some object that was out of my line of sight. I am accustomed to study trifles; they often act as finger posts at the forked roads of difficulty and point the proper way. Ernestine was a very particular lady's maid indeed, and never dreamt of dusting out rooms. Why then was she so busy? I paused and managed to get a peep at the object of her unusual industry. It was a travelling trunk; large enough to hold a big suggestion for me. I pushed the door open. "Good-morning, Ernestine. I've come back, you see," I said, smiling. "Ah, good-morning, Mademoiselle Gilmore. I am glad to see you." Ernestine was very friendly to me. I had bought her goodwill. "Madame and I have been talking over our arrangements," I said, lightly. "It is all rather sudden. Do you think you will have time to alter that black silk bodice for me before we start?" "I'm afraid not, mademoiselle. You see every thing has to be packed." "Of course it has. If I had thought of it, I would have left it out for you before I went, the day before yesterday." "If I had known I would have asked you for it, mademoiselle. But I had not a hint until this morning." "Come up and see if we cannot contrive something. A bertha of old lace might do for the time." I did not wish Madame to catch me in her room, so Ernestine and I went on to mine. We talked dress for a couple of minutes and, as I wished her not to speak of the conversation, I said that as the alteration could not be made, I might as well give her the dress. It was nearly new, and delighted her. "I suppose you'll be ready in time? You are such a clever packer. But the time is short." She repudiated the suggestion of being behind. "I have all to-day and part of to-morrow. I could pack for you as well," she cried, with a sweep of her hand round the room. "Never mind about that. I may not go yet." "Oh no, of course not;" and she laughed archly. "They will not want Mademoiselle la Troisième." "_Mèchante_," I cried, dismissing her with a laugh, as though I fully understood the joke. And in truth she had given me a clue which was very cheap at the price of a silk dress. Instinct had warned me of the change in the position, and now I began to understand what the new plan was. Madame had made her avowal about not marrying Karl much too clumsily; and the dusting of that travelling trunk, coupled with Ernestine's sly reference to "Mademoiselle la Troisième," was too clear to be misunderstood. They meant to hoodwink me by an apparent abandonment of the marriage; and then make it clandestinely. I laughed to myself as I left the house to hurry up my own plan. Having made sure that I was not being followed, I hailed a carriage and drove to the neighbourhood where Colonel Katona lived. I finished the distance on foot, and scanned the house closely as 

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