The Irish standard., 1896-11-07

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{. attended separately. But Iexcused my
1 seaf on the score OF wanting to leave Ill
most i MN diate1y, intending to resume
my visit next day Left alone, ex-
anined- several OF the miniatures. At
last / unlocked the Mountfalcon pic
tnre. It represented the noblegnan in
court dress. Isatisfied myself on every
point. After the closest scrutiny was
convinced the miniature carried in
my breast coat pocket differed in moth
ing from the original. Il was perfect in
& similarity of jewels, arms and setting.
1T struck me thar would compare the
pictures
The light being less strong in the
northern than southern division Of the
! gallery, entered the brighter chamber.
There looked at the miniatures side
by side. / was aghast for moment
lest they should seem displaced. To
tell which from which should have been
impossible. Putting the copy in my
pocket, returned, placing the original
on small table near the cases. Some
. feeling impelled me to again visit the
south apartment, where l once more
examined every point in the picture
Mr. Atherstone had sent. My all-ab-
sorbing thought was to get q clew
to the history of that picture. Ny
meditation was broken by faint, sigh
like sound from the inner apartment.
/ looked around; it was perfectly soii-
tarv and silent. But on returning to
replace Lord Mountfalcon's miniature,
it had disappeared.
My feelings can be conceived.
searched in vain. Everything else had
been untouched. Amid bewilderment,
a terrible idea occurred to me. knew
Crackenthorpe's malerolent nature.
Had he, / thought, found an oppor-
tunity to pay off a grudge against me?
1t was time, however, to meet the diff
Guilty. Stating what had happened, I
requested Crackenthorpe to at once
summon his master, if at hand.
Lord MountfaIcoln listened to my
statement with the greatest calmness
and patience. In reply, he said most
likely must have inadvertently dropped
the picture among the prints or other
things on the tables. The keeper and
a footman were then ordered to make
a search through everything. 1t was
perfectly. fruitless. The noblenan.
whose eyes had never left me, said:
-"What explanation have you? learn
that you have been alone with the works
of art more than half an hour, and dur
ing that time no one has been near the
gallery
'sIt is matter of opinion, my lord.
I returned, looking hard at the keeper;
'sa noise l heard warrants my belief
that someone secretly did enter"
ssDo you want to. throw suspicion on
1ne?" exclaimed Crackenthorpe. ut
would not be the first time you have
falsely charged me with dishonesty"
The. nobleman waved his hand and
said to me:
''It is very painful to ,ne, but have
no alternative. You must be searched
"Forbear, my lord," calmly replied;
ssspare- me such humiliation"
s'Hear me for moment only" cried
the keeper. II assure you he is a man
of disreputable character" and creep
ing closer to me, Crackenthorpe struck
my breast pocket and Kissed out: What
have you there? ?"
i knew full well, heaven knows, but
what could do?
81 have no property of Lord Mount
falcon's," I said, land Mr.. Cracken-
thorpe knows that perfectly well"
.Disprove his charge, then, by pro-
ducing what your pocket contains" was
the answer. II can have no more de-
lay If you again refuse what IS De-
n1anded one Of my servants must ride
off to Salisbury for constable" i
Surveying the whole question, I an
swered: -. .-.-
"Allow me private interview, Lord
Mountfalcon, and / can give you such
an explanation that must remove all
suspicion"
What the nob]en1an's answer might
have been know not. At the moment
wild, hooking cry came from the gar
den.
snsWhat is that?" exclaimed Lord
MountfaIcon, anxiously; "surely know
the sound"
In an instant he had quilted the gall
1ery. Soon confused voices, inter-
mingled with the angry tones of the
master of the mansion, arose III the cor
ridor. Something unusual had taken
place. In few minutes Lord Mount
falcon. strangely pale, reentered and
laid the missing miniature on the table.
He said to me, with extended hand:
""I deeply regret we have caused you
so much anxiety. Hear my explana-
ton. A niece of mine, unfortunately
of weak intellect. gained admission in
some inexplicable manner to the gal.
lery. The noise you heard doubtless
came from her entrance or departure.
a gardener observed her unattended,
and following the young lady saw her
cast something into the rosary. TWAS
the portrait taken from the table where
you had deposited it. deeply regret
you should have been placed in such an
awkward situation"
L bowed and prepared to depart.
+ Lord Mountfalcon would rot hear of 1t,
stating he wished to see me in private.
by the way" he added to Cracken-
thorpe, '.it is q mystery TO me how
Lady Hester could have obtained en-
trance here. BY means of that locked
door she is entirely cut of from this
side of the mansion. Has the door
been unlocked since my orders?"
sI have no knowledge of it." faltered
1 the keeper, turning pale.
xi;.,7 Mount 70 1co,, c,,,rs on RI the dor