Disgraced the name of Grahame! What, then, had _he_ done? In what immaculate position did he stand, that he should close his door upon his child--discard, disown her, upon a mere suspicion of error? He slunk into a chair. He felt how hollow was his pride, how contemptible himself. With an impatient and trembling hand he turned up the lamp, until the room was one glare of light. He rang his bell violently. The summons was answered by Whelks. “Tell me,” said Mr. Grahame, resuming his cold, austere manner, “has any person been here desiring to see me privately during my absence?” He alluded to Chewkle. He fully expected to be told that he had called three or four times; he was, therefore, surprised to hear ‘Whelks answer him negatively. “Are you sure?” he said, pointedly. “I am sure no person ’ave been of that deskripshun, sir,” the man replied. “Oh! stay; there was one--yes, there was one, sir.” “Who was that?” inquired Mr. Grahame, sharply. “It was the small, little dwarf, who ’ave ’ad the janders offul, sir--Mr. Gummy, sir,” responded Whelks. “Mr. Gomer,” corrected Mr. Grahame, thoughtfully. Presently he said-- “Did that individual--that person named Chewkle not call in my absence?” “No, sir,” returned Whelks, who had traced, to the best of his belief, his missing sovring to him. “But Mr. Gummy asked me if he had called lately, which I told him no; and he asked me if I know where I could find him, which I tell him I ’ave not a idee.” Mr. Whelks would have availed himself of it rather promptly if he had. This absence of Chewkle in connection with the loss of the document with Wilton’s forged signature, was both mysterious and disturbingly perplexing. The painful doubts it gave birth to in his mind were not relieved by the information that Nathan Gomer had been making inquiries respecting him. He saw, however, that it would not do for him to appear to seek Chewkle; he was likely to prove sufficiently a locust without his taking such a step. He, therefore, determined to await his appearance. Seeming to dismiss the subject from his mind, he turned over a few letters which lay upon his table, and said in a deliberate, but apparently apathetic tone---- “Send Miss Grahame’s maid to me.” “A--a--Miss Grahame’s, sir,” said Whelks, with an air of embarrassment, “A--a--Stalker, sir?” “No,” returned Mr. Grahame, with a frown “Miss Grahame’s maid, Chayter--that is her name, I think.” “Oh--oh, yaas--yaas, sir. She ’ave gone sir.” “Discharged?” “A--yaas, sir, yaas.” “Do you know where she is to be found?” “I think I ’ave a impression it is--at least her hadver-tisement come out at----” “Find her and bring her to me instantly--quietly, you understand.” Whelks bowed and retired; he guessed his master’s object, and very quickly unkennelled Chayter, who likewise suspected the reason why Mr. Grahame sent for her, and prepared herself accordingly. Within a short time from receiving his instructions,