A Butterfly on the Wheel

n, Society streamed out into th

f the afternoon the eager photographers of the illustrated papers were waiting to get snap-shots of celebr

ms, hurried away. The other remained in the big central hall for a

came Lord Ellerdine and s

was very subdued. "Thought I saw you in co

nted to come. I hesitated whether I should go or not, and now I am very sorry I did.

dful, isn't it?" he said in an agitated voice. "Well, loo

r to do at present; but w

s he said it. "I haven't mentioned it to a soul, and I don't want to mention it to any one concerned in the cas

dy did, though he had no higher opinion of that g

; "and if your idea is one that may possibly he

red. "Well, let's go and talk it over.

Come to the Cocoa Tree, or, if you li

I have talked this idea of mine over with you. If you agree that there is anything in it, then we should

nding among the motley crowd which was pouring out of the great central

h of them were absolutely at

suddenly: "I have got another id

u mean?" Ad

know, where clerks and people have tea. There ar

and began to walk sl

Adams exclaimed bit

ws-venders displaying great cont

dy's Admissions"; and in a violently Rad

these newspaper fellows are so damned clever-in half an hour there'll be all about the last scene, the letter and all that. By the time we get back to town"-Lord Ellerdine didn't imagine that he was really in Lond

to propose or had in his mind; but he was, at anyrate, glad of his companionship, weary and

aid savagely as they walked slowly eastwar

chap in private life. It is his job, you know, and he has got to do it as well a

ap or not. To be paid-to earn your living, by Gad!-to torture men and w

t you were in: there were a whole lot of sentimentalists in the Radical press that howled and held you up to execration as a sort of Pontius Pilate

hite-haired colonel growled. "But I say

p. "Here's an A.B.C.," he said, pointing to some adjacent windows

this do,

and together the two

looking round him with some perplex

ho had just entered were quite unaccustomed to the ways of the est

e said en

Ellerdine, with a pleased smile. "Now

usness of something pleasantly unusual. She led them to a little round-topped marble table where

ss to Lord Ellerdine, whom she obviously

ve something to eat-what? Well, my dear, w

rming little woman she is. I would do anything to save her if I could, and I have got an idea! Now, some time ago," Lord Ellerdine continued, "a silly Johnny-a secretary it was-forged my name. It was on a cheque. There was considerable difficulty in finding out who was the actual culprit, as owing to t

e!" said the colon

and skipper of the whole lot had come over from America and e

ve!" said the

commercial Johnnies in the city, and so I went to him with my papers; and I am damned if the chap didn't find

tion at the pile of rather too luscious-looking

e said to himself; and then to El

if you have time, that is-should go down into the City and see this expert chap and see if he can throw some light on the situation. They have tried all the experts in London on Peggy

the other answered. "You've

Street, E.C. Now, I wonder if you would mind goin

e tremendously interested. I'd do a good deal more than that, m

just finish our tea, and pay that prett

were being carried in a lift to the third floor

in a small but comfortably furnished room. At a round polished table, on which there was

queries, "but he is just about to leave. However

imple gentlemen in question it seemed quite right and proper that such a rare bir

Ellerdine, "that Lord Ellerdine

d through the door which led to the inner room. She came back much more quickly than she had entered. "Mr. Devereux beg

clean-shaved face. His manner was brisk, business-like, and defe

writing-table were various ap

mall lenses and reading-glasses, together with various instruments of shining

shelf by the window, and a door in one c

d," said Mr. Devereux. "Not a

"Glad to see you, Mr. Devereux. No; it is something far more important t

a bit of luck. I have just seen this evening's paper, and of course I have followed the case with great interest from first to last. I know without any possibil

one that can touch you, Mr. Devereux. But probably, you see--" He hesita

eux," he said, "here we are, and we have got somet

tention once more. "What

breast-pocket of his coat and withd

e evening paper, and which have caused such a tremendous sensation this afternoon. It seems at the moment that Mrs. Admaston has absolutely lost her case. To all outward appea

se and explanatory before, but the occ

perfectly," sa

; "here are the letters, and I want yo

, who withdrew the papers it conta

ention. The two men sat in the comfor

cessity of it, but I should very much like to be left alone for say twenty minutes

. "All right; we will go, and c

en re-entered t

"we are put out here while Mr. Devereux examines some papers I h

ur Lord Ellerdine and Colonel Adams and this very superior young lady conversed with a studied proprie

he door opened and the ke

with himself. "Guess I have got something for you

Devereux began. "I can tell you one

h excitement. "What is it?" he s

y some one who can write with the left hand as well as with the right. There is not the sl

fell. "With the left h

ripts towards him; and illustrating his theory with swift, decisive movements upon

lord, all you have to do is to find the person who writes with his or her left hand and could have possibly been

expert would have been immediately able to name the writer of the letters. He strove to conc

will drop you at your club-Cocoa Tree, isn't it?-and then drive straight to Collingwood's solicitors to find out where he is. It is not mu