unconscious of what you were about, when you entered the room and took the Diamond. Give me time to think, and time to question you. I believe the vindication of your innocence is in my hands!'

`Explain yourself, for God's sake! What do you mean?'

In the excitement of our colloquy, we had walked on a few steps, beyond the clump of dwarftrees which had hitherto screened us from view. Before Ezra Jennings could answer me, he was hailed from the high road by a man, in great agitation, who had been evidently on the look-out for him.

`I am coming,' he called back; `I am coming as fast as I can!' He turned to me. `There is an urgent case waiting for me at the village yonder; I ought to have been there half an hour since -- I must attend to it at once. Give me two hours from this time and call at Mr. Candy's again -- and I will engage to be ready for you.'

`How am I to wait!' I exclaimed, impatiently. `Can't you quiet my mind by a word of explanation before we part?'

`This is far too serious a matter to be explained in a hurry, Mr.Blake. I am not wilfully trying your patience -- I should only be adding to your suspense, if I attempted to relieve it as things are now. At Frizinghall, sir, in two hours' time!'

The man on the high road hailed him again. He hurried away, and left me.