Mr. Stoneham, with a craft worthy of all commendation, kept back from the early issue a small fraction of the figures that were in his possession, so that he might print them in the so-called fourth edition, and thus put upon the second lot of contents--bills sent out, in huge, startling black type, “Further Revelations of the Board of Construction Scandal;” and his scathing leading article, in which he indignantly demanded a Parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the Board, was recognized, even by the friends of that public body, as having seriously shaken confidence in it. The reception of the news by the other evening papers was most flattering. One or two ignored it altogether, others alluded to it as a rumour, that it “alleged” so and so, and threw doubt on its truth, which was precisely what Mr. Stoneham wished them to do, as he was in a position to prove the accuracy of his statement. Promptly, at five o’clock that afternoon a hansom containing Miss Jennie Baxter drove up to the side entrance of the _Daily Bugle_ office, and the young woman once more accosted the Irish porter, who again came out of his den to receive her. “Miss Baxter?” said the Irishman, half by way of salutation, and half by way of inquiry. “Yes,” said the girl. “Well, Mr. Hardwick left strict orders with me that if ye came, or, rather, that _whin_ ye came, I was to conduct ye right up to his room at once.” “Oh, that is very satisfactory,” cried Miss Jennie, “and somewhat different from the state of things yesterday.” “Indeed, and that’s very true,” said the porter, his voice sinking. “To-day is not like yesterday at all, at all. There’s been great ructions in this office, mum; although what it’s about, fly away with me if I know. There’s been ruunin’ back and forrad, an’ a plentiful deal of language used. The proprietor himself has been here, an’ he’s here now, an’ Mr. Alder came out a minute ago with his face as white as a sheet of paper. They do be sayin’,” added the porter, still further lowering his voice, and pausing on the stairway, “that Mr. Hardwick is not goin’ to be the editor any more, but that Mr. Alder is to take his place. Anyway, as far as I can tell, Mr. Hardwick an’ Mr. Alder have had a fine fall out, an’ one or other of them is likely to leave the paper.” “Oh, dear, oh, dear!” said Miss Jennie, also pausing on the stairs. “Is it so serious as all that?” “Indeed it is, mum, an’ we none of us know where we’re standin’, at all, at all.” The porter led the way to Mr. Hardwick’s room, and announced the visitor. “Ask her to come in,” she heard the editor say, and the next instant the porter left them alone together.