The blinds were down throughout the house. Every room was dull. Madame de Mellissie evidently found it so, and came in listlessly to the oak-parlour. She seemed very cross: perhaps at seeing her brother there; but he had only come to it a minute before. "Harry, I suppose Chandos will be looking up again, and taking its part in county gaieties after awhile—as it never has done yet?" "Yes," he answered; "after a while." "It would not be a bad plan for me to reside here occasionally as its mistress. Mamma goes back to the old Heneage homestead: she always intended to do so, if this crisis came in poor George's life, leaving you here to manage the estate for Thomas. And now it is yours, to manage for yourself. What changes!" "Changes indeed! I wish I could be the manager for him still." "You will want a mistress for it; and I shall be glad to escape at times from home. I get sick and tired of Paris." "Many thanks, Emily, but the future mistress of Chandos is already bespoken." Her fair face flushed; and there was a very tart ring in her voice when she spoke again. "Do you forget that your position is changed? When you gave me that hint last evening, you were, comparatively speaking, an obscure individual; now you are Sir Harry Chandos, a powerful and very wealthy baronet." What he answered, I know not. There was a smile on his face as I left the room and strolled outside. The sound of approaching footsteps caused me to look down the avenue, and the look sent me running in again. Two of the police who had been there before were approaching on foot. "I have been waiting for them," said Mr. Chandos, quietly. I _cannot_ get quite at once into the way of calling him anything else. "Emily, will you oblige me by going up to Mrs. Chandos, and make some excuse for taking her into the west wing at once. You can stay here, or go to another room, as you like, Anne." I went up to my chamber. Madame de Mellissie was already passing along the gallery, her arm linked within that of Mrs. Chandos. Mrs. Penn advanced to the well of the staircase and saw the police. A glow of triumph overspread her whole face. "Sooner here than I thought for!" she exclaimed. "You will see something now, Anne Hereford." They came up the stairs, Mr. Chandos with them. Mrs. Penn retreated to the door of the east wing, but she could not resist the temptation of standing at it to look. They went towards her. "Not here," she said, waving her hand in the direction of the west wing. "The person for whom your visit is intended is _there_." "Pardon me, madam," interposed Mr. Chandos; "the visit of these officers is to _you_." "To me! What do you mean?" she asked, after a pause, her voice rising to a shriek. Never did I see a change so great come over a human countenance. They all retreated into the east wing, and the door was closed. What took place I learnt later.