Carroll's quick eye caught sight of a small packet of letters in a writing of unmistakable feminine delicacy, and made certain they were the ones he was in quest of.

Without raising his eyes, Mr.Prince asked, almost rudely,-- "Who else has she told this to ?" "If you refer to the contents of that letter, it was written and handed to me about three hours ago.

It has not been out of my possession since then." "Humph! Who's at the casa?
There's Buchanan, and Raymond, and Victor Guitierrez, eh ?" "I think I can say almost positively that Mrs.Saltonstall has seen no one but her daughter since the news reached her, if that is what you wish to know," said Carroll, still following the particular package of letters with his eyes, as Mr.Prince continued his examination.

Prince stopped.
"Are you sure ?" "Almost sure." Prince rose, this time with a greater ease of manner, and, going to the table, ran his fingers over the knobs, as if mechanically.

"One would like to know at once all there is to know about a transaction that changes the front of four millions of capital in about four hours, eh, Captain ?" he said, for the first time really regarding his guest.
"Just four hours ago, in this very room, we found out that the widow Saltonstall owed Dr.West about a million, tied up in investments, and we calculated to pull her through with perhaps the loss of half.