pleased at the circumstance. She almost started, and had determined in her own mind to withdraw, but a pressing invitation to stop, delivered by Lady Heathfield, obliged the "consciencestricken" woman to remain.

Colonel Archer then detailed to her Ladyship the whole sum of his charges against Mrs. Clanmer, and brought forward in corroboration thereof the evidences of Lady Blabmajor and Mrs. Arlington, who were glad to make whatever attonement they could for the share they had innocently taken in the plan for separating his Lordship from Julia.

Caught by surprise, and taxed so pointedly by the Colonel, it was impossible for Mrs. Clanmer to deny any thing. She made the best face she could on the matter, and gave a true confession of the affair, all of which was committed by the Colonel to paper, and then handed to her for signature. This she did after many attempts at

evasion; and to secure the validity of the confession, the Colonel made the others sign it as well, to testify the contents as truly delivered by Mrs. Clan

mer.

Having secured the valuable document, Louis quitted the Countess, and shaking hands with Lord Eglinton, bade him give himself no further trouble concerning the breach between him and Sir Andrew, as it would now be easy to remove all obstructions to a reconciliation. Lord Eglinton gave the Colonel a look of penetential import, and whispered something about Julia, but Louis smiled and told him to be of good cheer, as "lovers' quarrels were the soonest healed."

Louis went straight to Gloucester Place, where he found Charles and Sir Andrew in conversation. He opened the business at once, and soon put Charles into the secret of Clanmer's double dealings. The document could

not be contested, and its contents worked sorely on Charles. But still some misdoubts lurked in his mind, upon which Louis begged him to send for the Captain, and offered to unmask him beyond the power of denial. Charles acceeded to this, dispatching the billet as we have before mentioned.

"You have no reasons for deceiving me, Colonel," said Charles, mournfully. "But in offering to unveil the conduct of a man, who I must say is my bosom friend, I cannot but indulge a hope that you will find him pass through the ordeal unhurt."

"It is honest on your part," replied Louis, "and only adds another strong proof of the unsuspecting goodness of your heart; but trust me for shewing the wolf in his true garb."

CHAPTER VI.

Now heart,

Be ribbed with iron for this one attempt;
Let ope thy sluices, send the vigorous blood
Through every active limb for my relief:
Then take thy rest within thy quiet cell,
For thou shalt drum no more.

DRYDEN'S DON SEBASTIAN.

LITTLE did the Captain imagine the purpose for which his presence was required at Sir Andrew's house. His conjectures ran wide from the true reason ; and in this self-deception he continued until he reached the Baronet's residence. He was immediately shewn into the parlour, wherein Sir Andrew, Charles, and Colonel Archer were assembled.

The Captain's penetration enabled him instantly to perceive that something

went wrong, but in what respect he puzzled his brains with guessing. He went up to Sir Andrew and offered his hand, but received a cold return to his proffered courtesy. Charles likewise seemed to be distant and reserved; and his salutation to Colonel Archer was answered in a kind of disdainful manner that made Clanmer half angry.

Surely," thought he, as he cast a searching glance on Charles and the Colonel, "nothing has transpired to discompose the machinery of my wellwrought project. S'death! if my mother has failed! but it cannot be; she might blunder, but her commission was such as could not afford any reason for suspicion. There is a mystery somewhere, or I should not have encountered this cool reception-and Charles, too! but never mind-he is safe in my power, and dares not doubt me."

These conceptions ran through Clanmer's mind during the short space be