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Treasury bonds had reached their goal in the vaults of the Bank of England, and Senator Sherman, having duly discharged his duty to his Republic, was speeding back to his wife and daughter at Prior’s Tarrant, with, as he quaintly phrased it, “a considerable load off his chest.” In the reserved compartment with him were the Duke of Beaumanoir and General Sadgrove, who had insisted on forming an escort.

The Duke, who had been buoyed up with excitement till the bonds were safe in the bank, had fallen into dejection on the return journey. His two companions persisted in treating him as a hero, whereas he guessed that they were both aware of the true state of the case. He knew that one of them was, for he had himself, under threat of information being given to the police, confessed everything to the General after the latter’s visit to the hotel on the day of “Mrs. Talmage Eglinton’s” supposed con-