double, and you may be sure I shall not allow him to go until this mystery is cleared up." In reply to this pressing epistle, Durham wrote, telling Miss Berengaria to wait for three or four days. He was advertising for Tolomeo, and hoped to see him at his office. If, as Durham thought, the Italian had been with Sir Simon on that night, something might be learned from him likely to prove the presence of Michael in the room. The examination of Michael--which Durham proposed to make, would then be rendered much easier. The lawyer, in conclusion, quite agreed with Miss Plantagenet that Conniston and Bernard should not be told. "I hope to be with you by the end of the week," he finished. "Deuce take the man," said Miss Berengaria, rubbing her nose. "Does he think I can wait all that time?" "I don't see what else you can do, aunt," said Alice, when the letter was read. "And this poor creature is so weak, that I do not think he will be able to speak much for a few days. All we have to do is to nurse him and ask no questions." "And to let him think we believe him to be Bernard." "Oh, he is quite convinced of that," said Alice, quickly. "I suppose he hoped I would think his altered looks might induce me to overlook any lack of resemblance to Bernard." "Yes, but he must guess when you talk you will find him out, seeing you know much of Bernard that he cannot know." "Perhaps that is why he holds his tongue," said Alice, rising. "But we must wait, aunt." "I suppose we must," said Miss Berengaria, dolefully. "Drat the whole business! Was there ever such a coil?" "Well then, aunt, will you leave it alone?" "Certainly not. I intend to see the thing through. Owing to my reticence to Sir Simon about your parents, Alice, I am really responsible for the whole business, so I will keep working at it until Bernard is out of danger and married to you." "Ah!" sighed Miss Malleson. "And when will that be?" "Sooner than you think, perhaps. Every day brings a surprise." One day certainly brought a surprise to Lucy Randolph. She learned that Conniston loved her, though, to be sure, his frequent visits might have shown her how he was losing his heart. She was glad of this as she admired Conniston exceedingly, and, moreover, wished to escape from her awkward position at the Hall. When Bernard came back and married Alice, she would have to leave the Hall and live on the small income allotted to her by the generosity of the dead man. It would be much better, as she truly thought, to marry Conniston, even though he was the poorest of peers. One can do a lot with a title even without money, and Lucy was wise in her generation. Moreover, she was truly in love with the young man, and thought, very rightly, that he would make her a good husband.