“Change my name!” “Most certainly you must do that. Pass yourself off as a widow.” “I should never have the courage to do that.” “You must; don’t tell me you haven’t courage. What matters――who’s to know? You have money, and to the possessor of money everybody pays homage. We all know that.” “You certainly are a most extraordinary girl,” observed Mrs. Bristow, in a reflective manner. “What in the name of goodness could have put such thoughts into your head?” “Common sense; that’s all, my dear. I am only using common sense in a matter which, to say the truth, requires a considerable amount of that useful commodity. To remain here, or anywhere else in this county, would be the worst of folly. Change your name, take quiet, respectable apartments at the west end of London, and make your life as happy as possible. You have suffered enough, and deserve to taste a little of the sweets of life. Do you see that?” “Ah, I acknowledge the truth of your observations.” “Very good. And now, first of all, let us make an examination of the little store. Lock the door, dear. We don’t want anybody prying into our secret――not even my aunt. In a case like this, it’s best to keep one’s own counsel.” Mrs. Bristow rose suddenly from her seat, and crept softly towards the door, which she locked. “Now for it,” said Bessie. “Now for the notes.” She drew them forth, and placed them on the dressing-table. The first upon which her eye lighted was a note for the sum of one thousand pounds. This was followed by many more for a like sum. In addition to these there were many for one hundred, two hundred, as also others for smaller and larger sums. Reckoning the whole of them up they represented an amount exceeding fourteen thousand pounds. [Sidenote: No. 8.] [Illustration: THE YOUNGER SERVANT STRUCK PEACE WITH THE MOP, AND LAID HIM SENSELESS.] The two women were astounded at the prodigious sum. “What say you to that?” inquired Bessie. “I feel like one who is walking on a precipice, and expects every minute to topple over. That’s how I feel.” “You’ll get used to it in time. Oh, you’ll get used to it, believe me.” “But are the notes genuine?” “I do not doubt it for a moment. You had now better take charge of your own property; sew them up in your stays. That will be the best plan till we see what can be done with them.” “But where can we get notes for so large an amount changed without exciting suspicion?” “That will require a little thought. It won’t do to be too hasty in a matter of this sort. If one note is good they are all right, depend upon that. I have an idea.” “What is it?” “You’ve got one for fifty pounds?” “Yes.” “I will ask Mr. Chipps to change it. He’ll have no objection to oblige either of us.” “But he’ll want to know where we got it from.” “I will tell him, my dear――a legacy, a legacy. Don’t you see it was bequeathed to you by a relative? I have promised to see him either to-day or to-morrow. I will take this note with me.”