D," which, as the lawyer pointed out, would have beuu leioguised at once by anv reader cognisaut of the circum stances, whereas the great A and the little a (for his son) would awaken no suspicion, while the true initial S. (for Sandeman) would make the matter plain to the peraon they were addressing, if his eye (and whose more likely to give its attention to an " Agony Column ?") should fall on it at all,

"It was all very clever and logioal," observed Mr Ohorley, dryly, while narrating these facts to me after dinner; " but what rather took the gilt of Sandcman's ginger bread was this little note I got tho next day from an old acquaintance of yours :- " * Dear Sir, —I recognised, of course, your communication to Mr D. in to-day's • Times.' It was not very prudently worded. Still, it is not everybody who, like myself, finds a particular interest iu the 'Agony Column.' I gather from it that the opinion I always expressed to you about that gentle man's disappearance is confined. I am, as befbre, entirely at your service in oase" you think I may be useful in what I may oall the second chapter of this strange story. "' Yours truly, "' Robert Debing.' !

"In spite of the blow this gave to Sande man's amour prop-e," continued the rector, "I think he would have, employed him (on account of the marvellous sagacity he had exhibited iu deciphering that advertisement if he had not received the next day a com munication from Mr Driffell himself (as we conclude it to be), when, knowing your affectionate interest in Laurenoe's affairs, he cause me to summon you here." This communication, of which the rector produced a copy, was written in a clerkly hand, not the least like that of Mr Driffell's, and was certainly terse and cold enough. " A has seen the advertisement inserted (as he concludes) by S. in 'The Times.' He is willing to execute the deed to which it alludes upon the following conditions : S. and one other person as a witness, and no more, to be present at the interview; A's name and address to be communicated only to these persons, to C. 