A ROMANCE FROM A DETEC
delay, and I requested ITis Majesty to fur. nish me with an escort of his most trusted soldiers. He gave me twelve men, and, though night was closing in, I determined to set off mmlullatcly, for I had an im- pression that an attempt might be made to rob me of my precious char ge. Al night long 1 travelled without hd] and was truly Thankful to ride into Mogador as the dav was breaking. [ had brought Jobson with me ; he sumed utterly broken down and dejected, and he was C\ldmtl\ mn fear ot his lite.
After a brief rest the journev was re- sumed. TheSultan's soldiers were ordercd not to go further than Mogador, and T con- tinues l(mm\ way with my mmmal elcort, and reached Algiers without adventure It was then dcudc 1 that Jobson would have to be detained by the French, pending the formalitics of extradition ; and, as a steamer was on the point of sailing, [ took passage 1n her. Fory while the precious gem remained nomy possession, I was 16%105 and sleepless with anxicty for its safety. It may well be imagined with what joy T found my=elf in I.ondon after my most exciting and adventurous journey. And I 1mmc'_11atd_y telegraphed to M, Ashburton, tellineg him that I had re- covered the stone,
Then, ascertaining that Tord Middlewick was at his mansion in Berkshive, I went down by the first traan T could get. As I
entered the room, he rose, and shook my hand, saying— " \VLH Donovan, it's a long time since 1
heard (m\t‘mw about vou, and I supposc there is no chance now of my cever the lost oem 2
My luul [ have been following it about the world,” [ answered.
Fle smiled o httle mronically as marked—
“And, hke a will-o'-the-wisp, 1t has led you a useless dance, I presume?
- Not exactly,” 1 said, smiiing in
SeCy
he re-
turn,
justice. On his
AIVE'S CASE-EO0OK i2s and producing from my pocket a little packct of tissue paper, I unrolled it : and, as 1 laid the stone before him, T said: ‘ Here is the lost cat's-eye, my lord, so that you sce mv ]ourncymd has not been useless altogether.’
1‘01 some moments he could not speak, o great was his mingled surprise and cmo- tion. Then he seized my hand acain and wrung it, and exclaimed— _
SV clly Donovan, vou arc the wonderful fellow I have ever known @ and I almost believe vou are gifted with powers of necromancey.”
- There 1s nothing wonderful
I have performed,” T answered, with—as | hope—Dbecoming modesty. ** indowed with an ability for logical reasoning, | have been able to use such slight clucs as | could obtain. The result is, you are now in pos- sesston of the gem ; and perhaps [ need scarcely remind you that Mr. Ashburton's honour 15 unstamed.””
“ Depend upon 1ty Donovan,” said his lordship, quickly; *that T shall endeavour to make the most ample reparation to My, Ashburton for the unjust suspicion I have cast upon him.”
[t remais sor me to say that, after come delav, Jobson was brought over from [france, and duly put upon his trial for stealing the His rea
MOSsL
1 the feat
oem. name was proved to be Willlam Hinton. Tle was
the son of a much-respected clergyman, but had led a wild and restless life, and had marricd a clever adventuress, who, there was no reason to doubt, had led him astrav. Two other men had been mixed up in the robbery, and had really found the moncey for Hinton's expenses ; but they managed to get out of the country, and thus avoided own confession, linton was convicted and sentenced to seven vears' mprisonment. \What became of his wife 1 never knew, but it 1s exceedingly deubtfu whether would ev er be allowed to leave the Sultar: of Morocco's dominions alive.