Mr. Majilton began, in four-syllabled
words, to explain the situation to the
gentry from Palace Heights, whose ac
quaintance he had long yearned for an
opportunity of making; and presently
the complication of aflairs was rendered
more hopeless still by the unexpected
appearance upon the scone of—Mr,
Guymard himself.
“ Don’t be alarmed, Mrs. Peepand
pry,” said he, cheerfully; “but I dis
covered at Chatham Junction that I had
loft some important papers behind, and
But, pray, what is the meaning of
all this?"
And ho looked around him in extreme
amazement at the little crowd, the dis
organized closets, the japanned box on
the table, with its sparkling contents.
“ Villain,” cried Mr. Majilton, “your
machinations arediscoveredatlast! Con
stable, arrest that man! Miss Dupon-,
cean, let me be the fortunate instrument
of returning to you your diamond neck
lace, which yonder abandoned scoundrel
“ But he isn’t an abandoned scoun
drel,” said Miss Duponceau; “ he’s my
Cousin Charles. And these things
aren’t diamonds at all, but miserable
glass stones, not worth a farthing!”
“Eh?” cried Mr. Majilton, his lower
jaw dropping, in dismay.
Mr. Guymard looked keenly around.
“It seems to me, Mrs. Peepandpry,”
said he, “ that there has been a great
deal of very unnecessary meddling
here.”
“ But what does this disguise mean?*
qnestioned Mr. Majilton, faintly.
“It is my masquerade dress,” said
Guymard, carelessly, “for Miss Dupon
ceau’s ball; and the necklace of cheap
stage jewelry was intended to accompany
it.”
“ Who are you?” demanded Majilton.
“In the iuterests of the village, I have
a right to ask this question.”
“ A right which I don’t in the least
recognize,” coolly returned Guymard.
