arraignment of the men who were trying to force the building bill
through the Council, staggered the whole city of London. At that writing
it looked as though the bill would be overthrown, its promoters had been
so completely put to rout. The committee would be compelled to take
cognisance of the startling exposure--the people would demand a full
threshing out of the obnoxious deal. Roxbury Medcroft's name was on
every one's lips. The _Standard_ had profited by securing a great
"beat."

The Odell-Carneys looked at each other in wonder and perplexity. "What
does it mean?" asked the lady, her eyes narrowing.

"Look here, Agatha, this paper's at least two days old. Now, how the
devil can Medcroft be in London and Innsbruck at the same time. He _was_
here day before yesterday, wasn't he? I'm so c'nfended unobserving--"

"Yes, yes, he was here. And this paper--" She paused irresolutely.

"Says he was _there_. 'Pon my word, it's most uncanny. There's some
mystery here."

"I've got it, Carney! This is not Roxbury Medcroft."

"Good Gawd!"

"This explains everything. Heavens, Carney! This fellow is--is her
lover! She's running about the country with him. She's--"

"Her lover? 'Gad, my dear, he may have been so at one time, but he's the
other one's lover now, take my word for it. I say, 'pon my soul, this is