Mirpah's hint, I went back through the files of the _Courier_ till
I lighted on the account of the wedding. True enough, among other
guests on that occasion, I found catalogued the name of a certain
Monsieur H---- of the Russian Embassy. I had got all I wanted from
the _Eastbury Courier_.

"My next proceeding was to hasten up to Deepley Walls, to obtain an
interview with Lady Chillington, and to induce her ladyship to
write to Sir John Pennythorne, asking him to write to the aforesaid
M. H----, and inquire whether, among the archives (I think that is
the correct word) of the Embassy, they had any record of a
political refugee by name Paul Platzoff, who, twenty years ago, was
in India, etc. I had considerable difficulty in persuading her
ladyship to write, but at last the letter was sent. I await the
result anxiously. The chances seem to me something like a thousand
to one against our inquiry being productive of any tangible result.
What I dread more than all is that M. Platzoff is no longer among
the living.

"July 20th.--Nine days without a word from Sir John Pennythorne,
except to say that he had written his friend Monsieur H----, as
requested by Lady Chillington. I began to despair. Each morning I
inquired of her ladyship whether she had received any reply from
Sir John, and each morning her ladyship said: 'I have had no reply,
Mr. Madgin, beyond the one you have already seen.'

"Certain matters connected with a lease took me up to Deepley Walls
this afternoon for the second time to-day. The afternoon post came
in while I was there. Among other letters was one from Sir John
Pennythorne, which, when she had read it, her ladyship tossed over