The Sword of Damocles Part 57

The man who but a few minutes before had related in their hearing a clear and succinct narrative, now shrank if a question was put him, and stammered in quite his ancient fashion, when he answered Mr. Sylvester's shake of the hand, by a hurried:

"I am going to see my wife now, sir. She's a good woman, if a little flighty, and will be the last one in the future to beg me to put more confidence in her. Will you tell me where she is, sir?"

Mr. Sylvester informed him; then added, "But look here, Hopgood, answer me one thing before you go. Why is it that with such talents as you possess, you didn't stay in the police force? You are a regular genius in your way, and ought not to drone away your existence as a janitor."

"Ah, sir," replied the other, shaking his head, "a man who is only capable of a.s.suming one disguise, isn't good for much as a professional detective. Goggles and red whiskers will deceive one rogue, but not fifty. My eyes were my bane, sir, and ultimately cost me my place. While I could cover them up I was all right. It not only made a man of me, leaving me free to talk and freer to think, but disguised me so, my best friends couldn't recognize me; but after awhile my goggles were too well known for me to be considered of much further use to the department, and I was obliged to send in my resignation. It is too bad, but I have no versatility, sir. I'm either the clumsy, stammering creature you have always known, or else I am the man c.u.mmins you saw here a few minutes ago."

"In either case an honest fellow," answered Mr. Sylvester, and allowed the janitor to depart.

One more scene, and this in the house which Paula is henceforth to make a home for herself and its once melancholy owner. They have come back from their wedding-journey, and are standing in their old fashion, he at the foot, and she half way up the stairs. Suddenly she turns and descends to his side.

"No, I will not wait," said she. "Here, on this spot we both love so well, and in this the first hour of our return, I will unburden my mind of what I have to say. Edward, is there nothing of all the past that still rests upon you like a shadow? Not one little regret you could wish taken away?"

"No," said he, enfolding her in his arms with a solemn smile. "The great gift which I hold is the fruit of that past, perhaps; I cannot wish it changed."

"But the sense of obligation never fulfilled, would you not be happier if that were removed?"

"Perhaps," he said, "but it cannot be now. I shall have to live without being perfectly happy."

She lifted her face and her smile shone like a star. "Oh G.o.d is good,"

she cried, "you shall not lack being perfectly happy;" and taking a little paper out of her pocket she put it in his hand. "We found that hidden in Jacqueline j.a.pha's breast, when we went to lay her out for burial."

It was only a line; but it made Mr. Sylvester's brow flush and his voice tremble.

"Whatever I own, and I have been told that I am far from penniless, I desire to have given to the dear and disinterested girl that first told me of Margery Hamlin's vigil."

"Paula, Paula, Paula, thou art indeed my good gift! May G.o.d make me worthy of your love and of this His last and most unexpected mercy!"

And the look which crossed her face, was that sweet and unearthly radiance which speaks of perfect peace.

PUBLICATIONS OF G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS.

THE LEAVENWORTH CASE. By ANNA KATHERINE GREEN.

"Wilkie Collins, in his best period, never invented a more ingeniously constructed plot, nor held the reader in such suspense until the final _denoument_. The most blase novel-reader will be unable to put aside 'The Leavenworth Case'

until he has read the last sentence and mastered the mystery which has baffled him from the beginning."--_N. Y. Evening Express._

A MAN'S A MAN FOR A' THAT.

"A novel of decided excellence. * * * Contains delicate and charming work. Thoroughly clever * * * Its spirit is one of robust and healthy enthusiasm for manliness and womanliness."--_N. Y. Evening Post._

THE BRETON MILLS: A ROMANCE OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE. By CHARLES J. BELLAMY.

"Nothing from the pen of Mrs. Burnett was ever more intensely dramatic."--_Jackson Daily Citizen._

"Looked at from a purely literary point of view it is almost faultless. It shows a hand both of culture and power."--_Detroit Evening News._

CUPID AND THE SPHINX. By HARFORD FLEMMING.

"Its characters are skilfully drawn, its incidents well conceived, the dialogues brilliant, and the story told with ease and gracefulness."--_Boston Transcript._

"The suggestion of the story is extremely beautiful, and its treatment graceful and enchanting throughout."--_Hartford Evening Post._

A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE. By ANNA KATHERINE GREEN.

"Wilkie Collins would not need to be ashamed of the construction of this story. * * * It keeps the reader's close attention from first to last."--_N. Y. Evening Post._

"Shows the same skill as 'The Leavenworth Case' in the management of the plot and the incidents."--_Boston Transcript._

THE HEART OF IT: A Romance of East and West. By WILLIAM O. STODDARD.

"Uncommonly good reading, even for that uncommonly readable Series."--_Philadelphia Times._

"An American novel, dealing with a few well-chosen characters and involving a striking and original plot. * * * A thoroughly entertaining piece of fiction."--_Boston Traveller._

UNCLE JACK'S EXECUTORS. By ANNETTE LUCILLE n.o.bLE.

"Comes from a writer of unusual talent. * * * Remarkable for its sketches of character, its naturalness, its frequent flashes of intellectual brightness, and its genuine humor. * *

* One of the best novels of the season and deserving of a permanent place among works of genuine American fiction."--_The Churchman._

THE STRANDED SHIP: A STORY OF SEA AND Sh.o.r.e. By L. CLARKE DAVIS.

"Full of the finest dramatic action. * * * The work of a man of firm genius and exquisite delicacy of touch."--_N. Y. Evening Post._

NESTLENOOK. By LEONARD KIP, Author of "The Dead Marquise," "Under the Bells," etc.

Of "The Dead Marquise" the _Boston Globe_ writes: "The book is admirable and its style almost perfect in its transparent simplicity."

THE TRANS-ATLANTIC SERIES.

I. CAPTAIN FRACa.s.sE. By THEOPHILE GAUTIER. Translated by E. M. BEAM.

Of Le Capitaine Fraca.s.se, Henry James, Jr., writes: "In this delightful work Gautier surpa.s.sed himself, and produced the model of picturesque romances. * * * The great charm of the book is a sort of combined geniality of feeling and coloring, which leaves one in doubt whether the author is the most joyous of painters or the cleverest of poets. * * * Le Capitaine Fraca.s.se ranks, in our opinion, with the first works of imagination produced in our day."

"A masterpiece of literary art."--_N. Y. Nation._