Crew Wiped Out. Bv the American papers, to tiie 22nd ult. we Team that .Jerome Bonaparte and hs iady were then residing in Boston, 'fhese papey> likewise contain information that the V» il- liam and Martha, bound to Boston, was at- tacked by a French privateer on ti.e 1st ot August, which she beat- off, but fiat uillmg m with her again on the 4th, the engagement was renewed, and she finally strucic to t'le and Martha. The pri>, ti:r l aving recommenced firing whiic a bo- t was pillar- ing to t ike possession of her. the Uilnam and Martha also renewed her filing, and alter an action of an Itour and 17 minutes sunk tile Frenchman. About 20 to: her cievv were saved, and upwards of 90 men were killed and wounded pievara- to her going down. The William and Martha lost ten men killed and seven wounded. A Frence convoy pro- ceeding along the coast was attached on the 1st inst. by some of Lord Nelson s light vessels in the Med.terranean. The convoy ran for protection under a battery which our seamen appearing inclined to storm, a body of troops Hastened to the beach, at wnich our s([uadron tacked and stood away.

Patriotic and Eloquent Judg-a. Mr. Just'.ce Harding:'s recent charges t.) the Urand Juri.-s of Waies (ii,yeited in toimer papers) are Highly honourable to iiis ciiaiacter in point of el(Kiuence and iearning, a well es in sound political principies anu a virtuous indignation agair.st the noinble excesses o: revolutionary France, iheie is indeed a pe- culiar character of spirited and striking ora- tory in most of the addresses of this kind which Mr. Justice Haidinge has delivered; yet his talents are easily exercised on subjects ;,i a phrvttu and satirical nature. a.. was ob- servable in his humorous .vt'ictutes on Mr. Malone's life of Drvrien. DARIN o ROBBERY. WHEREAS THOMAS DAVID, o, the p. rLsh of Aberavor, in the said county, st :11([., cli irged with having on the 2or,(t day ot September, inn., at the parish ot Baglan. in the said county, feloniously s-tolon iioai be- hindthe caravan of TIIOKK.S Fiankl.m. Bristol carii^r. as the same was travelling on the iiigti load. a J'lU'XK, (ont i ning uiveis ar- tides of value, the property oi ,\icola Sam. pieri, of Wigmore stieet, in the county of Middlesex, music master; and whereas the said Thomas David has since alisonded and a warrant has been issued for his uppiehen- sion; this is to give notice that a reward of FI E GUINEAS will be given to any person or persons who will appiehend the said Tlios. David, so that he rnav be lodged in his Ma- jesty s gaol in the said county, which will be paid on application to Mr. Griffith Llew. j ellvn, Baglan Hall, near 2?eath. N.B.— lhe said Thomas David is about five feet- six inches, of a s wax thy complexion, with black curly hair, knock-kne?'d. pait cu- brly on one side, from oaving broken his leg, and has been a private in the Britton Ferry (' unpany of N olunteers .since its first estab- lishment. Wa« seen at the fotvt racc.s at I Kntris.-ant on Monday, the 24th inst.. and is suppo-ed to have sought concealment in some of the invrnvcrks m the Glamojganshire orMonmoutlishirt Hills.

MR. HODGE ON LABOUR REPRE- SENTATION. Important Address at Goseinon. "Liberalism Opposed to Labour." i Goiseinon was on Saturday visited by Mr. John Hodge, general secretary of the &te.cl Sim iters' Union. The occasion was the hand- ing, in accord with the rules of the society, of ito Mr. Ben Williams, a tin-worker, for- merly working at Gorseinon Tin Works, who, in the course of his occupation, has unfo'itu- natJy lost ait eye. But advantage was taken of thf uv :dent to bring the claims of Mr Hodge as a labour candidate for the Gowe' Division, before the free and ir.d.pendent of Goroeinon. Considertble disappointment ^-as expressed that the meeting had not been ad- \eilis,d. anci a larger building secured. Ths club-r.>oui of the Gorscinon Hotel was crowd- ed. In another apartment, the Lo-ughor Bras, Baud, conducted by Mr. B. De:wii>, favoured v lili a selection of mv>ic. Mr. Ben Davus r ar was chairman., and supporting him were Dr. Traliord Mitchell (mcdical officer of liealth), Messrs. -John Davies (po-:tmr>t-), Bun Wo- liam.s. John Da vies (Meivn). Bros. Sherlock, ■Sar.oie], James Beva.ii. and others.—Mr. John Davits (Melyn) wished Mr. John Hedge had been a candid ate for the Swan-' a Division. Mr. Sherlock gave a speech in Welsh. "Fight, a1: -of you," fie said, "pull down your coa'jS \1 of you. and do it." (Loud applause). He had been 40 years a. number of the Liberal paity, but felt that what Labour people re (|aii\d was too much to ask of a capitalist Liberal to do.—Brother James Bevan gave e.L>.—Brother Samuel believed if Mr. J. Hodge could have had another week, he would have won the last election. (Cheers). Mr. John Hodge called on by the chairman for "the next sermon," was loudly applauded. A gieat many of the tradesmen class, hs main- tained, did not know wlrit Trades Unionism meant. They did not know that it meant a mluelioa of and other tlimgs. Some looked on ind'viduals like himself as prof, s sional agitators, whereas he (Mr. Hodge) look ed on himself a" a professional peacemaker. Where employers and employed were each properly org o'lis-ed, there was respect for each other, and no strikes. Four millions and a ouarter were spent by Trades Unions on sick beneht, etc.—eight times the amount s.p<>r,t on strikes. (Applause). Mr. Hod(r, detail- ed the loeal position of the timv or leers befoic their inclusion in the Steel Smelters' Society, and told t.he story of the negotiations in 1839, which resulted in an uniform rate. ritt list had been maintained ever since. He would never be a party to any sectional ieduction or me lease. If there was going to be a reduc- tion, every employer mu»t get the benefit, and :f tl ere was to be an advance, every employer mioit JUJ- it. (Applause). Tinning to the question of Ins candidature, Mr. Hoelge 13- produced a number of arguments that he RLld iie had on the previous wtek been presenting at Kuskin Hall, Oxford, before, a distinguish- ed company, including professors, etc. The men, see'ng tiiey could not trust their masters s to thei; wages and condition, bandtd tl.em- sflves together for inutoal sieif-nrctection. They e'eos.? the best men as administratot-s they could get fr')m the ranks of their i'x-ilovc v.orknien. Well, if they could not trust em- picyeis to administrate in their .societies, why was it, and how was it. they chose I hem to transact the nation's burineis at St. Stephen's — to make the laws that they, the woiKin.n, had to live under? Mr. Hodge instanced the differences there were in the cost of transfer of land and other property, and said the rea- son for it was that there went 143 lawyers ill Parliament, and they were looking after Xo. 1. They could not expect tilings would bs dip.' ereiit so long as they Srnt la.wyers to Par- liament, nor could thty expect refoim of the lid Laws from landlords. labour people would iievo to do this for themselves. F(A n,.a.y years he (Mr. Ilodge) was a L:beial. but the scales had fallen from his eyes. He had c envoi bid a p^of.soi' at Oxford to his vi.v;s, and was hoping he would convert Dr. Mitch- ell. (I»ud laughter). Lib-rals, when in power, refused to pass a Miners' Light Hours Bill, though they had the opportunity, and the same remark applied to the Paymifnt of Mem- HE IT. In 1892. when starvation was rampant I in the land, owing to lack of employment, a re- solution of Mr Keir Handle on the unemploy- ed was supported by only 48 members- -some of them wc iv Irish, and two or three Liberal Unionists. Now, be arsi tlity were in oppo- sition, and Mr. Keir Hardie was not 'haras"- ing" a Liberal Government, they supported him. But why were they against him in j902? He calièd it politica,l hypoeri.-y. For these reasons the Ltbonr party must vvoik cut its own salvation. They wanted to keep themselves as a distinct and separate organisa- tion in the House of Commons, prepared, l.ov- ever. to support any party that was about to do anything in the general inueivsts of Laboin. The Liberals co-uld not liave won Woolwich it -wis only beeaus WiU (,'rooks was an abso- lutely independent man that the Cbnseivative workmen voted for him. In South Wa.h s there might not be. many Ltbour Coiisi?a va- tives. but in Kngiand and Scotland, parties were auout evenly balanced. Both political parties were opposed to Labour. The n°v-- lntiiibcr for Bye, though a Libeia.l, voted against- Dr. MacnajiiarI'S resolution, in favour of taxing ground rents. They look, d afVr No. 1. and they (the workmen] should be do- ing the same thi:.g. (Applause). After a few remarks about the benefits of the society, Mr Ilodge handed to Mr. Ben Williams, a Lag containing £ 100.—Ms-. Bell Williams, responding in Welsh, remarked he would rat her have his eve back. (Sympathetic ap- | plause, 1 laFord Mitchell piotost'd lie had no idea w hen lie came theav, that it was to be a pOiitical meeting. The addresis had been hi- t resting ,and highly instructive, but he was nave a few woids privately with tl.e .I'inan. (Laughter). Mr. Hodge's record as_ a. JiU.Mnir leader was one that any man might be proud of, and if only every Scotcii- 'i' 'iU i 'or^tnioit would do as much good as John Hodge had done (the remainder of the sentence was interrupted bv lou.d'lau"h- t'-r). — Several songs vvere sun and oth-r .vpeeches made. ° —

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT RETUR NS Royal Delegate to Delhi Durbar II M.S. Renown, with Duke and Duchess. of Connanght on board has arrived at ISpLt- <td oat their Royal Highne«s's return from attending the Durbar at Delhi. Shortly after ten o'clock the Renown leit her anchorage at Spitbead and steamed into Portsmouth Harbour, where further salutes with the flagship Victory were exchanged. By eleven o'clock the vessel was moored along- fiide the South Western Railway jetty of the Dockyard, a distinguished company had assembled to welcome their Royal High- nesses. Among those present were Princess Louise and the LSikc of Argyll, Princess Hc-nry of Battenberg, Admiral Sir C. F. Hot- ham (Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth). representatives of the Rifle Brigade, of which the Duke of Contiaught is the lion, colonel, and other naval a-nd military officers, and the Mayor of Portsmouth (Sir"William Dupree) and members of Portsmouth Corporation. '(, were to present an address. Admiral Fisher and Sir EVH: McGregor represented tha Ad- miralty. A guard of honour of bluejackets and marines was drawn up on the jetty. As soon as the warship was mad." fast the Prin- cesses and Duke of Argyll ami i'dmiral Hot- ham proceeded on board, and shortly after the Mayor and Corporation were .summoned to the royal presence, when they submitted for their Royal Highnesses acceptance an il- luminated address wir.eh extended a hearty welcome to the royal travellers a.t the conclu- .S,()P, of their important visit to India, and re- ferred to the affectio'nate remembrance 111 which they Wfire held by the inhabitants (f Portsmouth. The Duke of Connaught. who looked re- markably well, in reply spoke of his pleasant n collections of his stay at Port.o.ioath duriut: his command cf the Southern District. He was pleased to be h-->*ne 1, ¡in. and ex-n0.1 ed his belief that his visit, to Ind a had resulted m goad. Subsequently the ro;. a- narfy entered the; special train in waiting and left shortly before ■ toon for London, th.eciev,- of H.M.S. Renown, led by Captain Fnrquhar, giving three viii.ring cheers and "one more for the Dr.cheas" ,-fT'thc royal travellers left the ship, a e.anndiaieat 1 hat was smilingly acknowledged bv their Roval Highneses. PLEASANT TRIP THEIR 11 THANKS. The Renown had a pleasant voyage home, good weather being experienced untif the last day or two. The warship had on board it number of trophies and souvenirs, including an elephant and a cheetah,, which are to be forwarded to Dublin, and. a number of floral specimens. On Thursday evening his Royal Highness handed to Captain Farquhur a mem- orandum which expressed to the ship's com- pany the satisfaction of the Duke and Duchess with the smartness with which they bad worked throughout the voyage, and thanked them for the way in which they had discharg- ed the extra duties devolving upon them in consequence of their Royal Highnesses' pre- sence on board. ARRIVAL AT VICTORIA STATION. The Duke and Duchess of Conna,light, who reached Victoria Station, London^ at ten minutes to two in the afternoon, were received by the Prince and Princess of Waies, the Princcsses of Connaught. the officers of the headquarters staff, a.nd a distinguished com- pany. The Duke and Duchess looked much bronzed as the result of their stay in India, and very well. After exchanging greetings with his relatives the Duke inspected a guard of honour, after which the uartv drove away.

Rev. D. Connor, M.A.. mack' appreciative references to the late Dean Farrur at St. An- drew's Church, Swansea, on Sunday evening, expressing his personal debt to him for the stimulus the Deair'.s work on Christ had given him in religious study.

= The Dr. Parry kstimoriiul fund reaches £,-)50. The latest loral subscriptions arc: Miss Dillwyn £1 Is.. Mr. L. (irittiths (Swan- sea) £1 Is Miss K..Jerics :n t Mrs. Freeman (Blaekpi-'i' X*. 6d. Mr. Abiali uu Thomas (Lhi,n.«a-ml<: 6d.

A meeting of th« Adulterated Foods Sub- committee of the Swansea Corporation was held OIl Fiiday. when it was decided to re- commend one prosecution fur adulterated spirits, and wain three others.

need wait no longi'r. All stands as "before. Do what you choose.—J. de N. "I went to you at the I sr id. mv Voice trembling a little. ou v>'< r. s;t tin re, so I came to send a wire. Smv i1' you will, we can go bac k together. N «.u seal! i.ie what you were meaning to t<l<g rqh. 'Jhat will be better." "It was on!v to say that I hav r.o news of the n^el.laee, though 1 have <U nil that I can. I do not des'-rve to see you after my hateful conduct las': night an I my b: utal eare- lessnc-ss, which is costing both MO much. Yet I was goinp to ask if i urght come tc you i after the theatre to-night. Khali 1 sciui \out telegram for you, ami then we can go to the office, since you aie so good, so exquisitely forgiving ? Send the telegram Lightning shot through, me at the thought, yet I f-.uvod a smile. "No. I thank you, dear one," I said quietly, si net it concerns a surprise for you. f <'o not AVIS! toliavcitspoiit." (Which was true, if ever I spoke truth. ) 1 drove him back to the Foreign Of;e—ii was not five minutes" drive and fortunately because I looked pale a.ed my eyes shewed sleeplessness, Maxime forgot in his loving anxiety for my well-being to ask what brought me to him. I wished to leave the explanation j until we had arrived, that I might try my plan. As soon as we were in Ma\iaie's oiffce, and alone together, I saitl: "Have you no curiosity as to why I came ? "I hoped it was because you longed to see meahundredth part as much, perhaps, as I to see you," he answered. "It was partly that, and partly something else," I returned, smiling at him with eyes 1 full of lore andlongiiig—longing for the happy calm which might he ours after storms if only —only all went well within the next hour. "I I have news for yon," I went on. "I want you to learn it in a certain way, not from my lips, but from something I have written. "You have written me a letter ? he asked. "Averytittieone." "Giyc It to me, then," "Ah but that is not what I want to do. Oh Maxime, he kind to me. OJivc me my own way, just this once, to atone fo:' last night. It will atoiie. Let me put the note I have written for you in your safe, among the great and important State documents which you gave nie a pee]) at the other day. Mine is as j important as they. I promise you; but I shall | not bclic-ve you think it so nnttss you let me lay it there, not to be read until I have left you." Is the news good or bad ? he demanded. "If it is bad, I will notwait in suspense. I will hear it now from you." "It is good." I fmill: "Then it can wait, for I have you now-that is enough of good at one time." "But it cannot wait to be put in the post- box," I cried, pushing him away when lie! would have taken me in his arms, and laughing nervously. "Am I to have my way?" "ihere need be no great difficulty in that," laughed Maxime, "sineeyou are you, and I know that I could trust you with my soul." Oh, how the words hurt—though I loved him for them He opened the safe from which I had stolen the treaty with a quickness which would have seemed to him—if he had known—sleight of hand. But now J was trembling all over, and terribly afraid of bungling at the last. His loving eyes hurt my face. I laid one hand over them. "Don't look at me like that," I whispered, "or I shall tell you, and spoil my plan." With my palm softly pressing down his eye- lids, as he held open the door of the safe, I kissed him full upon his lips, with a long, long kiss. And kissing him I laid the treaty where I hal] found it. So great was the relief when it left my lingers that I could have fallen into weeping. But I only sighed as I kissed my lover; and was in the act of dropping the twice-folded note I had written in the carriage into the safe where Maximo would be sure to see it, when there was a knock at the door. Instinctively my fingers tightened on the scrap of paper. I drew back hastily; Maxime pushed the door of the safe, shut and locked it, and when he called "Entrez!" I was at the other end of the room in a chair meant for visitors. My bag (in which I had brought the treaty) was open, and I had in my hand a tiny mirror, before which I was adjusting my hair with a confuted and coquettish look. This it is to have been an actress half one's life For a moment Maxime. spoke in a low voice with a young man at the door. Then the young man went away, and in nn instant returned to usher into the room an elderly, official-looking personage. If only I could have escaped two minutes sooner! But there was no actual indiscretion I in my being here, with my carriage waiting atthedoor. I rose, hadc Maximc Illlieu in a formal manner, and slipped into his hand the note which I had intended to put into the safe. "At seven, then, Monsieur Ie Comte," I added, as if 1 reminded him of an appoint- mcnt: and I knew that he would take it so. He would come to my house, and I should see him for a few minutes before leaving for the theatre. Thpn I would tell him what I had hoped to tell him now—about the beautiful English girl who had called upon me—the fiancie of my friend Noel Brent. That would pave the way for Miss Revelstoke. and help me to makb him believe in me if Count Ipanoff tried to take such revenge as lay still in his power. Then 7 had to go—there was nothing else for me to do. And at last I had time to keep my promise to Miss Revelstoke. My brain was clearer now—now that the treaty was in the safe at the Foreign Office- and I could think. On my way to the Chief of Police I devised a story which should render one of the enemy's trump cards useless. It would depart but little from the truth and, thanks to the revelations made to me in malice by Ipanofi. it would exactly fit in with the tale which Noel Brent had told to the Juge d instrudion, Jt would, in fact, supplement his. I was sure of an audience with the Chief of Police, who is a gentleman and a patron of the theatre- when he finds time. A gallant man is the Chief of Police! His first words to me were in congratulation upon my success in the new play last night. This gave me the Clle I wished for. It was well, I said, that I had not to act the part for the first time to-night, or I should fear to disgrace myself, so much anxiety had I suffered since seeing the papers and reading what had hap- pened to a friend of mine who was accused of a murder which he could not possibly have committed, "You say he could not possibly have com- niitted it, dear mademoiselle ? smiled the Chief. "Yon are a staunch partisan." "But Mr. Brent was at my house when the murder was committed," I said, quickly. "It is hard for me to come and tell you this, because if the Comte de Ribaumont, to whom I am engaged, should come to know it, he would not easily forgive me. Monsieur Blan- chard, if I tell you the whole truth frankly, cannot you save me from exposure, yet at the same time free the man whose innocence I can prove to you ? It would kill rue to break with the Comte de Ribaumont. "Dear mademoiselle, trust me to do the best for you," said the Chief, moved already, as I couid see, by the tears in my eyes and the touch of my hand on his arm. You have been frank. I will be equally so. I should have I communicated with you on the subject of the accused Englishman, as J. was aware of what took place between you at the hotel, but I received a request from a, very high quarter indeed to hold mv hand for the moment. How comes it, if you are engaged to the Comte do Ribaumont. that you made the statement you did at the Elysee Palace concerning this Monsieur Brent ? "It is that which I have come to tell you that, and much besides," 1 answered. "I throw myself upon voui-mercy. You shall have all mv confidence: "In England I had what might be called a slight flirtation with Noel Brent, who is popular in soc iety. We < xclianged letters, j which were a little foolish- -nothing more. Yet •when I became engaged to the Comte de Rihau- j in out, only a short' time ago (it was to have remained a secret until next year, on account) of my professional engagement), I was distressed that >u< i. b tiers should be in another man's possession. I would not be Satisfied with being to'd that they were burnt;, at my request. wrote and asked Mr. Brent to bring me the letters and I would meet liiui

at the Elysee Pala -e Hotel to take them from him." "He came under auotie r name. "Because, it -appeal's, he is engaged to be married also withm the last fpw days, and wished to keep his meting with me a secret. I only learnt that last- night." "He came to you alt calling at the house of the British Home Secretary in London. He was seen to enter there hy a private detective, and though he certainly was not seen coining out, he must have done so. as he was in Paris in the evening." "But it is to the daughter of the British Home Secretary that he is engaged; and she, too, is in Paris now. S!i<• came. I think, a little later, and with friends, so that the situation was dangcrou, for him. Yon say you know what happened at the hotel, but I will explain the inner meaning of it. Mr. Brent was to have brought nie my letters. lie gave me a letter- case, saying they y.in it: at that instant the lights went out, whether hy design or accident I don t know. "It was not design on the part of tiie police, the Chief Interrupted. "It happened, it appears, all ov- r the hotel." "When the c;er was opened hy theCommia- sary of Police, and I saw the diamonds, I was much surprised; the more so, as they had been stolen from the Comte de Ribaumont a few days ago. Again I c-rmtidp in you as a man of honour. They were the property of a dear friend, an elderly lady wet! known in Paris, who is an inveterate gambler, but a charming woman. "She dared not Ml her husband of her losses, but begged Maxime to sell the jewels for her in Amsterdam and have them replaced with paste. On hi.; way there to carry out this mission the necklace was stolen from him. You can imagine his state of mind and my surprise on seeing it reappear in so extraordinary away. 1 believed that somehow Noel Brent had recovered it: and it was only to keep my letters (which I had not yet re- ceived) out of the affair, and also the Comte de Ribaumont's name ill connection with the diamonds, that I told the Commissary of Police that the necklace was a gift from my lover. The instant 1 had spoken the words I regretted them, for fear of consequences, but it was then too late. "When the police, Kiel gone I asked Mr. Brent for my letters. tie said he thought he had given them to in*; and he knew no more of the diamonds than 1 did -far less, indeed. "I was in despair at discovering that my letters were gone, though 1 was thankful, fof the Co ote de Ribaumont's sake, to have the necklace, which since 1 have given to him. Mr. Brent believed that the letters must have been stolen from bini iu the train, though bo could not account for the presence of the jewels in his pocket; but as he suspected a man who had travelled with him, he de- termined to try and find him, promising to bring news to my house after the theatre al twelve o'clock. "He came a little later, having been detained with friends at the hotel till midnight. One of these friends was Miss Revelstoke. He had employed a private detective named Dubois, but had learnt nothing yet, and, while he was telling me this, Comte de Ribaumont was announced. I was obliged to force Mr. Brent, to conceal himself in my boudoir, which he reluctantly did and I can prove to you by one of my servants, if HIll do not care to take my word alone, that he was not able to escape until nearly ball- past one. He could not have called twice in the Rue de la Tour, as the papers say that the concierge believed, for he was in my boudoir. How he found the address of the man he suspected as the thief I cannot tell. "We already know that. It was through a letter." "Ah! (I made the. exclamation as in- nocently as if I did not remember all I had heard from Count Ipanoft). "Now, you see why he went to the house. It was to g' t my letters which he hoped to find there. And you see also why he has kept my name out of the affair, refusing to compromise UIP. How could he ruin my happiness when he knew that I had lied to the Comte de Ribau- mont, saying that I was alone ? "I see. And I applaud his chivalry," said the Chief of Police. You arc the man to understand it. Now chat I have humiliated myself, will he be released ? It is clear is it not ?—that the murder must have been done long before the time when he could have reached the Rue de la Tour after leaving my house at half-past one." "That is clear. There are still certain formalities to be gone through before the accused man can be released; but, I may as well inform you, dear mademoiselle, that not ten minutes before jou came in I received news of the arrest of two men—one an Englishman who are believed to be con- cerned in this strange affair. They certainly travelled with the murdered man from Eng- land yesterday, and a friend of his named Poisson, just returned from Marseilles (it was in Pcisson's room the murder was com- mitted), has given information regarding these two persons and their late association as partners with the deceased, which throws grave suspicion upon them. If the man Jack- son v,ho has been murdered stole the necklace you speak of from the Comte de Ribaumont, with this pair as his accomplices. "nd after- wards endeavoured to cheat them out of their share of the booty, a motive for the crime is easily evident. You have helped Monsieur Brent bravely, Mademoiselle de Nevers, and I hope that in a day or two he himself may be able to thank you. You have supplied all the missing links. "I am glad-glad!" I exclaimed. "And must I suffer for what 1 have done for him with the man I love ? "No, dear markmoisdle; I will see that you do not. The Comte de Ribaumont need never know the circumstances as vou have told them to me, or that the Englishman's a Mi has been proved by you. The r. est of these others will make it easy for the police to keep the secret. Now, will that assurance render your heart lighter on the stage to- night r "You shall see, if you will accept a box," I said. And I let him press my hand. Then I drove home. Hardly had I reached there when Maxime came. "That tiresome fellow who parted us* he exclaimed, when I was in his arms. Ho was gone in fifteen minutes. But—it is just as well you were prevented from putting your precious little note about the finding of the necklace into the safe according to your whim, for the man came with an order from the President to copy a clause in the Franco- Russian Treaty which is kept there. It would have been rather awkward when I opened the safe to take cut the treaty if yonr nct^ had tumbled out. It wouldnt have looked exactly official "Thnnk) leaven that! was not too late I had cried out before I knew what I wai saying. You mean thank Heaven that you were too late, don't you r he corrected me. He was thinking ot the note I was thinking of fi-'iHithitnj else.' But when I heard his innocent remark I gratefully assented. "But the necklace- I breathed. "You will be glad to have it again ? A lovely girl will give it to you to-morrow. She is to marry myoid friend Noel Brent, who is net used of murder here in Paris. She was hero last night,, ar.d her lover, too: tl.cv found the neckline which Noel Brent himself had got back from the thief, who was mur- dered, but not by him. she will explain 1 could not have told vou. as it was r ^t a conventional proceedin g for her. ore knows ) ut myself, and now you—and one other. Ipanolx. If be ever tries to make \( u believe lies of me and Noel Brent, you will une:ei stand now liow little truth theie i.- :i> tin m. since he adores an oilier woman, almu-1 — but net quite—as i adore you." "I have listened to Ipanoff for the b: t tne' j.aid Maxime. "That dog! He bad hotter not ipeak evil of you! "1 hope lw will see that it is useless," I weird. "I am so tired of storms. I WI r) low nd pence and you. "You 1 -i have all-and for always," f-aid Maxime.. As lie clasped me the world outside faded away. 1 forgot that had been all my life a wc man who dared. I was now—I am now-- cniy a woman who loves, and has more tkttff lhe desetveb. i Tm-: Knd. ]