anticipated that a description of the young Englishwoman, with a
reward for her apprehension, will be issued immediately. And it is
not too much to hope that the citizens of Aix, and indeed of
Prance, will be cleared of all participation in so cruel and
sinister a crime."

Ricardo read through the paragraph with a growing consternation,
and laid the paper upon his dressing-table.

"It is infamous," cried Wethermill passionately.

"The young Englishwoman is, I suppose, your friend Miss Celia?"
said Ricardo slowly.

Wethermill started forward.

"You know her, then?" he cried in amazement.

"No; but I saw her with you in the rooms. I heard you call her by
that name."

"You saw us together?" exclaimed Wethermill. "Then you can
understand how infamous the suggestion is."

But Ricardo had seen the girl half an hour before he had seen her
with Harry Wethermill. He could not but vividly remember the
picture of her as she flung herself on to the bench in the garden
in a moment of hysteria, and petulantly kicked a satin slipper
backwards and forwards against the stones. She was young, she was
pretty, she had a charm of freshness, but--but--strive against it