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 rity, trying vainly to catch the eye of his accomplice, and shooting furtive glances at the package which she still carried. There was evidently something that he did not understand, and wanted to before he availed himself of the unexpected permission. There came a curious gleam into the General’s eyes as he noticed this perplexity, and when he took up his parable again there was a ring in his voice that chained his hearers’ attention. Sybil, too, leaned forward, watching the two bond-robbers alternately, as though expecting a surprise for them.

“Before you go I will explain what is puzzling you,” the General went on, addressing himself to Benzon, and pointing to the dummy package in Cora Lestrade’s hand. “You are under the impression that those are the bonds, and you are half inclined to think that we are letting you go in ignorance of what you believe to be the case—that the genuine bonds were handed to that lady in the crypt by the Duke. Know, then, that the Duke wasn’t in the crypt at all, nor were any bonds handed over. His Grace’s place was taken by Mr. Forsyth there, who succeeded in getting from her the spurious