at Lone, she went off into the very worst hysterics I ever saw.  I was struck all of a heap!  I couldn’t imagine why she should take it so awfully to heart as that.  But that’s neither here nor there.  I know now why she took it so to heart.  In the midst of all the hubbub, Mr. John Scott returned.  And she fairly flew at him!  She said, among other bitter, things, that he would bring her to the gallows yet!  And she charged him with what she had overheard.  But somehow or other he laughed at her, and explained it all away to her satisfaction.  He could always make her believe whatever he pleased.  If he had told her the rainbow was only a few yards of striped Leamington ribbon, she would have believed him!  He didn’t stay more than an hour, and was off again in a hurry.  We didn’t see him again until the last of the week.  It was the news of the coroner’s verdict on the Lone murder case was telegraphed to London, when he came rushing in at the door and up the stairs like a mad-man.  And in ten minutes he came rushing down stairs again and out of the street door like a madman, but he carried the heavy little bag off with him in his hand.  And he has never been back since.  But, from time to time, he wrote to her, and sent her money, and told her that business still kept him away.  But, mind you, my lady, his letters were all without date or signature, and were drop letters, now from one London post-office, and now from another, so that she never knew where to address him.  Not that she cared.  As long as her money lasted she was, perfectly satisfied.  She lived comfortably, and she amused herself, and often went to the play and took me with her, and all went merry again until yesterday, when, all on a sudden, the police made a descent on the house, and arrested Mrs. John Scott on a charge of being implicated in the robbery and murder at Castle Lone, and proceeded to search the house, where they found the watch-chain, snuff-box, and other valuable property belonging to the late Sir Lemuel Levison!”

“Great Heaven! they found these things in the house rented by—­by—­”

Salome could say no more, but ended with a groan that seemed to rend body and soul apart.

“They found the stolen jewels there, my lady.  My unhappy mistress denied all knowledge of them, but her words availed her nothing.  She was carried off to prison that same night.  This morning she was taken before the sitting magistrate, and examined, and remanded to prison, until she can be carried back to Scotland for trial.  Neither she nor I know at what hour she may be removed, or by what train she may be taken to Scotland.  She may be gone now, for aught I know.”

“Where is the poor creature now confined?” inquired Salome, in a dying voice.