not a sound of a door opening nor of anything
falling; not a noise that I could in any way at
all describe; only just an imperceptible warning
that something was alive and stirring not far
away.

The time had been when such a little thing
would not have been worth my notice; but
circumstances had of late made me painfully watchful
and suspicious. I was eager to grasp at any
shadow which seemed to promise a clue to the
mystery over which I pondered night and day.
I sprang to my door and opened it.

The room which I had appropriated to myself
when I gave up my own to my uncle, was one of
those which opened off that corridor, at the end
of which was Giles Humphrey's chamber. All
was solemnly hushed when I opened the door;
the form of every window printed in bright
moonlight on the floor, with long shadows lying
between. I looked up the corridor, and then
down, in time to see a woman's figure, wrapped
from head to foot in a loose dark gown, passing
swiftly through one of the moonlit spaces into
a shadow; then out of the shadow again into
another pale green nimbus. A few hasty strides
brought me to the spot where she had passed a
moment before; but she had turned the corner
into that other passage which led away to the
staircase. I followed, but the figure had
vanished; and only the faintest sound of a door
shutting softly fell on my ear. I returned to
my chamber; more wretched, more indignant,
and more puzzled than I had left it.

Christmas morning broke gloriously, with a
red sun looking gorgeously through the snowy
branches of the trees, and found me with a
racking headache, eyes that felt as if they were
parboiled, and a heart like a lump of lead.
While I dressed, I saw from my window Lady
Fitzgibbon tripping away down the avenue, in
her fur mantle and velvet hat, to the earliest
service at our little country church.

I also turned out of doors, seeking to get
braced by the frosty air. The thanksgiving
was very vague in my heart as I walked up and
down, and I noticed with indifference the wintry
splendour of the morning. My thoughts were
full of that mysterious figure that had flitted
down the corridor in the moonlight. I was
thinking of her height, which was about the
height of at least half a dozen women in the
house, of her gown, which was a loose dressing-
gown affair which anybody might wear, and of
the room into which she escaped, which must
have been one of two rooms standing opposite one
another on the lower corridor near the staircase.
These were the things I thought about, growing
no happier till it was time to go in to breakfast.

But the wonders were only beginning. In the
hall I met two or three people with faces aghast,
two or three people open-mouthed with astonishing
news, and in the midst of them Jacko,
gesticulating and gibbering frightfully. The servants
were running about excitedly, the guests in the
breakfast-parlour were talking eagerly, while
Giles Humphrey was rushing up and down the
room like a madman, his face green with passion,
his eyes rolling about, his hair pushed up on end,
and various signs of disorder about his dress.
One minute he was calling down the vengeance
of Heaven on some person unknown, the next he
was wringing his hands and whimpering like a
whipped schoolboy. I soon learned what was
the matter. Giles Humphrey's strong-box had
been rifled during the night. Ten thousand
pounds in money had been stolen; also jewels
to the value of a fabulous amount.

I heard, and a ghastly light was thrown upon
my puzzle. There came a hissing in my ears,
and flames darted past my eyes. For the first
time in my life it seemed possible to me that I,
a strong man, could swoon. I looked at Peg,
who was sitting in a corner of the bay-window,
with her pale pretty face leaned forward on her
hand, the stray little wavelets of her hair almost
dipping into the large grey eyes. The usual
proud reserve of her mouth and brows had given
way to an expression of strong interest in the
startling topic of the moment. My uncle had
commenced shrieking at me the moment I
appeared.

"Nephew!" he cried, grasping wildly at my
coat, and screaming into my ear, " send instantly
for a detachment of police, and have all your
rascally servants taken into custody. Send—- "

But I will not trouble you, Tom, with the
repetition of his ravings. It seemed the general
opinion that the robbery had been committed by
some one in the house. True, a window had
been found open on the ground floor at the back;
but this was easily discovered to be a ruse, as
the thief had made a serious mistake by opening
a window which was closely barred outside.
Some one in the house had penetrated the secrets
of the springs and locks of Giles Humphrey's
strong-box. One or two persons had the hardihood
to suggest Jacko as the robber, but to any
suspicion of him his master would not listen.
Jacko had been his servant for years upon years,
and had never defrauded him of a baubce. Why
should he turn traitor now?

Why? Because perhaps he never before
had been tempted by the art of a clever woman.
I should have said to Giles Humphrey, " There
is a plot, and I believe your man Jacko to be
concerned in it," only for that handkerchief I
had found upon the passage, and only for the
flutter of that black sdk dress. Again I looked
at Peg. Still that same eager, interested look
so becoming to the pale pretty face; still the
sweetly-moulded chin reposing on the white
guilty (?) hand.

I made an effort to summon my presence of
mind and act reasonably. I despatched a
messenger for the police. I promised my uncle
that every endeavour should be made to regain
his property. Breakfast was upon the table,
and I begged my guests to be seated, and to
defer the further discussion of the unpleasant
event until after the meal had been partaken
of. The first part of my bidding they obeyed,
but not the second. I had not indeed expected
tin v would so easily waive the subject. Why,