’Sir,’ said Mirelle, ’as I was walking along the Bodmin road, I saw three children going along the same way and in the same direction as myself—only they were walking backwards. One tumbled into a furzebush on the right, another fell over the bank into a ditch on the left, and the third went under the hoofs of carthorses in the middle of the road. It would have been better for all those children not to have travelled along the road at all, than to have attempted it with perverted views.’ Then she rose, bowed, and left the minister with Orange and her mother. The next caller was Captain Trecarrel. Orange had been expecting him, and had given instructions to the servant on no account to admit him. Accordingly, when he called, neither the Countess nor the Trampleasures were ’at home,’ and the Captain was forced to depart, leaving three cards. Orange took possession of the cards, tore them in half, and put them in an envelope. ’Dear Mirelle,’ she said, ’I have been writing to Harry, poor fellow. He has been so troubled about our affairs that he has taken to his bed. He is seriously unwell. I have been writing full particulars to him of all that has taken place, but since my letter was finished I have sprained my hand, and cannot hold a pen. Would you mind directing the letter for me, dear?’ So the address was in Mirelle’s handwriting. The letter was posted, and reached the Captain on the morrow. ’Now,’ said Orange, ’he will be forced to keep his distance for a while, till I have time to look round.’ Orange was not satisfied. Mirelle was certain to go to Trecarrel for mass, when next the priest came that way, and then an explanation would follow. Orange did not understand how it was that Herring had bought in all the furniture in Mirelle’s name, and had placed a sum in the bank to her account. She questioned Mirelle thereon. ’My dear, how comes it that you have so much money? that you are able to do so much, and to live independently?’ ’I do not know.’ ’What has become of your diamond necklace and tiara? Have you sold them?’ ’No, Mr. Herring keeps them for me. I do not want them now. I mean—for wear.’ ’Mr. Herring has them!’ ’Yes; I asked him to take care of them—that was before I knew they were paste.’ ’But, perhaps they are not paste, but real diamonds, Mirelle.’ ’What I gave you formed part of the set, and that was certainly paste.’ ’Yes, that is true; but it is possible that the rest may have been genuine stones, in which case the value must be great.’ ’I do not know, Orange.’ ’But, my dear, whence comes the money lodged in the bank? Whence the money that bought all this furniture?’ ’I do not know. I have not asked.’ ’You ought to know. It is imperative on you to ascertain. Do you think that Mr. Herring has sold your diamonds for this purpose?’