A Laodicean

s sketch a general plan of the structure. But he began to discern that this Stancy-Castle episode in his studies of Gothic a

one of the two turrets opening on the roof. It was not the staircase by which he had ascended, and he proceeded to explore its lower part. Entering from the blaze of light without, and im

wardly. Next he perceived that the stone steps had been removed from the turret, so that he had dropped into it as into a dry we

tting out, or of making his condition known. For a moment he tried to drag himself up by

ay his chance of communicating with the outer world. At first it seemed as if it were to be done by shouting, but when he learnt what little effect was produced by his voice in the midst of such a

s in full use as a snare, stretching across the arch of the window, with radiating threads as its ribs. Somerset had plenty of time, and he counted their number-fifteen. He remained so silent that the owner of this elaborate structure soon forgot the disturbance which had resulted in the breaking of his diagonal ties, and crept out from the corner to mend them. In watching the process, Somerset noticed that on the stonework behind the web sundry names and initials had been cut by explorers in years gone by. Among these antique inscriptions he observed two bright and clean ones, consisting of the words 'De Stancy' and 'W. Dare,' crossing each other at right angles. From the state of the stone they could not have be

begun to like well. Indeed, during the solitary hour or two of his waiting here he had pictured Paula straying alone on the terrace of the castle, looking up, noting his signal, and ascending to deliver him from his painful position by her own exertions. It seemed that a

s the prisoner of two hours ascended to the roof in safety. During the process he ventured

hat it could possibly mean, he followed the messenger to her room-a small modern library in the Jacobean wing of the house, adjoining that in which the telegraph stood. She was alone, sitting behind a table littered with let

distance off she said, 'Will you sit nearer to me?' and then, as if rather oppressed by her dignity, she left her own

impressed by your great knowledge of castellated architecture. Will you

sed his gratification, and wen

viding them-'I first should just like to know, and I trust you will excuse my inqui

I open my office on the first

first client?' She looked curiously from her

Somerset warmly. 'What

to restore

rset, astonished at the auda

ent on, in that low note which was somewhat difficult to catch at a distance, 'I fear what the antiquarians will say if I am not very careful. They come here a great deal in summer and if I were to do the work wrong

he often mistrusted himself. 'I am a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and a Member of

thy,' she said, with enthusiasm. 'We

anding that these articles, and the room they were in, were hers instead of his; and an evenness of manner which he ha

onship to talk thus of hard cash. But her sympathy with his feeling was app

id gently. 'For the fact is, any sum almost may be spent on such a building: fi

solicitor-my solicitor now-says I may go to a hundred thousand without

insight she knew what he wanted, and signified wher

0,

another person's money to that extent would afford an exceptionally handsome opening, not so much from the co

conversation with you to-day that his ignorance of styles might compromise me very seriously. In short, though my father employed him in o

een led to expect the

ld have it. I have spoken of my

of architecture Havill was a quack. But was it quite generous to step in thus, and take away what would be a golden opportunity to such a man of making

lity to carry it out than you have at present, let there be a competition between Mr. Havill and myself-let our rival plans for the restoration and enla

trike her in a new light. 'You really recommend it?' The fairness which had prompted his words

d Somerset

idea have you of the plan to adopt? I do not positively agree

le, took out his pencil and made a rough sketch. While he was doing it

; and the breath of her words fanned his ear. He f

building with Mr. Havill and myself, and

neces

s mostl

late for me this evening. Ple