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person who witnessed the robbery; but the door, Tom—the fact of the door being found open—that's the point!"

"Yes. But that poidt is berely assubed. I dod't believe a word of it! I dod't believe the door was fondd oped at all!"

"I feel justified in believing that it was; and if it were, the question is, who could have left it open if you did not? It surely could not have been Sylvester?"

"Syl! Doe: I'll adswer for hib with by life. I saw hib idto his roob; add I kdow he wedt to bed: I also kdow that if he had gode dowd stairs after that, I bust have heard hib. Besides, he isd't at all the style of fellow to do it!"

"Well, all I can say is, that it's a mystery, which time may perhaps unravel."

"But look here, father! Dod't believe that I ever have told, or that I ever will tell you a falsehood. Dod't believe it!"

"Well, Tom, I am not at all anxious to believe it. I certainly cannot prove that you ever told me a falsehood, but you are aware that these circumstances are fraught with suspicion."

"Exactly! That's the poidt! That is the very thidg which galls be! But we shall fidd it out by-add-bye."

"And, until we do find it out, Tom, I am perfectly willing to be silent on the subject."

Mrs. Delolme and Aunt Eleanor then entered the library, and shortly afterwards they, with the doctor and Tom, repaired to the house of Mr. Scholefield. Here they met the reverend gentleman, by appointment; and here Aunt Eleanor was delighted to find that Sylvester already felt perfectly at home. Of Mrs. Scholefield, he had at once become a favourite; she treated him, in fact, with as much kindness as if he had been her own son; and as she was in reality a most amiable person, Aunt Eleanor, feeling satisfied that everything would be done to promote his happiness, decided on returning to Cotherstone on the morrow.

Accordingly, in the morning, she and the reverend gentleman, accompanied by Mrs. Delolme, Mrs. Scholefield, Sylvester, and Tom, went to the office at Charing-cross, and when she had had some farther private conversation with Mrs. Scholefield, having reference to Sylvester, she left town perfectly happy in the conviction that the utmost possible care would be taken of both his morals and his health.

Immediately after the coach had started, Tom proceeded to Bowstreet alone; and, on entering the office, looked round with an anxious hope of again seeing that literary gentleman who received the two sovereigns of the doctor. That gentleman, however, was not then there; but, conceiving that he might be there anon, Tom waited two hours for him with exemplary patience, and then spoke to one of the officers of the court.

"I ab adxious," he observed, "to see a reporter."

"There they are," returned the officer, "in that there box."

"Are they reporters?"

"All on 'em."

"But I wadt to see the wud whob I saw here yesterday."