'That exactly accords,' said the magistrate, looking at his memorandum, 'with the date of a cheque for that sum said to have been presented by Madame Quinqualeronvontroyez, and duly honoured by the London bankers. The forged cheque has no date, but Monsieur Adolphe le Souffleur, the young man who cashed it, affirms it to have been presented six days later than the date of the other.'

'I know nothing about that,' said Conny. 'I never saw Lady Tracy's cheque-book, nor did I see any cheque of hers but that one, and of that only the outside.'

'Did your sister give the cheque to Madame Quinqualeronvontroyez in your presence?'

'She did not,' said Constance. I remember perfectly the old woman had just gone out of the gate, so we sent it by Pauline our servant, who ran after her and gave it to her.'

'How do you know she gave it to her?' 'Because my sister received the money that evening in my presence from Madame Quinqualeronvontroyez-a thousand francs.'

Constance agreed with her mother about the forged signature.

Then Honor was called. Her evidence appeared more likely to be useful.

She had frequently seen Lady Tracy's cheque-book, and seen her write cheques. 'Where did Lady Tracy keep her book?' 'In her desk.'

'Was her desk always locked?'

'Yes.'

'Did she never put the cheque-book in any other place?'

'Not so far as I know; except one day, when she carried it to Bayonne, and left it behind in Monsieur Jarny's bureau.'

'You were with her that day?' and he crossexamined Honor about this event till he forgot the question that was on his lips regarding where Lady Tracy kept the key of her desk. Honor was so languid and so little herself that day, she never thought about the lost key at the moment, nor if she had would she perhaps have attached much importance to it.

Her questioner went on to examine her about the cheque she had sent through Madame Quinqualeronvontroyez, in which matter her evidence agreed with that of Constance; and

then he asked if she knew aught of any other cheque similarly presented.

Honor said her aunt had on that day told her of having intrusted one for a smaller amount to the Basque messenger some time previously.

He referred to his memoranda.

Exactly so; on the 18th of March. A cheque for five hundred francs; the money paid to Madame Quinqualeronvontroyez, and the cheque duly honoured in London.'

Had Honor any reason to believe that the old Basque had brought any more money for her aunt subsequently to the date when she had cashed Honor's cheque?

Honor was nearly sure her aunt did not draw any more money after that, because two days before she gave Honor that cheque she had been in Bayonne herself, and, in Honor's presence, gone to the bank for money, paid the rent of her house and some other bills she owed, and had carried home the surplus, which, she said, would suffice her till she reached Paris.

The memorandums furnished by the bankers of the sums Lady Tracy had drawn through them correctly corresponded with this evidence

VOL. II.

H

of Honor's, and the Juge d'Instruction complimented the young lady on her clear memory and plain way of stating facts.

'One more question,' he said. 'Your own Christian name is similar to that of your relative. Do you always spell it as you have written it now?'

'Yes.'

'Does Lady Tracy?'

'Always. There is no other way of spelling it.'

Then this is not her writing?' showing the forged cheque.

'Certainly not.'

He did not ask another question. Had he put to her the one Mrs. Blake had answered so confidently, how could Honor have declared that she never knew any one write her name 'Honner,' when she suddenly remembered Charlie always did so?

This flashed into her mind all at once, as she looked at the cheque; but she was asked nothing more, and of course it was absurd to think of such a thing, as Charlie could not have written that.

The magistrate accompanied her back to the place where Mrs. Blake and Constance stood, and informed the elder lady, in reply to her request preferred during their former interview, that neither she nor her younger daughter would be required as witnesses on the trial.

'Miss Blake will be wanted,' he said. 'I think I understood you to say that she is going to remain at Bayonne, so I shall not be so unfortunate as to have to interfere with your plans.'

Several polite speeches were exchanged, and the ladies went down-stairs.

'I am so glad that is over,' said Constance. 'What should I have done if they had wanted me for the trial? Mr. Bertram must have come back, and we could have been married here; but Honiton lace is dreadfully dear here! It is really a mercy they did not want me!'

The whole of that afternoon was spent in purchasing and packing finery. Honor remembered afterward that at dinner-time Charlie had asked a great many questions about the trial, which he at first thought was over, until Honor explained to him that this was only a prelimin