amply reimburse his uncle for the advances made, and for the consequences of what he still persisted in terming merely an American joke. Poor Frank-he never left the hotel. Uncle frequently went with me there to see him, the best physicians were summoned in vain to his bedside. All his affairs were indeed soon to be wound up by the inexorable hand of death. I could see that my uncle's mind was much relieved when he found that though he had been shamefully deceived, at least the crime of forgery had never been contemplated or attempted. No doubt he paid the bill, but my own affairs were at the time undergoing such a complete change that they took up much of my attention. Doctor Kruger had been to see poor Frank and asked me to accompany him home. It was the first time of entering his residence, since the well remembered night when Lenette and Frank had been discovered tête-à-tête amongst the boxes. The doctor's house had undergone some alterations since, but it was impossible to go there without the most painful feelings and the keenest recollection of the blow that had crushed and shattered my hopes and had fallen so suddenly and unexpectedly. "You have not seen my new museum, Theodore," said the doctor interrupting my thoughts, and before any objection could be raised he had thrown open the folding doors of a vast saloon, containing innumerable preparations in glass phials, that lined the walls, models, skeletons, numerous anatomical engravings, quite an imposing show. After pointing out many of the objects of interest, my old friend smiled knowingly to himself, drew aside a curtain, and exhibited, to my amazement, the Fraulein Schoeffer, reclining on a sofa, dressed in ball costume, just as she had appeared when I had previously seen her in London. "What! again," I ejaculated, starting back, taken suddenly by surprise. The doctor seemed puzzled. fellow, what ails you?" said he. "Why, my dear "That is not the way people generally take a first view of my most perfect model of European beauty. Your brother Franz used to adore it, a good deal more in fact than the original !” "A model," I exclaimed, the scales falling from my eyes, and a thousand thoughts rushing into my mind, "a model, Doctor!" "And all those visits of the fraulein to me at Heildelberg, did you think I had not succeeded after all!-why you thought it was the girl herselfa most valuable and delicate compliment, my good sir, and highly appreciated!" There was a furious ring at the bell. They had brought a conveyance for me and the doctor. Poor Frank was dying! As my brother expected, the business when wound up, soon afterwards produced sufficient to pay for my uncle's advances and leave a handsome surplus. This was, however, all that remained of a capital of some eight to ten thousand pounds, with which the unlucky Frank had commenced. My uncle placed the whole of the surplus, with a very handsome present, in my hands, complimented me on the steadiness with which I had followed my profession, and made many kind promises for the future. He was thoroughly cured of his admiration for practical jokes, especially when they verged on immorality, and was deeply grieved to see that by his unthinking encouragement when my brother was quite young, he had fostered tendencies which afterwards bore such sad fruit. Never again did any of his friends hear him express admiration of the Barnum school of sharp practice, or of American jokes, where there was in them the least tendency to outstep the strict line of rectitude. A few months later I was once more on German ground, eager to see my poor Lenette, to whom I had written again and again craving forgivness for my want of confidence. We were married shortly after, she makes me the best and most affectionate of wives: you should see little John, and baby Frank, and above all my sweet daughter, named after her mother! CHAPTER XXI. LETTERS AND LIBERTY. "What had I then? a hope, that grew The flush upon the eastern skies "And grief, too, held her vigil there; ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER. AFTER much wandering and waiting, the long expected reply from my friend the French agent of police arrived. It was the second letter of any importance that came to me at Bodlondeb, and this is the English version, "My dear sir, "London, February 1, 1864. "When your long letter arrived I was out of town, and did not come back for some few days after, but took care to lose no time in acceding to your various requests immediately on my return. "Antonio Roselli and Alphonse Leroux have changed their quarters and gone to a less public and quieter inn than the Hôtel de France, but an equally respectable one. Mademoiselle de Ruisseau, I regret to say, is staying at the same place, no doubt by her guardian's desire or authority. "Roselli has divested himself of his moustache, allowed his whiskers to grow, altered the appearance of his hair and dress, and is hardly recognisable by ordinary observers. On placing the maid servant secretly in view of him, she positively refused to swear that he was the same man who called at your apartments, and she asserts that Monsieur Leroux bears no resemblance to your visitor. However, having a good deal of power in other ways I opened fire on Roselli, locking the door and handcuffing him. The fellow is a despicable coward at heart, a mixture of rogue and coward in fact, and was thoroughly frightened. He however entirely refused to criminate himself, either as regards the night attack or the substitution of drugged coffee for that which had previously been placed in your coffee machine, which feat I have no doubt in my own mind he performed during his second visit to your lodgings. Roselli displayed some astuteness in the long conversation we had on these subjects. I offered him the alternative of being handed over to our authorities for his various French achievements, or of fully and faithfully confessing, giving up all connexion with Leroux, and engaging to quit |