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the second time, Vendale discovered his envelope- | interest in examining it appeared to have been case overthrown on the floor, and Obenreizer on his quenched as suddenly and as effectually as the fire knees picking up the contents.

itself. He just glanced over the document, and * All my awkwardness !” said Obenreizer. “ This said, “No; I don't understand it! I am sorry to be dreadful news of yours startled me; I stepped of no use." back-" He became too deeply interested in “I will write to Neuchâtel by to-night's post," collecting the scattered envelopes to finish the sen- said Vendale, putting away the receipt for the sectence.

ond time. “We mist wait, and see what comes of " Don't trouble yourself,” said Vendale. “ The it." clerk' will pick the things up.”

| “By to-night's post," repeated Obenreizer. “Let “ This dreadful news !" repeated Obenreizer, me see. You will get the answer in eight or nine persisting in collecting the envelopes. “This dread-days' time. I shall be back before that. If I can ful news!"

be of any service, as commercial traveller, perbaps " If you will read the letter,” said Vendale, “ you you will let me know between this and then. You will find I have exaggerated nothing. There it is, will send me written instructions ? My best thanks. open on my desk.”

I shall be most anxious for your answer froin NeuHe resumed his search, and in a moment more châtel. Who knows? It may be a mistake, my discovered the forged receipt. It was on the num- dear friend, after all. Courage! courage! courage !" bered and printed form described by the Swiss He had entered the room with no appearance of befirm. Vendale made a memorandum of the num-ing pressed for time. He now snatched up his hat, ber and date. Having replaced the receipt and and took his leave with the air of a man who had locked up the iron chamber, be had leisure to notice not another moment to lose. Obenreizer, reading the letter in the recess of a Left by himself, Vendale took a turn thoughtfully window at the far end of the room.

in the room. "Come to the fire," said Vendale. “You look His previous impression of Obenreizer was shaken perished with the cold out there. I will ring for by what he had heard and seen at the interview some more coals."

which had just taken place. He was disposed, for Obenreizer rose, and came slowly back to the the first time, to doubt whether, in this case, he had desk. “Marguerite will be as sorry to hear of this not been a little hasty and hard in his judgment on as I am," he said, kindly. “What do you mean to another man. Obenreizer's surprise and regret, on do ?”

hearing the news from Neuchâtel, bore the plainest "I am in the hands of Defresnier and Company," marks of being honestly felt, — not politely assumed answered Vendale. “In my total ignorance of the for the occasion. With troubles of his own to encircumstances, I can only do what they recommend. counter, suffering, to all appearance, from the first The receipt which I have just found turns out to insidious attack of a serious illness, he had looked be the numbered and printed form. They seem to and spoken like a man who really deplored the disattach some special importance to its discovery. aster that had fallen on his friend. Ilitherto, Ven. You have had experience, when you were in the dale had tried vainly to alter his first opinion of Swiss house, of their way of doing business. Can Marguerite's guardian, for Marguerite's sake. All you guess what object they have in view ?"

the generous instincts in bis nature now combined Obenreizer offered a suggestion.

| together and shook the evidence which had seemed •Suppose I examine the receipt ?” he said. | unanswerable up to this time. “Who knows?" he

" Are you ill?” asked Vendale, startled by the thought, “I may have read that man's face wrongly, change in his face, which now showed itself plainly after all." for the first time. “Pray go to the fire. You seem to be shivering; I hope you are not going to be

The time passed, - the happy evenings with Marill?"

guerite came and went. It was again the tenth "Not I!” said Obenreizer. “ Perhaps I have morning since Vendale had written to the Swiss caught cold. Your English climate might have firm; and again the answer appeared on his desk spared an admirer of your English institutions. with the other letters of the day :Let me look at the receipt.”

"Dear Sir, - My senior partner, M. Defresnier, has Vendale opened the iron chamber. Obenreizer been called away, by urgent business, to Milan. In his took a chair, and drew it close to the fire. He held absence (and with his full concurrence and authority, both hands over the flames. “Let me look at the I now write to you again on the subject of the missing receipt," he repeated, eagerly, as Vendale reap- five hundred pounds. peared with the paper in his hand. At the same

"Your discovery that the forged receipt is executed moment a porter entered the room with a fresh upon one of our numbered and printed forms has cagsed supply of coals. Vendale told him to make a good

inexpressible surprise and distress to my partner and to. fire. The man obeyed the order with a disastrous

myself. At the time when your remittance was stolen,

but three keys were in existence opening the strong box alacrity. As he stepped forward and raised the

in which our receipt-forms are invariably kept. My part scuttle, his foot caught in a fold of the rug, and he

ner had one key; I had the other. The third was in discharged his entire cargo of coals into the grate.

the possession of a gentleman who, at that period, orcu. The result was an instant smothering of the flame, pied a position of trust in our house. We should as and the production of a stream of yellow smoke, soon have thought of saspecting one of ourselves as of without a visible morsel of fire to account for it. suspecting this person. Suspicion now points at him,

“Imbecile !” whispered Obenreizer to himself, nevertheless. I cannot prevail on myself to inform you with a look at the man which the man remembered

who the person is, so long as there is the shadow of a for many a long day afterwards.

chance that he may come innocently out of the inquiry “Will you come into the clerks' room?" asked

which must now be instituted. Forgive my silence:

the motive of it is good. Vendale. « They have a stove there."

“ The form our investigation must now take is simple “ No, no. No matter."

enough. The handwriting on your receipt must be Vendale handed him the receipt. Obenreizer's compared, by competent persons whom wo bare at

disposal, with certain specimens of handwriting in our pos- of the room, looked out for a moment, and suddenly session. I cannot send you the specimens, for business came back to Vendale. “ Surely they must have reasons, which, when you hear them, you are sure to ap- forgotten ?” he resumed, " or they would have exprove. I must beg you to send me the receipt to Neu- cepted me?” châtel, — and, in making this request, I must accompany | It is Monsieur Rolland who writes," said Venit by a word of necessary warning. "If the person at whom suspicion now points really

dale. “And, as you say, he must certainly have proves to be the person who has committed this forgery forgot

forgotten. That view of the matter quite escaped and theft. I have reason to fear that circunstances may me. I was just wishing I had you to consult, when have already put him on his guard. The only evidence you came into the room. And here I am tied by a against him is the evidence in your hands, and he will formal prohibition, which cannot possibly have been move heaven and earth to obtain and destroy it. I intended to include you. How very annoying !" strongly urge you not to trust the receipt to the post. Obenreizer's filmy eyes fixed on Vendale attenSend it to me, without loss of time, by a private hand, ) tively. and choose nobody for your messenger but a person long! " Perhaps it is more than annoying !” he said. established in your own employment, accustomed to I came this morning not only to hear the news, travelling, capable of speaking French; a man of courage, a man of honesty, and, above all things, a man who

but to offer myself as messenger, negotiator, can be trusted to let no stranger scrape acquaintance

what you will. Would you believe it? I have with him on the route. Tell no one - absolutely no

letters which oblige me to go to Switzerland immeone — but your messenger of the turn this matter has diately. Messages, documents, anything, - I could now taken. The safe transit of the receipt may depend have taken them all to Defresnier and Rolland for on your interpreting literally the advice which I give you you." at the end of this letter.

“You are the very man I wanted," returned “I have only to add that every possible saving of time Vendale. “I had decided, most unwillingly, on gois now of the last importance. More than one of our ling to Neuchâtel myself, not five minutes since, bereceipt-forms is missing, and it is impossible to say what

cause I could find no one here capable of taking my new frauds may not be committed if we fail to lay our hands on the thief.

place. Let me look at the letter again.” “Your faithful servant,

He opened the strong room to get at the letter. “ROLLAND.

Obenreizer, after first glancing round him to make “(Signing for Defresnier & Cie.)." sure that they were alone, followed a step or two

and waited, measuring Vendale with his eye. VenWho was the suspected man? In Vendale's po dale was the tallest man, and unmistakably the sition, it seemed useless to inquire.

strongest man also of the two. Obenreizer turned Who was to be sent to Neuchâtel with the re-away, and warmed himself at the fire. ceipt ? Men of courage and men of honesty were Meanwhile, Vendale read the last paragraph in to be had at Cripple Corner for the asking. But the letter for the third time. There was the plain where was the man who was accustomed to foreign warning, - there was the closing sentence, which travelling, who could speak the French language, insisted on a literal interpretation of it. The hand and who could be really relied on to let no stranger which was leading Vendale in the dark led him on scrape acquaintance with him on his route? There that condition only. A large sum was at stake; a was but one man at hand who combined all those terrible suspicion remained to be verified. If he requisites in his own person, and that man was acted on his own responsibility, and if anything hapVendale himself.

pened to defeat the object in view, who would be It was a sacrifice to leave his business; it was blamed ? As a man of business, Vendale had but a greater sacrifice to leave Marguerite. But a one course to follow. He locked the letter up matter of five hundred pounds was involved in the again. pending inquiry; and a literal interpretation of M. " It is most annoying," he said to Obenreizer, — Rolland's advice was insisted on in terms which it is a piece of forgetfulness on Monsieur Rolland's there was no trifling with. The more Vendale part which puts me to serious inconvenience, and thought of it, the more plainly the necessity faced placeş me in an absurdly false position towards you. him, and said, “Go !"

What am I to do? I am acting in a very serious As he locked up the letter with the receipt, the matter, and acting entirely in the dark. I have no association of ideas reminded him of Obenreizer. choice but to be guided, not by the spirit, but by A guess at the identity of the suspected man looked the letter of my instructions. You understand me, more possible now. Obenreizer might know. I am sure ? You know, if I had not been fettered

The thought had barely passed through his mind, in this way, how gladly I should have accepted your when the door opened, and Obenreizer entered the services ?” room.

| “Say no more!" returned Obenreizer. “In "They told me at Sobo Square you were expect your place I should have done the same. My good ed back last night,” said Vendale, greeting him. friend, I take no offence. I thank you for your “ Have you done well in the country? Are you compliment. We shall be travelling companions, better?"

at any rate,” added Obenreizer. “You go, as I go, A thousand thanks. Obenreizer had done ad at once?” mirably well. Obenreizer was infinitely better. " At once. I must speak to Marguerite first, of And now, what news? Any letter from Neuchâ- course!” tel?

“Surely! surely! Speak to her this evening. "A very strange letter," answered Vendale. Come and pick me up on the way to the station. + The matter has taken a new turn, and the letter We go together by the mail train to-night?” insists — without excepting any body - on my “By the mail train to-night." keeping our next proceedings a profound secret."

"Without excepting anybody?” repeated Oben- It was later than Vendale had anticipated when reizer. As he said the words, he walked away he drove up to the house in Soho Square. Business again, thoughtfully, to the window at the other end difficulties, occasionied by his sudden departure, had presented themselves by dozens. A cruelly were not completed. On such as were open, there large share of the time which he had hoped to were still large gaps of old road where communidevote to Marguerite had been claimed by duties at cation in the winter season was often stopped ; on his office which it was impossible to neglect. others, there were weak points where the new work

To his surprise and delight, she was alone in the was not safe, either under conditions of severe drawing-room when he entered it.

frost, or of rapid thaw. The running of trains on “ We have only a few minutes, George," she this last class was not to be counted on in the worst said. “But Madame Dor has been good to me, – time of the year, was contingent upon weatber, or and we can have those few minutes alone.” She was wholly abandoned through the months consid. threw her arms round his neck, and whispered Jered the most dangerous. eagerly, “ Have you done anything to offend Mr. At Strasburg there were more travellers' stories Obenreizer ?”

afloat, respecting the difficulties of the way farther "I!” exclaimed Vendale, in amazement. on, than there were travellers to relate them. Many

"Hush!” she said, “I want to whisper it. You of these tales were as wild as usual; but the more know the little photograph I have got of you. This modestly marvellous did derive some color from the afternoon it happened to be on the chimney-piece. circumstance that people were indisputably turning He took it up and looked at it, - and I saw his face back. However, as the road to Basle was open, in the glass. I know you have offended him! He Vendale's resolution to push on was in no wise disis merciless; he is revengeful; he is as secret as the turbed. Obenreizer's resolution was necessarily grave. Don't go with him, George, - don't go Vendale's, seeing that he stood at bay thus desperwith him!”

ately ; - he must be ruined, or must destroy the "My own love," returned Vendale, " you are let- evidence that Vendale carried about him, even if ting your fancy frighten you! Obenreizer and I he destroyed Vendale with it. were never better friends than we are at this mo! The state of mind of each of these two fellowment."

travellers towards the other was this. Obenreizer, Before a word more could be said, the sudden encircled by impending ruin through Vendale's movement of some ponderous body shook the floor of quickness of action, and seeing the circle narrowed the next room. The shock was followed by the ap- every hour by Vendale's energy, hated him with pearance of Madame Dor. “ Obenreizer !” ex- the animosity of a fierce, cunning lower animal. He claimed this excellent person in a whisper, and had always had instinctive movements in his breast plumped down instantly in her regular place by the against him ; perhaps, because of that old sore of stove.

gentleman and peasant; perhaps, because of the Obenreizer came in with a courier's bag strapped openness of his nature; perhaps, because of his betover his shoulder.

ter looks; perhaps, because of his success with Mar“ Are you ready?” he asked, addressing Ven guerite; perhaps, on all those grounds, the two last dale. Can I take anything for you? You have not the least. And now he saw in him, besides, the no travelling-bag. I have got one. Here is the hunter who was tracking him down. Vendale, on compartment for papers, open at your service." I the other hand, always contending generously

“ Thank you," said Vendale. “I have only one against his first vague mistrust, now felt bound to paper of importance with me; and that paper I am contend against it more than ever, reminding himbound to take charge of myself. Here it is,” he self, “He is Marguerite's guardian. We are on added, touching the breast-pocket of his coat, "and perfectly friendly terms; he is my companion of his here it must remain till we get to Neuchâtel.” own proposal, and can have no interested motive in

As he said those words, Marguerite's hand caught sharing this undesirable journey." To which pleas bis, and pressed it significantly. She was looking in behalf of Obenreizer, chance added one eonsidtowards Obenreizer. Before Vendale could look, eration more, when they came to Basle, after a jour in his turn, Obenreizer had wheeled round, and was ney of more than twice the average duration. taking leave of Madame Dor.

They had had a late dinner, and were alone in an “Adieu, my charming niece!” he said, turning inn room there, overbanging the Rhine, at that to Marguerite next. • En route, my friend, for place rapid and deep, swollen and loud. Vendale Neuchâtel !” He tapped Vendale lightly over the lounged upon a couch, and Obenreizer walked to breast-pocket of his coat, and led the way to the and fro, - now stopping at the window, looking at door.

the crooked reflections of the town lights in the dark Vendale's last look was for Marguerite. Mar-water, (and peradventure thinking, "If I could fling guerite's last words to him were, “Don't go !" him into it!") now resuming his walk with his eyes

upon the floor.

** Where shall I rob him, if I can? Where shall АСТ II.

I murder him, if I must ?" So, as he paced the

room, ran the river, ran the river, ran the river. IN THE VALLEY.

The burden seemed to him, at last, to be growing It was about the middle of the month of February so plain that he stopped ; thinking it as well to sug when Vendale and Obenreizer set forth on their ex. gest another burden to his companion. pedition. The winter being a hard one, the time " The Rhine sounds to-night," he said with a was bad for travellers. So bad was it that these smile, " like the old waterfall at home. That water two travellers, coming to Strasburg, found its great fall which my mother showed to travellers (I toli inns almost empty. And even the few people they you of it once). "The sound of it changed with the did encounter in that city, who had started from weather, as does the sound of all falling waters and England or from Paris on business journeys towards flowing waters. When I was pupil of the watchthe interior of Switzerland, were turning back. maker, I remembered it as sometimes saying to me

Many of the railroads in Switzerland that tour for whole days, • Who are you, my little wretch ? ists pass easily enough now, were almost or quite Who are you, my little wretch?' I remetnberedt impracticable then. Some were not begun; more as saying, other times, when its sound was bolos,