like the lovely Helens and Cressidas of antiquity. Agnes was devoted to my cause, and always reassured me respecting my Helen's honour and truthfulness. I often found her in tears; she saw that I was frequently visited by a cold, silent humour; and as the first spark of a destroying fire only waits to be blown into a flame by malignant breezes coming from without, so our social peace was driven to the verge of destruction by two anonymous letters.
'The letter which Mr. Kerford had sent to me by Reginald contained these words: "Have inquired about club; it is all right; you need not fear. Under seal of secrecy, important business to-night. Found the enclosed in a certain apartment ; be cool and cautious; apple not ripe.—C. K." The enclosure struck me like a thunderbolt. It was, or seemed to be, in my darling Helen's handwriting, and ran thus:
'"My dearest,
"'I am nearly ready now; the happy time is coming. Oh, how tired I am of this wretched state, and how I long for the sweet, quiet country with you, darling! The J. C. is watching closely, but we shall elude his vigilance. Do not forget the twelve hours' notice. Destroy this instantly."
'To this astounding paper there was neither date nor signature. Could Helen be guilty of falsehood and treachery like this? I would not believe it. I showed the note to Agnes, and she undertook to sound Helen quietly. I was, of course, the J. C.—the Jolly Chirurgeon.
'The other anonymous letter was addressed to Helen herself. It was left in the shop for her by a stranger, and was put into my hands by my sister, who cautioned me against any dangerous excess of passion, adding also that the note supposed to have been written by Helen was an
