The Eddy current., 1898-09-03


was. NJ usual, bright. beautiful and
graceful; but those who knew her best
saw that she was engrossed by some
thought.
The earl rang for his footman.
when Mr.. Blantyro comes, show
him into my study" he said and then
no went over 20 his wife. You do not
feel nervous at the task you have un-
dertaken?" he questioned.
mo" she replied. calmly. but /
fancy that Mr.. Blantyre will feel ner-
vous before we have done with him.
The earl smiled. II this trusted SER
want Of his had deceived him, the
sooner he was unmasked and punished
the better.
II think" said Lady Caraven. ~
would be quito as well n we looked
over that balance sheet before Mr..
Blantyre comes-lt will shorten the in
terview."
lie acQuiesced at once and followed
his wife to the study.
She went to the table, and took her
seat Her husband stood AZ some dis
tance from her Silently she bent her
head over the papers,
you have seldom, / suppose looked
over one OF these balance sheets" she
said to the earl.
NO" he replied, II do not remember
that ! have ever examined one"
Then / will look over them she
. Ba's. ietly Before long she added,
"wi.. you look at TITS Lord Carayen?
All this Is quite wrong several en-
tries arc Incorrect and the reckoning
Is falslned."
The earl was slightly embarrassed,
81 do not think, to tell you the truth
Hlldred. that am very clever at ac-
counts" he stammcred
but surely you can see whether this
is correct? Believe me. child could
see e."
Then I am not 40 wise even as q
child" he said. ruefully; but, ieaning
over her shoulder. he tried ~ under
stand what she said,
II was indeed easy enough-the
whole sheet. as she pointed out, had
been got up to meet the eye.
And you have never noticed thls?"
said the young countess.
mo. indeed" he rerlied. II have
never even thought OF y"
Then you have been a very easy
master TO please" she remarked. II
need hardly say. Locd Carayen. that
the man who falslhgg his accounts "a a
rogue You know H."
~ know that mYch. I am afraid to
think whether al the balance sheets
he has prepared rince he has been my
agent have been like this"
You hayo nsSer looked into one, I
imagine"
mo. never"
They we're interrupted by the en-
trance OF the agent hlmsolf-the man
whom frcm his face Lady Carayon sus-
pected hon the FIRST OF being dishon-
est.
John Blantyre was a tall. gentleman
ly l0oldng man OF speelous manner and
good address A rogue from liking gs
muca as anything else. he would not
have cared to bo honest n he could.
Ho had contrlyed TO lngratiate himself
into the favor OF Lord Carayen from
the conviction that he could do as he
liked with the easy, lndolent, pleasure
loving nohleman He had done So
The result was lrretrleyabe confusion
John Blantyre had laid aside fair for
tune for himself.
LET the worst come" he said q
aa.....tN. tftf 1 an. CAUGHT NhaNa sssfff a.
only few years imprisonment; theI
I can go abroad and enjoy my aay
inga"
Yet he relied Implicitly upon hl
good fortune that he should not b.
caught,
tie entered the room smiling. will
hls usual bland. obsequious manner
Ills face changed when he saw M
Countess OF Carayen looking over nj
balance sheets The earl pointed q
a chair: the detected thief sat down.
The young countess eyes we're rails
ed TO the bland face OF the agent; the
seemed 10 burn him. The earl iei
the discussion 10 her. as he had SAT-
he would Words could not have ex
pressed the proud. cold contempt Of he
face as she spoke TO him.
You are well aware. Mr. Blantyr'
that this balance sheet ls worth moth
ing7 The accounts are all falslned.
II am not aware OF anything Of N
kind. your iadYship There may be
few mistakes-it was hurriedly mad
out May ask permission To-"
You may ask nothing sir" she r.
piled. curtly. Tell Lord Carayen n
be correct that you have taken a brlh
from some one who wants bromhi
farm-a bribe TO turn out the old ten