All this happened some time ago. And our friends may be supposed to have settled down to the freedom and joy which is theirs. But even yet they cannot think calmly of the events of that wonderful day when blind justice seemed to be balancing her scales against them again, and when Hilton’s opportune return wrought the condemnation of villainy, and re-united every member of a now happy family. Hugh Stavanger has ample time now in which to contemplate the fate he so ruthlessly inflicted upon another. And Captain Cochrane often laments the day that cupidity stole such a sorry march upon him. Miss Una Stratton and Mr. Ernest Bootle have been relegated to the phantoms of the past, and even Miss Annie Cory has been merged into Mrs. Harley Riddell. Her husband has quite recovered his former health and good looks, though he is perhaps of a more serious disposition than of yore. He does not care to lead an idle life, but is at the head of a lucrative business established for him by his father-in-law. Needless to say, the said father-in-law did not care to be parted from his daughter, and the three live very happily together. Hilton Riddell makes his mother’s heart happy by his devotion to her, and she has no fear that the day will come when he will crave for the exclusive society of a companion of his own years. He also has embarked in a line of business which ensures him freedom from pecuniary anxiety. Mr. and Mrs. Woodstock live next door to the house in which Mr. and Mrs. Harley Riddell and Mr. Cory reside, and it is questionable which of the homes Briny claims as his own. Mr. and Mrs. Twiley, and Mrs. Dollman (on her marriage to a worthy young friend of the sergeant-major) received some very handsome presents from the Corys, and Hilton Riddell is not likely to forget all he owes to a certain worthy Captain Quaco Pereiro and his steward. THE END. Transcriber’s Note The Contents was added by the transcriber. Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation and spelling have been retained as published in the original book except as follows: Page 1 further belate his arrivel _changed to_ further belate his arrival Page 13 my suspicions are centreing _changed to_ my suspicions are centring Page 20 is much higher that hers _changed to_ is much higher than hers Page 34 pretty confident now of suc cess _changed to_ pretty confident now of success Page 43 but the bo’sen was telling _changed to_ but the bo’sun was telling Page 48 in fixing the guitl _changed to_ in fixing the guilt Page 48 toading to wealth and positon _changed to_ toading to wealth and position Page 57 hole has served his purpose _changed to_ hole had served his purpose Page 61 We musn’t let him _changed to_ We mustn’t let him Page 123 evidence that was forthcomng _changed to_ evidence that was forthcoming