“This is Miss Harman, whom I think you have seen on other occasions,” said Miss Marlett, trying to be calm. Maitland bowed again, and wondered more than ever. It did occur to him, that the fewer people knew of so delicate a business the better for Margaret’s sake. “I have brought Miss Harman here, Mr. Maitland, partly because she is Miss Shields’ greatest friend” (here Janey sobbed), “but chiefly because she can prove, to a certain extent, the truth of what I have told you.” “I never for a moment doubted it, Miss Marlett; but will you kindly let me compare the two telegrams? This is a most extraordinary affair, and we ought to lose no time in investigating it, and discovering its meaning. You and I are responsible, you know, to ourselves, if unfortunately to no one else, for Margaret’s safety.” “But I haven’t got the two telegrams!” exclaimed poor Miss Marlett, who could not live up to the stately tone of Maitland. “I haven’t got them, or rather, I only have one of them, and I have hunted everywhere, high and low, for the other.” Then she offered Maitland a single dispatch, and the flimsy pink paper fluttered in her shaking hand. Maitland took it up and read aloud: “Sent out at 7.45. Received 7.51. “From Robert Maitland to Miss Marlett. “The Dovecot, Conisbeare, “Tiverton. “I come to-morrow, leaving by 10.30 train. Do not let Margaret see the newspaper. Her father dead. Break news.” “Why, that is my own telegram!” cried Maitland; “but what have you done with the other you said you received?” “That is the very one I cannot find, though I had both on the escritoire in my own room this morning. I cannot believe anyone would touch it. I did not lock them away, not expecting to have any use for them; but I am quite sure, the last time I saw them, they were lying there.” “This is very extraordinary,” said Maitland. “You tell me, Miss Marlett, that you received two telegrams from me. On the strength of the later of the two you let your pupil go away with a person of whom you know nothing, and then you have not even the telegram to show me. How long an interval was there between the receipt of the two despatches?” “I got them both at once,” said poor, trembling Miss Marlett, who felt the weakness of her case. “They were both sent up with the letters this morning. Were they not, Miss Harman?” “Yes,” said Janey; “I certainly saw two telegraphic envelopes lying among your letters at breakfast. I mentioned it to--to poor Margaret,” she added, with a break in her voice. “But why were the telegrams not delivered last night?” Maitland asked.