Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

15 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

[No title]

[ALL BIGHTS BSSEBVJBD.]I

THINGS BETTER LEFT UNSAID

[No title]

[No title]

AT EIN GOHEBWYR.

-----BARDDONIAETH,

Y WAWR.

CARIAD MERCH.

Y PAGAN.

MYFYRDOD WRTH WELED GWENOL…

. BEH IN DTHE COUNTER -.

[No title]

[Now First PubiishedJ

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

[Now First PubiishedJ HERR PAULUS: -Ø FIIS RISE, HIS GREATNESS, AND HIS FALL. By WALTER BESANT, Author of All Sorts and Conditions of Men," &c., &e. [THE RIGHT OF TRANSLATION IS RESERVED.] BOOK THE SKCOND. CHAPTER IX.-T-THE MESSAGE OF THE BANK BOOK. r- R Brudenel retired to his study. But this retreat, sacred to learning and medita- tion, was now trans. formed, in the man- ner peculiar to the operations of fate, into a Chamber or Cave of Despair, peopled by monstrous fiends, who accused him of wasting and throwing away the Property entrusted to his charge. For a man of honour and integrity to lose trust money, the fortunes of wards and children, is a very dreadful thing. By crippling himself and living in poverty he might, in course of years, replace the money. But he was now old he would certainly reach the Plotted term long before the money could be replaced. He would bequeath his lands to make the amount for Tom and Cicely; and then k'byl would have nothing. And to think that the greatand honourableand prosperous Company, which he himself founded and endowed with the Magnificent business created by his father, and christened with the name of his father, should break I Is it a light thing to hear one's name associated with failures and bankruptcy and the curses of thousands I Sibyl came to console him by all the endearing acts and the soothing words at her command. Go, child,' he replied. Gc, Sibyl, and leave me alone. The family is disgraced. We can never hold up our heads again. I have lost the fortunes place'i in my charge. I am a defaulter. Yours is lost, child, as well as Tom's and Cicely's. Leave me alone to face the disaster." Then Lady Augusta came to him, bringing, in token ot peace, the Message concerning the Bank Book. Mr Brudenel scoffed at that Message and, ndeed, a Bank Book seems a futile thing in jtself with which to retrieve a loss of five and Mfty thousand pounds. One might as well 'Btrieve a lost battle by collecting the spent car- fidget Lady Augusta conjured him to obey in name of the great and wiselziik Ibn Menelek. derided that sacred name. She implored him 01 the sake of Paul, their guest, their guide, their friol,d, to obey. He blasphemed the name of He shall go," cried Mr Brudenel Paul shall go this very day. Saice his Friends are unwilling or Suable to avert disaster, let him go. I want not their kind of friendship any longer, Augusta; \Ve have been tormented all our lives by the aPathyt the ingratitude, and the mockery of those Iotn we have striven to belt). What did nltnuel Chick's spirits—or Lavinia's either— f.Ver d° for us ? Nothing. We sacrificed our for them—wo tolerated all kinds of self- Peking people. They did nothing for us in return. What have Paul's Friends done for us?" In spite of his disappointments, Mr Brudenel still believed fervently in the spirits and their messa- ges, as well as in the Seer of Abyssinia. "Tell him, Augusta, that I am bitterly disappointed in him. He bad better pack up and leava us*. I want to tee him no more. His Friends must have known what was wrong. They can annihilate space, they can transport things and people two thou- sand miles in a moment. Yet they could not Interpose to save these innocent children from losing their.all. And he calls it a trifling matter Tell him he may go, my dear. When he is gone we 1\>ill have nothing irore to do with the other world Or with those in communion with it, or with those Who have acquired power over the spirits. I will 8:11 niy llurary-we will sell this house and go and live in some country cottage so as to save for the children some of their fortune back again. And e will go to church, Augusta, like other folk, Satisfied with what they know. That shall be fittough for U8, my dear. Tell Paul he may go this Very day. As for sending for the Bank Book, I "lirlit as well take and draw a cheque for the Nvhole five and thirty thousand pounds. Go, my dear, and leave me alone, since I am deserted by those who ought to help leave me to think, if I can, what may still be done." Lady Augusta withdrew in tears and reported his contumacy. And presently they all retired 111 Various directions—Sibyl sat somewhat apart, IInd the sound of the piano and her singing tvas not heard. Cicely went to her room, where Hetty was waiting for her, but there was little teadlllg done—mostly the two girls talked over What had happened, and Cicely considered the Object of Poverty as applied to hevself, partly in the light of Hetty's experience, which was cer. tainty wide and deep and also most discouraging, -nd partly from a speculative point of view Educing its lessons and finding its consolations, on which the girl who had never known its pains discoursed movingly in the manner of Paul to the other who had known those pains and pinches. As for Tom, he was consulting the family solicitors. Paul himself was out. He went, in fact, to .pend the morning with his amiable friend in Beaumont-street, about whom, for his own reasons, h, did not tell anybody. On his return at one o'clock, he met Sibyl cross- ing the Hall. "Herr Paulus," she said, regarding him with the utmost severity, I wish to tell you that toothing in the whole history of the Impostors who have been the curse of this house has ever inspired me with more disgust than your conduct this morning." Paul bowed gravely, putting his heels together III the foreign fashion. He was clad in his magnifi. ^nt tur-lined great coat, and, with his hat in his hand, looked like some young foreign Prince or otentate. But Sibyl regarded not his looks. Had you really possessed those powers which you claim "—Paul raised his eyebrows slightly— *you would have prevented this calamity. Other- wise you would deserve to be turned out of doors with ignominy for your treachery. '■That you have nt done so proclaims aloud that you are an impostor." Sibyl was really **toni»hed at her own freedom of speech, and went on encouraged Your affecta- tion of superiority to mjney considerations also Proves your trickery. It was overdone, sir. It *as brutal. It was underbred." Paul reddened t the last word, which perhaps touched him 'la tender place. "No gentleman could have behaved in that manner, I have always strongly 8ls[jected and disliked you now I despise you. That is all, Herr Paulus, that I have to say-ex. cept," she added, "that I trust my father's eyes Inay be opened by this incident, aud that we shall yery soon indeed bid you farewell." Again Paul bowed. "There is something written somewhere," he laid, about coals of fire upon your enemy's head. Perhaps He b.,wed again, and, leaving the sentence unfinished, he went up- 8tlirs to his own room. The luncheon, which had become since Paul's arrival an animated and cheerful meal, enlivened With many a youthful jest and merry tale, began fnost gloomily. Only the ladies wera present, and they were all dejected. Sibyl, in addition, had Rteat wrath, and was also perhaps a little ashamed uf herself for her attack on Paul. He, however, preserved a cheerful air, and worked his way through the dishes with ft steady appetite and Continued display of that, callousness which Sibyl calie<J brutal and underbred. On such occasions as that of 't family calamity, the cook ought to make the table it-elf glow with synip;»thy. A bereavement requires cold meat Jf it be a bereavement which brings a legacy Pp a succession, it should be cold chicken If it possesses no such consolation, cold boiled Litton. Loving memory should bo marked the disappearance of tho lighter and ^ore festive dishes there should ba no purge, lao fillet of sole, no cut.et a la Soubise, and II() Hi de veau no jolly little lllnh, such as ^"Vers, snipe, partridges, pheasants, or blackcock. 0 ge ie*, aspics, omelettes, iees, creams, or 1)"Itty c-akes. A sombre array of chops and steaks, ^si&ly cocked, suggestive of solid plebeian work- aday ccmiorc, col,1 bailed beef, tongue, with at I In,lot half-pay pudding, should alone be served Perhaps the season why Sibyl ate nothing at was because thi* rule had not bseu carried t-- out, and the table smiled and sparkled with artistic plenty and festive variety, as if nothing had happened. Had the cook no feelings ? Yet all the household knew by this time that the fortunes had been lost. "Where is your father, dear?" asked Lady Augusta, with a sigh. He is ill in his study. I do not think we shall see him at luncheon," said Sibyl with a pro- found sigh and a glance at Paul. "The Trifling Incident of this morning has been too much for him." Then Tom came in, cheerful, but with that cheerfulness which the brave young man pre- serves and exhibits on all occasions, say, after losing a boat race, or having his play damned, or after being beaten at the hundred yards, or after losing his first class, or on getting his MS. re- turned by the editor, or on getting the sack or after proving to himself how easiiy nd swiftly and unexpectedly a fortune of -015,000 miv take wings and fly away without saying farewell, aud be no more seen, leaving not a trace behind, nor anything to prove who has got it all. That is the most wonderful thing to understand who does get all the money that is lost ? Well, good people," he said, "let me have luncheon. One may be a pauper and yet get hungry. Paupers are always getting hungry, and it is a great nuisance for the ratepayers. Eating ought to be a luxury for the rich. Cicely, you and I are paupers. Yes, Sibyl," his voice dropped a little, because this meant so much more to her than to Cicely, I have now got to work in earnest." That is, indeed, a great misfortune," Paul ob- served. Your friends ought to go into mourning for you, Tom," My dear philosopher, you benrup so well and so nobly that I hope you will yourself shortly meet with a similar alffiction. I should rejoice to keep up my own pecker while you lost your money, and I would follow your example in not being depressed more than I could help with other people's misfortunes, I will take a cutlet. Well, I have been since breakfast to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where 1 have conversed, but without getting any comfort, with the Man of Law. I have been likewise into the city. So far as can be learned there « no chance of anything being saved. There is but one opinion. lotal wreck. Cargo lost. Urew-tilat is the shareholders-cast away. MANY are already, I hear, inquiring into the menu of the workhouse dinner, and whether the nature of the sleeping accommodation has been maligned, and what is the uniform. The liabilities are anything you please, and the assets are as low as they make make 'em. Beer for me. We shall be lucky, all of us, if we continue to get beer." If everything is gone," said Piml, with a sweet smile of patience, can we not agree to say no more about it ? We talked about nothing else at breakfast, and Mr Brudenel actually lost his temper over it." We can, Panl, and we will," Tom replied. I am going to whistle fortune down the wind. I don't quite understand how to do it, but you shall show me. It is a. part of the Ancient Way, I am sure. If fortune is not kind to me, what care I how fair she be ? You are quite right, Paul; it is best to talk about it no more." "More is lost than money, Tom," said Sibyl, shaking her head solemnly and mournfully; the Family Name is disgraced. We can never look people in the face auy more we can never get over it; we can never go into society any more we can never lift up, our heads again; we can never, never recover from the dishonour of-" At this point Mr Brudenel himself appeared, and so transformed was he, so miraculously changed, that Sibyl could not in common decency finish the sentence, though she bad been quoting her father word for wt-rd. If the family name had been really disgraced by the event of the morning he must have found some wonderful soap capable of instantaneously removing any stains, because joy and satisfaction shone upon his face like the sun upon a fie.d of golden grain. Yes-joy, satis- faction, content, and happiness were all shown on that happy face, wreathed with smiles. He walked as if he wanted to break out into a dance; he spoke as if he wanted to laugh and sing. Paul I" he cried, forgive me 1 I ought never to have doubted. How could I doubt ? Forgive me I was hasty and of little faith. Oh my dear friend, they have not forgotten me after all They have not forgotton ice They remembered that whatever my own views might be as to the worthlessness of the niolley-I bad wards-and a daughter—and a daughter." He offered his hand, which Paul grasped with effusion. There is nothing to forgive," lie said. "I know' what has happened. But you will tell us, will you tiot ? our doubts were natural. Tell evetybo'.iy what has happened. You have the Bank-Book, I see." It was in Mr Brudenel's hand. "It was only five minutes ago that it was brought to tha door. Who sent for the Bank- Book ? Did you, Augusta ?" Have you forgotten, my dear Cyrus," sho replied, somewhat coldly, what pas-ied in the study when I suggested the sending for the bank- book ? It was not likely that I should take upon myself after that to send for the book." Then it was you, Paul, was it ?" c. Certainly not. You can easily ask the clerk at the bank who sent for it. Go on. You have got your bank-book. Let us start with that." Well, Augusta Girls I rl\m 1 We are saved after all I We are saved That is what I have to tell yuu-we are saved I" 11 This morning," said Tom, we were lost. Are we the shuttlecocks of fortune ? Perhaps to- morrow we shall be lost again. I beg your pardon, sir, for interrupting. How were we saved ? Some swam ashore some clung to——" Well." Mr Brudenel's face showed bewilder- ment. It was always an expressive and a candid face, which revealed every emotion, and there was no doubt now that he felt the extremity of bewilderment. By some extraordinary accident I had forgotten—clean forgotten—I cannot under- stand how I should have forgotten hut as a matter of fact-I-I-I-sold otit-it seems—yes I sold out all the shares in the Compauy standing to my name three weeks ago." "Sold out?" cried Tom. "Is it possible? How could yon forget buch a thing as that." "I sold the shares. The bankruptcy of the Company, I rejoice to say, has passed over our heads like a harmless thunderstorm. It cannot hurt us in any way." "But the disgrace to the fomily name," said Sibyl. My dear Mr Brudenel hastened to im- press a distinction of 81) much importance upon his daughter—"a thing which seems disgraceful when it is coupled with such a loss of money loses its terror when there is no loss of money. We have been separated so long from the direction of the compauy that no stain, I now perceive, can attach to us." "And we are not paupers after all said Ciely. Then I know whom we have to thank." No doubt," said Sibyl. U Herr Paulus will explain it all to us presently." Why did you sell the shares?" 1-1-1 cannot remember." Never anywhere had one seen more bewilderment in the face of human creatures. "It is a most wonderful thing. I cannot remember anything at all aoout it." L Nofc remember making so great a change in your investments?'' "No It is a most remarkable thing. I see that it is; I confess that it is. Yet I cannot re- member why I sold tho shares or how I gave instructions, or anything at all about them. It is most remarkable." It is, indeed, said Tom, gravely. He remem. bered his guardian's complaint about forgetting every day what pt.ssed in his excursions to and from Abyssinia, He didn fc believe iu those excursions, but he began to suspect some sort of softening. Only a man whose brain was going could forget such a thing as the transfer of thirty- five thousand pounds. I did seil tiiem, that is certain. And I have not yet invested the money in anything else," Mr Brudenel went on. It is all in my current account. Most wonderful. Paul, do you know anytllitig ? Can you throw any light? Can you help us to understand this?" Ask me anything," Paul replied, except about business. I know no more of shares and money than I know of Tom, cog-wheels, and springs." Here is the Bank-Book, with a note from the manager, which I found in the drawer of my table," Paul took both. On the left hand side of the Bank Book was an entry,— By sale of shares, C35,456 13s 6d." The manager's letter, dated on the same day as the entry in the book, was short. Dear Sir,—In accordance with your instruc- tions I have sold all your shares in Brudenel and Co. The stock was at 37. I have placed tho amount realised, viz., L35,456 13s. 6d., to your credit until further instructions." That was all. You see," said Paul, he says, in accordance with your instructions.' To be sure, he could not sell them without your instructions. At least, I su ppUS6 not." And you do not remember giving those instructions ? Tom asked. To begin with, you must have had reasons for selling them." Well, Tom, I must have had reasous. I sup- pose I had reasons. What do you think my reasons were now ? If anybody could remind me of those reasons I might remember." Somebody must bgv4 bave warned you-tal t you something—aroused your suspicions. In such a matter as the solvency of this Company—your own Company—it must have been something very seriou3 indeed that could m ike you resolve to take such a step as to sell out all your shares. You must have gone through a considerable period of doubt and hesitation—you must have argued with your:eli-perhttps with someoue else- Never with uio," said Paul, on whom Tom's eye rested firpt.. Nor with me," said Lady Augusta for the same reason. You must, one would think, have passed days of consideration and doubt-you must have felt most anxious about the safety of the company. The resolution must have caused you the greatest pain. And yet you forget—you forget." "Of course," said Cicely, "Paul's friends helped. He asked them, this morning, to help, and thsy did. They told us to send for the bank book." "Unfortunately for that theoiy, Cicely," sad Tom, the transfer of the shares cook placs three weeks ago. Even Paul's friends, I presume, with- out wishing in any wny to limit their power. can- not actually put time back for three weeks. To annihilate space is one thing. To bring back and alter the past is another." Perhaps," said Mr Brudenel, my daily visits to Abyssinia absorbed my attention altogether, and made me foraet everything." "Possibly," Tom replied. "If I went to Abyssinia and back every day, I should think the journey would account for every tiling." It is most wonderful," Mr Brudenel said, for the tenth time. "If I iniglit offer a suggestion," said Paul, gently, "it would be this: On the 23rd of this month, Mr Brudenel's guardianship ceases. He may have intended to hand to each of his wards their portion entire, to be re-invested as they might think best, and, therefore, he sold out with- out any doubts at all in his mind as to the solidity of the Company. He had invested theirs to the best advantage he would now in surren- dering his trust give them not an investment, but the whole portion in a cheque." "That was it—that was it!" cried Mr Brudenel, eagerly jumping at the suggestion. I remember now. Ttiat was the reason why I sold out. That was my intention. That was in my mind. That accounts for it. In fact, I remember everything now. You see, Tom, don't you, why I sold out ? Thank you, Paul. You always come to our help in everything." But," said Tom, who had now looked at the other side of the Bank Book, there is something else here. How do you account for paying away the whole of the money a. week after to other people ?" What paying away? To other people ?" In three cheques." Tom read the following entries: To Izak Ibn Menelek, £ 20,000 j to Rupert P. Zeigler, 910,000; to Surabjee Kamsit- jee, £ 5,000. What?" This was more unexpected even than the entrr on the left-hand side. "Look for yourself. Do you remember those cheques ?" Mr Brudenel read the entries. Yes; the whole of the money so wonderfully rescued from the falling Company had been paid away in those three cheques. He looked about him helplessly. What does it mean ?" he asked. "I remember nothing at all," he said. "Nothing at all about any of these cheques." Then all with one consent turned to Paul. Even Thomas the Doubter and Sibyl the Infidel turned to Paul for explanations. Come," said Tom. The first of these gentle- men, Mr Izák Ibn Menelek, the illnstrous Saga of Abyssinia, who gets a cheque for £20,000, is, I believe, a personal friend ot yours, Paul. The least you can do for us in the matter is to ask him for an explanation how and why he got the money." Certainly, I will ask him to explain the whole business. But they are all three friends of mine, I will ask them all." Put it to the Wise Man," said Tom, from a modern point of view. Let him understand that money is III these days only paid to people in return for services rendered or promised explain to him what getting money under false pretences means perhaps he is only posted in the Ancient Law and the Hidden Way. Tell him how awk. ward things are made now-a-days for people who persuade other people out of their money." I will ask thein all why they took the money. But perhaps they will not tell me." That is very likely," said Sibyl. Perhaps we may make them. Let us under- stand each other, Paul. It is Sibyl's money and Cicely's and mine that is concerned. I want no fooling around in this matter." My friends never fool around. If they will not tell me I cannot make them. And frankly, I believe they will not tell me.' I shall hold you responsible tor this money, said Tom. "If you please. Let me, however, point out to you that you will find it difficult to connect me with the cheques. One of them has been pre- sented by a 6 friend of mine now in Abyssinia another by a friend in Philadelphia; and the third by a friend now in Bombay. That is all I can tell you. Why the cheques were drawn by Mr Brudenel, for what consideration, or the thought of-wiiat promise—I cannot tell you. Ask Mr Brudenel." Very good. This was reasonable. Mr Brudenel had not connected Paul with the cheques lie remembered nothing at all abottt them. Let us," said Tom, see the cheques." They were in the pocket of the bank book. -They were drawn in Mr Brudenel's own handwriting — firm, clear, straight up and down — a handwriting which was difficult to imitate. There could be no doubt at all that they were all drawn and signed by himself. They were made payable to order and were crossed. They were also endorsed. They were therefore paid into some bank, not across the counter. Tom replaced the cheques in the pocket, and put book and all into his own pocket, saying nothing.. Am I," said Mr Brudenel, dropping into a chair, "the sport of the Spirits? Is it their revenge upon me for deserting their Cause ? "On!" Cicely clasped her hands. Why do we make such a ? Why do we doubt ? Why do wo feal'? Paul told us that we must send for the Bank Book. Only let us have a little faith!" „ But Tom laid his hand upon the breast pocket of his coat, in which lay the Bank Book and the cheques. And he tapped that pocket as much as to intimate that Faith, even when taken in large quantities, would not render inquiry unnecessary. CHAPTER X.—THE FIRST INVESTIGATION. It was the morning after. On the morning after a storm, as everybody knows who has been wrecked at sea, the sun always breaks gloriously, the sky is clear, the air is soft and balmy, though the 8e may heave and be still unquiet. The shares wore sold. That was the first thing. It was like escaping in an open boat from a sink- ing ship. But all the money was mysteriously conveyed away into the hands of three unknown persons, one of them certainly the Instructor, but hitherto the unseen Instructor, of Mr Brudenel, and all three stated by Paul to be his own per- sonal friends. This was like the dangerous heav- ing of the boat. No one knew what might happen with these uncertain factors in the problem. That was like having no port within a thousand miles, yet to be lying in the track of vessels. After breakfast, Sibyl followed Tom to his workshop. No one comes here, Dodo," said he, "we can talk as much as we please, undisturbed. My dear Dodo, what shall we do if the money is all one 1" "WHAT SHALL WE DO IF THt- MONEY IS ALL GONE?' "You will make yourself a great name, Tom; and I will wait-Oh and perhaps you will get tired of waiting." My dearest Dodo, if yon look so sweet I shall get tired of waiting immediately." These are the marks which show that what I followed is irrelevant and beneath the dignity of the historian. They are also symbols which silly lovers in the humbler walks, where they are less I eloquent m words than the better educated, use i as tokens to show the depth and intensity of thnir passion, their fidelity and their constancy. Like J all symbols they fall very far short of the reality. J And now, Tom, let us talk soberly. You said you had 'quantities of things to tell me. Quantities, Dodo ? Nona of the," half so important as the things I have just told you as that I 10-" No, Tom not again. Let us proceed to business." 15 Well, then, if one must. We are persuaded, are we not, that this fellow Paul—I wish I didn't like the I)eist-is at the bottom of the whole business ?" <! £ erfectly certain." -fc or some purpose of his own wo are assured that he has decided the whole thilig-bow, we are not yet certain." We are agreed so far, T,)m. I am also per- fectly certain that he means to carry off the whole of this money." 1 "There we differ. I am convinced that his was I the hand that executed and his the head that planned the whole plot. But I am not so sure that he means to stick to this money. It would be a coup too audacious even for a man who sends another to Abyssinia and back, all in a single morning." Titeii wbatoe be do it for?" I don'c quite knew. I've watched Paul ever since he came here, and I've talk-id with him nearly every night in this room, Dodo. I like him, and I believe in him. That is. I believe that he has not come here after n:oney." My dear Tom, they all come after money." He knows that I am watching him and trying to find out how he does it. We always talk on that assumption,v It is understood." » Wao tbiJ finao, Tom, that be should different from the Emanuel Chicks and the rest of them ?" Ie He is an American. Of that I have not the least doubt. Not that such a fact lifts him necessarily above old Chick. Do you know, however, that there is a certain kind of American who craves for notoriety above nil thing-; ? There are plenty over here who wouid give a good deal for notoriety, but with this American kind it is a craze. Paul is one of them. He has betrayed himself to me a hundred times. He cannot bear the thought of being one of the common herd, to live unnoticed, and to be for- gotten as soon as he is dead. He wants distinc- tion." "Oh what distinction ? One of the tribe of impostori who pretend to supernatural powers." Perhaps nature did not give him the qualities which go to make a man successful on the ordinary lines. But then, on tlic- ot:ier.liiii(i, -,lie gave him more than his share of nervous quick- ness, so that he sees at once while ordinary people are only feeling their Way." Well ?" "Then-I have been reading up the subject lately. I used to laugh at it. There is the power called mesmerism, about which so much nonsense has been written. It is a real power, though so little under control that physicians refuse to use it. Paul has that power, and he has developed it. You saw, Sibyl, how he acted upon Cicely and Hetty." Yes. He mesmerised them." "He made them think as he pleased, and he made them see what he willed. It is an uncom- mnn phase of this force, but there are instances of it." Well, Tom ? But all this does not remove him from the tribs of impostor-. How about Prince Menelek and the Abyssinian Sage ?" They are the patter of the profession. Did you ever hear a conjuror talk while he does his tricks? The faster he talkr, the more he diverts your attention, the more astonishing are the things he does." But the papers from India?" They are also part of the patter. The great trick in this case is, I am persuaded, the exercise of mesmeric influence." Oh You see that an immense reputation "may be established by tha performing of miracles. Paul aims at the reputation of supernatural powers. Hence his miracles. The blind girl sees her brother; the photograph of the brother floats down from the ceiling the paper comes all the way from India.' And all thi3 money takes wings and flies away, Tom." You persist in believing the man to be dis- honest, Sibyl. Let me go on. Paul is locked up every morning with your father. Every day lie spends an hour with L--id y Augusta. Most days, I have ascertained, he has an hour or so as well iu Cicely's room. He has acquired influence almost absolute over your father, and over the two girls, while Lady Augusta firmly believes in hira. But ho does not move her to the same extent as the others." Yes, I suppose that is RO," "Wehoarof daily visits to Abyssinia. But mark I Your father forgets every day what he has said and done there. Cicety sees her brother as often as she wishes, by Paul's help. Hetty obeys if he lifts his littie finger. This is a dangerous state of things, Sibyl. In the hands of an unscrupulous person it would be very dangerous. The man has opportunities which no one should be allowed to have." "Yes, and how has he used them ?" He has taken all our money, Sibyl. Of that I am certain. And yet I do not believe be has stolen it." I do, Tom." "Now, I have made one discovery which may help us. I have found out that he knew a moutli ago that Brudenel and Company were shaky." Oh I and he pretends to know nouhing at all about business." We must be tolerant, my dear. When a man goes in for this line of life he must be prepared with a good many Crackers and a Brazen Brow. He is like a novelist." "Everybody knows that a novelist makes up." Yes, but it you stop to think that it is made up, you are lost. Now listen, I have found out one ot the Crackers, which is something. Four weeks ago Lavinia Medlock had a visit from an old gentle- man, all of whose money was in the Company. He had received a private and confidential warning from somebody who had access to the books or could put things together. He had also received an assurance from somebody else in the office that the Company was most flourishing. Then this old gentleinau, bewildered and uncer- tain, went to Lavinia for counsel. He might as well have asked tbe town pump. Lavinia's spirits behaved in the usual ridiculous manner, and she finally gave it up and made out a case for counsel and sent it to Paul, who ordered the old gentleman to sell out instantly." "But how did he know the private affairs of the firm ?" My dear child, I told you that Paul possesses extraordinary faculties. He found out, I suppose, just as I have found out, only much more quickly, that in the present condition of trade, aud considering what the Company have done of late years, the concern could not possibly keep up the high dividends which it has been paying. If I had given my attention six months ago to the subject, I would have convinced your father as well as myself. Very good, that is my discovery. As for the letter of introduction to the manager, it was written—I have seen it-by your father. Nothing could be clearer. The cheques were also signed by him. Moreover, the three persons to whom the cheques were tJayable the Right Honourable Izale Ibn Menelek the Falasha, Mr -probably Geueral-Rupel.t P. Z-iigler, of Phila. delphia, and the respectable Surabjee lvarnsitjee, of Bombay, have all opened accounts in their different banks, each giving the name of your father as a reference of respectability. In each case he has written a letter attesting the respectability of the person. No hesitation was made in opening an account which began with so big a cheque and so sound a reference." All this is very wonderful, Tom. But it does not prove the man's honesty." It does not, I confess. But so far, not a single cheque has been drawn at any of the banks. I have found that out, and it seems to me a very significant circumstance. Well. One more dis- covery I also made. The cheques were paid in personally. The first was brought by an old man infirm and crippled, who could scarcely walk- Paul. The second was brought by a middle-aged man with an immense light brown beard and st)ectacleg-Pittil again. The third was brought by a man in Eastern costume, brown-skinned, with a thick black beard and black eyes. I have Paul's photograph painted and adorned with a turban and a black beard—here it is-the true portrait of Surabjee Kamsitjee—only, unfortu- nately, they do not, remember at the Bank." Tom continued summing up the situation. Well. The position is sufficiently alarming. How could we prove that Paul caused these cheques to be drawn by false pretences? Mesmeric influence is not recognised by the Courts of Law, though undue influence might be urged. You have to prove it. A man apparently iu the full vigour of his intellect orders, in an autograph letter which cannot be disputed, the sale of certain shares. He then with his own hand draws these cheques— the counterfoils being entered with care—and sigus them. The signature cannot be disputed. He then writes three letters, in each of which be vouches for the respectability of a certain person. His oniy answer to these facts is that he forgets all about it; that he does not know these persons. But he cannot tell how he came to do it. Next, how are we to connect Paul with the money? How can it be proved that he was the infirm old man? I confess that it will be difficulty. As for Mr Rupert Zeigler, the beard is all one has to go by, although I am perfectly sure that the beard was on Paul's chin, And as for the gentleinau of Bombay, they remember very little about him, though they own that my picture seems very like. So far, you see, I think the most acute detective would fail to connect Paul with the cheques. It remains to find out, if we can, his method of working upon your father, and on that point I hope to be able to throw light be- fore long." •' And meantime, I suppose," said Sibyl, he will make my father sell bis land and his bouse and everything." It is possible. In such hands anything is possible." "Aud yet you are not alarmed." "Not a bit. I have no fear. Paul is only working up for another miracle. He is arranging his effects, and getting together his little pro- perties. It will be, ho thinks, a truly beautiful miracle only, this time, perhaps, we may have the satisfaction of knowing how be does it. And, perhaps, Dodo," he took her band again, per- haps the discovery, if we do make it, may act as an eye-opener to your father, Imd the Vestal Virgin of the Cause may be allowed to leave the Temple of a fallen god." (2'o be continued.)

--_.__--_._------SHE DIDN'T…