to send it through an opening in the stairs, which had been doubtless made for the purpose of giving light to a stair below.  I did not stop, but went up the steps and was received with the usual hospitality, and on their expressing some wonder as to the unusual brilliance of my attire I explained the circumstances of the case.  Esther smiled and said I looked quite another person, but I saw that both father and daughter were sad at heart.  Esther’s governess came in and said something to her in Dutch, at which, in evident distress, she ran and embraced her father.

“I see, my friends, that something has happened to you.  If my presence is a restraint, treat me without ceremony, and bid me go.”

“It’s not so great an ill-hap after all; I have enough money left to bear the loss patiently”

“If I may ask the question, what is the nature of your loss?”

“I have lost a green pocket-book containing a good deal of money, which if I had been wise I would have left behind, as I did not require it till to-morrow.”

“And you don’t know where you lost it?”

“It must have been in the street, but I can’t imagine how it can have happened.  It contained bills of exchange for large amounts, and of course they don’t matter, as I can stop payment of them, but there were also notes of the Bank of England for heavy sums, and they are gone, as they are payable to the bearer.  Let us give thanks to God, my dear child, that it is no worse, and pray to Him to preserve to us what remains, and above all to keep us in good health.  I have had much heavier losses than this, and I have been enabled not only to bear the misfortune but to make up the loss.  Let us say no more about the matter.”

While he was speaking my heart was full of joy, but I kept up the sadness befitting the scene.  I had not the slightest doubt that the pocket-book in question was the one I had unluckily sent through the staircase, but which could not be lost irretrievably.  My first point was how to make capital of my grand discovery in the interests of my cabalistic science.  It was too fine an opportunity to be lost, especially as I still felt the sting of having been the cause of an enormous loss to the worthy man.  I would give them a grand proof of the infallibility of my oracle:  how many miracles are done in the same way!  The thought put me into a good humour.  I began to crack jokes, and my jests drew peals of laughter from Esther.

We had an excellent dinner and choice wine.  After we had taken coffee I said that if they liked we would have a game of cards, but Esther said that this would be a waste of time, as she would much prefer making the oracular pyramids.  This was exactly what I wanted.

“With all my heart,” I said.

“We will do as you suggest.”

“Shall I ask where my father lost his pocket-book?”

“Why not?  It’s a plain question:  write it down.”