The Coolidges soon presented themselves in the drawing-room, and Sir Charles came with them. He greeted the guests somewhat coolly, for he could not forget the slight his betrothed had received that evening in London at Manchester House. Isabel and her mother felt a sudden shock run through all their frame when they saw who were present, but the latter at once resolved to carry a high hand and fight the battle out bravely to the end. Lord Dunforth and Adrian arose and bowed coldly as they entered, while Brownie inclined her head the merest trifle in the world; but Isabel, ignoring her manner, began gushingly, thinking to take their castle by storm: “Really, Mrs. Dredmond, you have given us all a terrible fright, but I am rejoiced to find that nothing worse than being married has happened to you. I little thought I should have to tender my congratulations first,” she concluded, turning with a simper to Adrian. “Yes,” put in her mother, before any one else could speak, “I suppose we shall be obliged to pardon you for causing us all so much terror, since your strange disappearance has terminated so happily.” Brownie could endure their insolence no longer. “We will waive that topic, if you please,” she said, icily, “until we have settled a little matter of business. Mrs. Coolidge, I desire to relieve you of a certain casket, with its contents, which belongs to me, and which you have in your possession.” Mrs. Coolidge was equal to the situation. Turning to her daughter, she said: “Oh, yes; Isabel, won’t you go and get it? Of course, she needs it now. If we had only known your address,” she added, graciously, turning to Brownie, “we might have forwarded them to you.” Isabel arose to do her mother’s bidding, and she whispered to her as she did so: “You must manage some way to get Sir Charles out of the room, and keep him out.” Isabel turned to go, and got as far as the door, when she looked back at Adrian and his wife, and said, with a slight blush: “As long as this is a business call to mamma, may I beg you to excuse Sir Charles and me? I assure you we are very busy at present.” They bowed coldly, and then turning to her lover, she said: “Sir Charles, may I speak with you privately?” He arose and followed her from the room with a perplexed brow. He did not exactly like being called from guests in this way. “What does all this mean?” he demanded, when they were alone in the hall. “It means that when Miss Douglas went away from us she left a box containing some valuables with papa for safe keeping,” was the glib reply. She had been expecting some such question, and had the answer all ready. “But I thought she was dismissed.”