Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-01-28

! DreyIuS-'oVef slnce ! WAS IVY "no
am now twenty-seven."
"Dear mop exclaimed Mr.. Maryland.
$50 old? How time passes! 1t seems but
the other day since took you into the Of
fee, lad of ten.''
And now you would turn me out!' re-
marked Dreyfus.
"Oh, dear mop answered tho little law
yer. uneasily; Il only suggested chang
that you should give me notice, and take
the position Recs offers; but, of course, ii
you do not like it, we can 60 on as we are
doing, and never mind my fancies."
'sBut do mind your fancies, Mr.. May
land," said Dreyfus, gravely. 9Th.
knowledge that you indulge them woulo
annoy me. You evidently suspect me OF
what am quite innocent; so will 60"
every well Dreyfus, - said the little law
yer, hurriedy, but with evident relief
'Then the matter is settled. will speak
to Rees.
"Thank you," answered Sydney Drey-
fus. coldly; and so they agreed to part.
Dreyfus left the room, and resumed his
ordinary demean0r; but at the end OF the
day, be paced his little hired apartment
like madmaL.
sIt is her dong. or Sir Wilfred'a,' he
muttered with clenched teeth and doubled
fists: 81 know it is! They shall suffer for
it! How dare anyone suspect me of that
Jewel affair? am guilty only in intention!
l meant it, if she had been kind. 1t
would have been to my advantage to raise
the diamonds from the old idiots tomb,
but she was not kind, and 80 did not dir
ty my fingers with the job. Who has done
it, wonder? I'll move heaven and earth
to fini out, if only to clear my own char
acter; and then, by Jove, they shall know
what stuff Sydney Dreyfus is made of.
He lost no time in beginning to execute
the first part of his programme.
The very next morning he went to Mr..
Maryland, and said, in quiet. business
like manner, 81 should be glad to know,
sir, all you have learned respecting the jew
ell matter.'
The little lawyer stared at the speaker in
amazement
What do you mean. Dreyfuss" he
asked.
'Simply to clear my character in your
estimation" was the reply. GAS 1 live,
will unravel this mystery! I will not be sus-
pected and dismissed for nothing
"Come. come, Dreyfusr' said Mr.. May
land figdeting with his pen. "Don't be hot;
the detectives are doing their best"
II do not doubt that they ara, SIR" re-
piled Dreyfus. "But they have not the
same interest in the matter as 1 have. Will
you tell me what you know, or yo1 will leave
me to find oute"
ooh, Ill tell you with pleasure" an.
swered Mr.. Mayiand, uneasily. "There is
no reason why should not" And he did
so, wondering whether the man was acting
part, as he had before wondered whether
he was telling the truth.
Ard while Sydney Dreyfus was trying
to find the continuation of the clue which
Mr.. Maryland and the detectives were also
seeking, time sped, and brought near the
day appointed by the deceased Lady Maud
Weldon for certain explanations, and the
execution of certain commissions, if GER
tain events had come to pass.
MIR. Maryland, Janet Mason, and Sir Will
fred Pearson had all written to Roland
Cavel about the appearance of the dia-
mond p n, each telling the story in the way
which they thought would trouble him
least; and he answered tn. three letters by
the next mail. To Mr.. May land he
wrote:-
''Of course it is great disappointment
for a man to find out that he is not to enjoy
an immense fortune, when be has been led
all his life to expect it, and has actually
had the bird in his hand for a short time;
but don't trouble yourself about me; am
not to be left pepnless, you remember. Five
hundred year is nice little nest-egg;
and, besides, have good useful head
and a pair of hands. Many fellow is
worse off. If, however, you wish to sympa-
thize with me still the best way to do so is to
grant me favor. Let me communicate
what has happened to my successor"
He answered Sir Wilfred with JEST
Probably" he said, "your generous
heat will suggest some means of repairing
my misfortune, for my loss will, no Doubt,
be your gain, if all goes as we wish.
Meanwhile, if you do not desire to drop
my acquaintance on account of my i'll luck,
as the way of the world is, continue to fol-
low my advice. Be pateut, ard let NE
prepare your way, lest you trip by being
too pro"'pitate."
Janet only received few lines
"My dear janet" wrote Roland Cavel,
81 don't care button for Lady Maud
Weldon's fortune as long as she has left
me something to live upon in my old age.
Look for me on the 18th, when, thank
goodness, the necessity for mystery will be
ended"
"What can he meant" said Janet, pom
dering over the last sentence of Roland
Cavel's letter again and again.
But her imagination could suggest no
satisfactory solution of the enigma.
But at length the day which was to cast
light on the strange matter arrived; and
Janet arose to begin it, few, rish and excited.
1t seemed to her to be the end of her old
life, and the beginning of her new. though
she imagined not what her new life was to
be.
As the hours passed on, and the time
drew nearer and nearer for tho appearance
of Roland Cavel, she became more and
more nsettled, till at last, fearing that
the servants would remark her nervous
ness, she retired to her wn room.
Roland was to arrive by an afternoon
train, and Janet sent the dog-cart to meet
him; but instead of its expected occupant
the vehicle brought back Sister Glare.
1t appeared to Janet like reprieve, and
she flew iuto her friends arms with eyery