“The question for you to consider is, whether they may not possibly have communicated the address of which we stand in need to some other person besides the lawyer.  The husband may have written to members of his family, or the wife may have written to members of her family.  Both myself and friend are of opinion that the latter chance is the likelier of the two.  If you have any means of access in the direction of the wife’s family, we strongly recommend you to make use of them.  If not, please supply us with the names of any of her near relations or intimate female friends whom you know, and we will endeavor to get access for you.

“In any case, we request you will at once favor us with the most exact personal description that can be written of both the parties.  We may require your assistance, in this important particular, at five minutes’ notice.  Favor us, therefore, with the description by return of post.  In the meantime, we will endeavor to ascertain on our side whether any information is to be privately obtained at Mr. Loscombe’s office.  The lawyer himself is probably altogether beyond our reach.  But if any one of his clerks can be advantageously treated with on such terms as may not overtax your pecuniary resources, accept my assurance that the opportunity shall be made the most of by, dear madam, your faithful servant,

“ALFRED DE BLERIOT.”

VII.

From Mr. Pendril to Norah Vanstone.

“Serle Street, October 27th. 1847.

“MY DEAR MISS VANSTONE—­A lady named Lecount (formerly attached to Mr. Noel Vanstone’s service in the capacity of housekeeper) has called at my office this morning, and has asked me to furnish her with your address.  I have begged her to excuse my immediate compliance with her request, and to favor me with a call to-morrow morning, when I shall be prepared to meet her with a definite answer.

“My hesitation in this matter does not proceed from any distrust of Mrs. Lecount personally, for I know nothing whatever to her prejudice.  But in making her request to me, she stated that the object of the desired interview was to speak to you privately on the subject of your sister.  Forgive me for acknowledging that I determined to withhold the address as soon as I heard this.  You will make allowances for your old friend, and your sincere well-wisher?  You will not take it amiss if I express my strong disapproval of your allowing yourself, on any pretense whatever, to be mixed up for the future with your sister’s proceedings.

“I will not distress you by saying more than this.  But I feel too deep an interest in your welfare, and too sincere an admiration of the patience with which you have borne all your trials, to say less.