"We hear that the convict ship _Vengeance_, after encountering stormy weather and contrary winds on her passage out, has been wrecked upon an uninhabited island. It is said that some of the convicts have escaped." I started up almost as if I had been shot. Tom Heriot had gone out in the _Vengeance_: was he one of those who had escaped? If so, where was he? and what would be his ultimate fate? The ship had sailed from our shores in August; this was February: therefore the reader may think that the news had been long enough in reaching England. But it must be remembered that sailing-vessels were at the mercy of the winds and waves, and in those days telegrams and cablegrams had not been invented. Throwing my cigar into the fire and the newspaper on the table, I fell into an unpleasant reverie. My lucky star did not seem in the ascendant just now. Mr. Brightman's unhappy death; this fresh uncertainty about Tom Heriot; the certain loss of the gold, and the disappearance of the will---- A ring at the visitors' bell aroused me. I listened, as Leah opened the door, curious to know who could be coming after office hours, unless it was Sir Edmund Clavering. Lake was in the country. "Is Mr. Strange in, Leah?" And the sound of the sweet voice set my heart beating. "Yes, Miss Brightman. Please go up." A light foot on the stairs, and Annabel entered, holding up a parchment with its endorsement towards me. "Will of Sir Ralph Clavering." "Oh, Annabel! you are my guardian angel!" I seized the deed and her hands together. She smiled, and drew away the latter. "I still thought the parchment I spoke of might be the missing one," she explained, "and when I got home I looked in papa's secretaire. There it was." "And you have come back to bring it to me!" "Of course I have. It would have been cruel to let you pass another night of suspense. I came as soon as I had dined." "Who is with you?" "No one; I came in by the omnibus. In two omnibuses really, for the first one only brought me as far as Charing Cross." "You came in by omnibus! And alone?" "Why not? Who was to know me, or what could harm me? I kept my veil down. I would not order the carriage out again. It might have disturbed mamma, and she is in bed with one of her worst headaches. And now, Charles, I must hasten back again." "Wait one moment, Annabel, whilst I lock up this doubly-precious will." "Why? You are not going to trouble yourself to accompany me, when you are so busy? It is not in the least necessary. I shall return home just as safely as I came here." "You silly child! That you have come here at night and alone, I cannot help; but what would Mrs. Brightman say to me if I suffered you to go back in the same manner?" "I suppose it was not quite right," she returned laughingly; "but I only thought of the pleasure of restoring the will."