As the voice of Clarence Vaughan fell upon his ear, Jarvis bounded from his seat like an india rubber ball and stared wildly at the young man who had dropped down into the seat beside him as if from the ceiling. "Well, you are a rum one," said he, at last. "Might I ask where you came from?" "From the ladies' carriage." "Oh!" with the air of having made a discovery. "So you ride out of the city in a smoking-car for the purpose of riding back in the ladies' carriage?" Clarence laughed again, settled himself comfortably in his seat and took out his cigar case. "Not exactly," proceeding to light a weed. "I am on pretty much the same business that you are, to-night." Then, taking a big puff, "I have been to Bellair, like yourself." "The deuce you have!" "Yes; how did your business prosper?" Jarvis eyed him sharply. "Perhaps you know already." "Perhaps I do. You have not got to look for stolen diamonds, have you?" Jarvis laughed derisively. "Or stolen money?" pursued Clarence. Jarvis shrugged his shoulders. "Or stolen--_papers_?" Jarvis began to look foxy. "Or a runaway young woman?" Jarvis thought furiously for a moment; then turning square upon his interlocutor, said, significantly: "So there are stolen papers?" Clarence smiled, but said nothing. "And," pursued Jarvis, "when one loses one's papers, say deeds, or a--marriage certificate, one naturally thinks of hunting the records for proofs that such papers existed." "And that is your work?" Jarvis nodded. "Take you out of the city?" "Only a few miles." Clarence reflected for a time, and then said: "You can do your work, but report all discoveries _to me_." Jarvis assented, and they continued to talk of the matter in hand until the city was reached. Then, having made an appointment for the coming day, and agreed to let the work of shadowing the gambler or, rather, his business, remain a "private spec." to Jarvis, they separated. Thoroughly wearied, Clarence sought his bachelor apartments and the repose he so much needed. Early the next day he was up, and after paying a visit to his patient, he turned his steps, or the steps of his horse, in the direction of the villa. He found Madeline sitting up, feeling much better, and looking altogether lovely. Drawing their chairs near together in front of the crackling grate fire, the three discussed the result of the journey to Bellair. Having first related the news imparted by Hagar, Dr. Vaughan turned to Madeline and asked: "What is your theory, sister mine, in regard to this change at Oakley? Why have they turned about and taken up Miss Arthur and her _fiance_ with such sudden affection. Have you guessed?" The girl smiled up at him as she replied: "Certainly; have not you?" "You incorrigible little lawyer! Yes, but give us yours first." "Why," said Madeline with a light laugh, "I suppose they have been suspecting the wrong party. They think that I was an emissary of Mr. Percy's."