Monteagle observed all this and condemned himself for having inadvertently helped along the deception; yet it seemed too cruel to dash her new-fledged hopes to the ground, as he might have done by a single word. Candor would have dictated an immediate explanation,—but the youth gave heed to the more tender pleadings of mercy, and even said to himself—‘Time may cure her partiality for me; and another lover may supplant me in her affections; so I will let her rest in happy ignorance. I have no prospect of marrying at present, and why should I dispel a vision which, although baseless, pleases the poor, deluded girl?’ At the breakfast table, the liveliness of Julia, and her merry laugh, drew the attention of Mr. Vandewater, who looked first at his niece and then at Monteagle, as if he supposed an explanation had taken place between the young people, and that all was as Julia desired it to be. On reaching the store, Monteagle was surprised to see a crowd of people about the door. Officers were there asking questions and noting down the replies.—Mr. Brown was flying about among the spectators, making himself so very busy that the youth almost suspected he had lost his wits. ‘Oh, Monteagle, is that you? Where’s Mr. Vandewater?’ ‘I left him conversing with Julia in the breakfast parlor.’ ‘Ah, yes—yes—fine girl that!’ cried Mr. Brown, tapping the youth jocosely on the shoulder. ‘But do you know what’s happened?’ ‘Heavens! No!’ ‘Robbed!’ ‘The store been robbed, do you say?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Brown, ‘it was robbed early this morning.’ ‘At what time?’ ‘Why, at about four—at what time do you ask? Well, to judge of the exact time in which the store was broken open, you must, I think, inquire of those who were here. Ha! ha! ha!’ ‘They cannot have taken much,’ said Monteagle, ‘or you could not be so—that is, you could not speak so lightly on the occasion.’ ‘That safe’s gone!’ ‘What! the little safe that we rescued the other day?’ ‘The same which was taken from the skiff by Vandewater himself.’ ‘Why, Mr. Brown, that’s a serious loss. There was money in that safe—’ ‘Or the thieves would not have carried it off, to be sure, ha! ha! ha!’ ‘But how did he get in?’ ‘That’s the puzzle,’ said Charley, coming up and joining in the conversation. ‘Nothing is broken. The rascals must have had false keys.’ ‘Rather _true_ keys, than false ones,’ replied Monteagle, while Brown gave a sudden start and slightly colored. ‘Ha! ha! Yes, true ones, or they would not have answered the purpose,’ said the latter. ‘Yet it is strange,’ continued Monteagle, ‘for the doors were otherwise secured, as you know, Mr. Brown, by certain secret fastenings which must have been broken before any one could have got in from the outside, unless he was well acquainted with the premises.’ ‘Oh, the Sydney ducks make themselves well acquainted with all these matters,’ cried Charley. ‘All we have to do now is to trace out the villains—’