"Well, if you put that opinion down in your bill and charge six-and-eightpence for it," said Whittingham, with a very serious countenance, "I shall certainly dispute the item, and computate it, when I audit the accounts." "I am really at a loss to comprehend you," said the lawyer. "Of course there are no secrets between you and me: indeed, you had much better tell me the whole truth----" "Truth!" ejaculated Whittingham: "of course I shall tell you the truth." "Allow me to ask a question or two, then," resumed the lawyer. "I suppose that you were in the plant, and divided the swag?" Mr. Whittingham stared at the professional man with the most unfeigned astonishment, which, indeed, was so great that it checked all reply. "Well," proceeded the shrewd Mr. Mac Chizzle, "it wasn't a bad dodge either. And I suppose that this Monroe is a party to the whole concern?" "Is it possible, Mr. Mac Chizzle," exclaimed the butler, "that ----" "But the business is awkward--very awkward," added the solicitor, shaking his head. "It was however fortunate that nothing transpired to implicate you also. When one pal is at large, he can do much for another who is in lavender. It would have been worse if you had been lumbered too--far worse." "Plant--pal--lumbered--lavender!" repeated Whittingham, with considerable emphasis on each word as he slowly uttered it. "I suppose you raly think my master is guilty of the crime computed to him?" "Of course I do," replied Mac Chizzle: "I can see as far into a brick wall as any one." "Well, it's of no use argufying the pint," said the butler, after a moment's pause. "Here is Mr. Monroe's address: perhaps when you have seen him, you will arrive at new inclusions." Mr. Whittingham then took leave of the solicitor, and proceeded to Bond Street. Within a few yards of the house in which Mrs. Arlington resided, the butler ran against an individual who, with his hat perched jauntily on his right ear, was lounging along. "Holloa, you fellow!" ejaculated Mr. Thomas Sugget--for it was he--"what do you mean by coming bolt agin a gen'leman in that kind of way?" "Oh! my dear sir," cried Whittingham, "is that you? I am raly perforated with delight to see you." Mr. Suggett gave a good long stare at Mr. Whittingham, and then exclaimed "Oh! it is you--is it? Well, I must say that your legs are in a very unfinished condition." "How, sir--how?" demanded the irritated butler. "Why, they want a pair of fetters, to be sure," said Suggett; and breaking into a horse-laugh, he passed rapidly on. Whittingham felt humiliated; and the knock that he gave at the door of Diana's lodgings was sneaking and subdued. In a few minutes, however, he was ushered into a back room on the first floor, where Mrs. Arlington received him. "Here is a letter, ma'am, which I was to deliver only into your own indentical hand." "Is it--is it from your master?" demanded the Enchantress. "It is, ma'am."