"In that case," said Carne, who had not only seconded the motion, but had put the notion into Lady Weltershall’s head, "it might be as well if our chairman would interview the authorities of the bank, and arrange that the amount in question shall be packed, ready for delivery to the messengers he may select to call for it before the date in question." "I will make it my business to call at the bank to-morrow morning," replied the chairman, "and perhaps you, Mr. Carne, would have no objection to accompany me." "If it will facilitate the business of this committee I shall be only too pleased to do so," said Carne, and so it was settled. On a Tuesday afternoon, six days later, and two days before the date upon which it had been arranged that the committee should sail, the Marquis of Laverstock received a letter. Lady Caroline Weltershall, the Earl of Amberley, and Simon Carne were with him when he opened it. He read it through, and then read it again, after which he turned to his guests. "This is really a very extraordinary communication," he said, "and it affects the matter we have most at heart, perhaps I had better read it to you: "_154, Great Chesterton Street,_ _Tuesday Evening._ To the Most Noble the Marquis of Laverstock, K. G., Berkeley Square. "MY LORD--As one who has been permitted to enjoy a long and peaceful life in a country where such visitations are happily unknown, I take the liberty of writing to your Lordship to say how very much I should like to subscribe to the fund so nobly started by you and your friends to assist the poor people who have lost so much by the earthquake in the Canary Islands. Being a lonely old woman, blessed by Providence with some small share of worldly wealth, I feel it my duty to make some small sacrifice to help others who have not been so blessed. "Unfortunately, I do not enjoy very good health, but if your Lordship could spare a moment to call upon me, I would like to thank you in the name of Womanhood, for all you have done, and, in proof of my gratitude, would willingly give you my cheque for the sum of ten thousand pounds to add to the amount already subscribed. I am permitted by my doctors to see visitors between the hours of eleven and twelve in the morning, and five and six in the afternoon. I should then be both honored and pleased to see your Lordship. "Trusting you will concede me this small favor, I have the honor to be, Yours very sincerely, "JANET O’HALLORAN." There was a momentary pause after his lordship had finished reading the letter. "What will you do?" inquired Lady Caroline. "It is a noble offering," put in Simon Carne. "I think there cannot be two opinions as to what is my duty," replied the chairman. "I shall accede to her request, though why she wants to see me is more than I can tell."