Part 14 (1/2)

”Gentlemanly and honourable in this, after all,” he said to hierly searched the papers to see if there was a note

None, and with an ejaculation of disappointment he unlocked the table drawer, thrust in the rouleaux, locked theain, to examine the blurred red seal

”Eureka!” he muttered; ”then here is the clue” He carefully cut off the seal and placed it in his pocket-book, after satisfying his was a uide hie, in the faint hope of finding the arreat fa when the servant knocked at the door to tell him that breakfast was ready

Laura and his aunt aiting in the dining-roo,” after which the breakfast was partaken of in silence, and he rose to go back to his roo, Frederick?” said his aunt, as he reached the door

He looked back at her sharply, and then glanced at his sister, atching him too

”No,” he said sharply ”I have i out”

”But--”

Chester closed the door and hurried to his room He kneas about to be said, and he was in such an intense state of irritation, that he could not trust himself to reply, but took hat and coat directly, went out, and ju into the first cab was driven to his club, where he spent the entry, peerages, baronetages, everything he could find relating to ar crest after crest of ers, spears, flowers, plu which quite answered to the seal

After a hasty lunch he went out to resuht this was his life, seeking, and seeking in vain, for he found hundreds, each of which ht, till one afternoon he alking down forloomy mansions, when his eyes lit upon a house, one of fifty almost alike, double-fronted with a broad entrance, and exactly what he felt the place ht He had passed it a dozen tie feeling of elation, as he noted its gloorew certain that he hadwas to note the nu rapidly on without daring to look for fear of being observed, he went to the end of the street, crossed over, and returned, read the half-obliterated number on the time-worn door as he rapidly passed, and once more had himself driven to his club

”Found at last,” he reat Directory and found the nu within hiht, and he closed the book, drawing a deep breath, and went straight to the great grim street

He had made no plans, but had deter entrance The old housekeeper would answer the door, and threats, cajoling, or bribery he was determined should be his pass-key, for see Marion and be assured of her safety he would, even, he told himself, if he had to use force

For one ed into the lion's jaws, as it were--should he speak to a policeman and tell him how to act if he did not soon return?

”No,” he said; ”it would be too cowardly, and I iven a heavy peal on knocker and bell, listened to the hollow echoes raised within the forbidding place, and stood waiting for the opening of the door

CHAPTER TEN

THE BOOKWORM AT HOME

As Chester waited for an answer to his suht of the aardness of his position struck hio on with his quest at all hazards At the end of a ain, with the hope rising that he was on the right tack at last, for the silence accorded with the ht

It was not until he had roused the echoes within the house for the third ti taken down; then the door was opened slowly, and Chester's heart sank as he found hi old , dusty dressing-gown and slippers He earing an old-fashi+oned pair of round glass, silver-rimmed spectacles, whose ends were secured by a piece of black ribbon; and these he pushed up on his forehead as he turned his head side-wise and peered at the visitor

”I'm afraid you knocked before, sir,” he said in a quiet, dreaht not to have coise,” said the old gentle, and did not hear”

He pushed his glasses a little higher and smiled in a pleasant, benevolent fashi+on, while at the first glance Chester saw that he was quite off the scent For he gazed past the old reat hall whose walls were covered with book-shelves, while parcels and piles of volumes were heaped up in every available corner

”I see that I have made a mistake,” said Chester, hastily