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ual time； broke up； leaving the defendant with this advantage。 Alfred Hardie and his friends made a little knot in the hall outside； and talked excitedly over the incidents of the trial。 Mr。 Compton introduced Fullalove and Vespasian。 They all shook hands with them； and thanked them warmly for the timely and most unexpected aid。 But Green and a myrmidon broke in upon their conversation。 〃I am down on Mr。 Barkington _alias_ Noah Skinner。 It isn't very far from here； if you will follow me。〃 Green was as excited as a foxhound when Pug has begun to trail his brush： the more so that another client of his wanted Noah Skinner； and so the detective was doing a double stroke of business。 He led the way； it was dry； and they all went in pairs after him into the back slums of Westminster； and a pretty part that is。
Now as they went along Alfred hung behind with Julia； and asked her what on earth she meant by swearing that it was all over between her and him。 〃Why your last letter was full of love； dearest； what could you be thinking of to say that？〃
She shook her head sadly； and revealed to him with many prayers for forgiveness that she had been playing a part of late： that she had concealed her father's death from him； and the fatal barrier interposed。
〃I was afraid you would be disheartened； and lose your first class and perhaps your trial。 But you are safe now； dear Alfred； I am sure the judge sees through them； for I have studied him for you。 I know his face by heart； and all his looks and what they mean。 My Alfred will be cleared of this wicked slander； and happy with some oneAh！〃
〃Yes； I mean to be happy with some one；〃 said Alfred。 〃I am not one of your self…sacrificing angels； thank Heaven！ Your shall not sacrifice us to your mother's injustice nor to the caprices of fate。 We have one another； but you would immolate me for the pleasure of immolating yourself。 Don't provoke me too far； or I'll carry you off by force。 I swear it； by Him who made us both。〃
〃Dearest； how wildly you talk。〃 And with this Julia hung her head； and had a guilty thrill。 She could not help thinking that eccentric little measure would relieve her of the sin of disobedience。
After making known to her his desperate resolution； Alfred was silent； and they went sadly side by side； so dear； so near； yet always some infernal thing or other coming between them。 They reached a passage in a miserable street。 At the mouth stood two of Green's men； planted there to follow Skinner should he go out： but they reported all quiet。 〃Bring the old gentleman up；〃 said Green。 〃I appointed him six o'clock； and it's on the stroke。〃 He then descended the passage； and striking a light led the way up a high stair。 Skinner lived on the fifth story。 Green tapped at his door。 〃Mr。 Barkington。〃
No reply。
〃Mr。 Barkington； I've brought you some money。〃
No reply。
〃Perhaps he is not at home；〃 said Mr。 Compton。
〃Oh； yes； sir； I sent a sharp boy up； and he picked the paper out of the keyhole and saw him sitting reading。〃
He then applied his own eye to the keyhole。 〃I see something black；〃 said he； 〃I think he suspects。〃
While he hesitated； they became conscious of a pungent vapour stealing through the now open keyhole。
〃Hallo！〃 said Green； 〃what is this？〃
Fullalove observed coolly that Mr。 Skinner's lungs must he peculiarly made if he could breathe in that atmosphere。 〃If you want to see him alive； let me open the door。〃
〃There's something amiss here；〃 said Green gravely。
At that Fullalove whipped out a tool no bigger than a nutcracker； forced the edge in； and sent the door flying open。 The room or den was full of an acrid vapour； and close to them sat he they sought motionless。
〃Keep the lady back；〃 cried Green； and threw the vivid light of his bull's eye on a strange； grotesque； and ghastly scene。 The floor was covered with bright sovereigns that glittered in the lamp…light。 On the table was an open book； and a candle quite burnt down： the grease had run into a circle。
And； as was that grease to the expired light； so was the thing that sat there in human form to the Noah Skinner they had come to seek。 Dead this many a day of charcoal fumes； but preserved from decomposition by those very fumes； sat Noah Skinner； dried into bones and leather waiting for them with his own Hard Cash； and with theirs； for； creeping awestruck round that mummified figure seated dead on his pool of sovereigns； they soon noticed in his left hand a paper： it was discoloured by the vapour； and part hid by the dead thumb； but thus much shone out clear and amazing； that it was a banker's receipt to David Dodd； Esq。； for L。 14；010； drawn at Barkington； and signed for Richard Hardie by Noah Skinner。 Julia had drawn back； and was hiding her face； but soon curiosity struggled with awe in the others： they peeped at the Receipt： they touched the weird figure。 Its yellow skin sounded like a drum； and its joints creaked like a puppets。 At last Compton suggested that Edward Dodd ought to secure that valuable document。 〃No no；〃 said Edward： 〃it is too like robbing the dead。〃
〃Then I will；〃 said Compton。
But he found the dead thumb and finger would not part with the Receipt； then； as a trifle turns the scale； he hesitated in turn： and all but Julia stood motionless round the body that held the Receipt； the soul of the lost Cash； and still； as in life； seemed loth to part with it。
Then Fullalove came beside the arm…chair； and said with simple dignity； 〃I'm a man from foreign parts； I have no interest here but justice： and justice I'll dew。〃 He took the dead arm； and the joint creaked： he applied the same lever to the bone and parchment hand he had to the door： it creaked too； but more faintly； and opened and let out this：
No。 17。 BARKINGTON； Nov。 10； 1847。
_Received of_ DAVID DODD； Esq。； _the sum of Fourteen Thousand and Ten Pounds Twelve Shillings and Six Pence；
to account on demand
_For_ RICHARD HARDIE；
NOAH SKINNER。
L。 14；010： 12： 6。
A stately foot came up the stair； but no one heard it。 All were absorbed in the strange weird sight； and this great stroke of fate； or of Providence。
〃This is yours； I reckon；〃 said Fullalove； and handed the receipt to Edward。 〃No； no！〃 said Compton。 〃See： I've just found a will； bequeathing all he has in the world； with his blessing； to Miss Julia Dodd。 These sovereigns are yours； then。 But above all； the paper： as your legal adviser； I insist on your taking it immediately。 Possession is nine points。 However； it is actually yours； in virtue of this bequest。〃
A solemn passionless voice seemed to fall on them from the clouds；
〃No； it is Mine。〃
MY story must now return on board the _Vulture。_ Just before noon； the bell the half hours are struck on was tolled to collect the ship's company； and soon the gangways and booms were crowded； and even the yards were manned with sailors； collected to see their shipmate committed to the deep。 Next came the lieutenants and midshipmen and stood reverently on the deck： the body was brought and placed on a grating。 Then all heads being uncovered below and aloft； the chaplain read the solemn service of the dead。
Many tears were shied by the rough sailors； the more