astronomical stupendousness! and yet on my way to you, it so far transcended the ordinary matters of my life as the subject you have led me up to transcends this. But,' with a little laugh, 'I will endeavour to sink down to such ephemeral trivialities as human tragedy, and explain, since I have come. The point is, I want a helper: no woman ever wanted one more. For days I have wanted a trusty friend who could go on a secret errand for me. It is necessary that my messenger should be educated, should be intelligent, should be silent as the grave. Do you give me your solemn promise as to the last point, if I confide in you?''Most emphatically, Lady Constantine.''Your right hand upon the compact.'He gave his hand, and raised hers to his lips.  In addition to his respect for her as the lady of the manor, there was the admiration of twenty years for twenty-eight or nine in such relations.

'I trust you,' she said.  'Now, beyond the above conditions, it was specially necessary that my agent should have known Sir Blount Constantine well by sight when he was at home.  For the errand is concerning my husband; I am much disturbed at what I have heard about him.'

'I am indeed sorry to know it.'

'There are only two people in the parish who fulfil all the conditions,--Mr. Torkingham, and yourself.  I sent for Mr. Torkingham, and he came.  I could not tell him.  I felt at the last moment that he wouldn't do.  I have come to you because I think you will do.  This is it: my husband has led me and all the world to believe that he is in Africa, hunting lions.  I have had a mysterious letter informing me that he has been seen in London, in very peculiar circumstances.  The truth of this I want ascertained.  Will you go on the journey?'

'Personally, I would go to the end of the world for you, Lady Constantine; but--'

'No buts!'

'How can I leave?'

'Why not?'

'I am preparing a work on variable stars.  There is one of these which I have exceptionally observed for several months, and on this my great theory is mainly based.  It has been hitherto called irregular; but I have detected a periodicity in its so-called irregularities which, if proved, would add some very valuable facts to those known on this subject, one of the most interesting, perplexing, and suggestive in the whole field of astronomy.  Now, to clinch my theory, there should be a sudden variation this week,--or at latest next week,--and I have to watch every 

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