'Well--on that evening we went to Church together; and after Church, as I was not allowed in the house, we walked round and round the Square until the rain came on, and we had to go home. Well, you did not take any notice; but as you stood on the steps waiting for the door to be opened, a man was standing on the kerb under the lamp close by. When the door was shut behind you, I turned and walked away. This man followed me and clapped me on the shoulder. It was Athelstan.' 'And I saw him and did not know him!' 'He has grown a big beard now, and wore a felt hat. He is a picturesque object to look at. Ought to have been one of Drake's men. I daresay he was in a former existence. He had then been in England exactly a week, and every day he had prowled about the place in the hope of seeing you--not speaking to you--he trusted that you would not know him again.' 'Oh, poor Athelstan! That is nearly three weeks ago. He has been in England four weeks--a month--and three--four--five months ago--where was he?' 'I told you. In California.' 'Oh! then he could not--possibly--not possibly--and it can be proved--and oh! George--George--I am so glad--I am so glad.' She showed her joy by a light shower of tears. 'Why, my dear,' he said, soothing her, 'why are you so troubled and yet so glad?' 'You don't quite understand, George. You don't know the things that are said. All these forgeries are in the same handwriting.' 'Certainly.' 'One man has written all these letters and cheques and things--both that of eight years ago and those of last March?' 'That is perfectly certain.' 'Then, don't you see? Athelstan was out of England when these newly-discovered forgeries were done. Therefore, he had no hand in them. Therefore, again, he could have had no hand in the earlier one. Why--you establish his innocence perfectly. Now you see one of the reasons why I was so glad.' The other reason--that this fact destroyed at one blow the whole of the splendid edifice constructed upon the alleged stay of Athelstan in London--Elsie concealed. Her heart, it must be acknowledged, was lightened. You may have the most complete belief in the innocence of a person, but it is well to have the belief strengthened by facts. 'As for me,' said George, 'I have been so long accustomed to regard him as one of the worst used of men, that I never thought of that conclusion. Of course, if the handwriting is the same, and it certainly seems the same--a very good imitation of Mr. Dering's hand--there is nothing now to be said. Athelstan was in California in the spring. That settles it. And the notes were in the safe. Two clinchers. But to some minds a suspicion is a charge, and a charge is a fact.' 'George, you must take me to Athelstan. Give me his address.' 'He is in lodgings in Half Moon Street. I will ask him if he will meet you.'