the drawing-room,before her mother, Jack, Cynthia and Lord Wydcombe, she repeated thewhole of the strange circumstances, just as she had related them to me.
Jack was furious, for he saw how cleverly he had been fleeced by ElliceWinsloe, while I, on my part, turned to the little love of my youth,saying frankly,--
"As Tibbie seems to be still in fear that the French police may applyfor her extradition on account of the sale of the naval secret to ourAdmiralty, she may be inclined to change her nationality in realearnest. She can do this by marriage, easier than by letters ofnaturalisation, and as we are man and wife and poor in the eyes ofCamberwell, so, if Tibbie consents, will we become the same in the eyesof Society."
For answer she clung to me quickly with a cry of joy, and allowed me tokiss away the tears from her dear face, while Jack clapped me heartilyupon the shoulder and said,--
"Wilfrid, old fellow! It's just as it should be. Tibbie's loved youfor years. Everybody who wasn't blind has seen that. You've saved her,and you've a right to her."
And five minutes later my well-beloved and I were receiving thecongratulations of the whole family.
What else need I say?
To tell you that we are now living in our pretty rose-embowered homenear Amersham, in Buckinghamshire, which Lady Scarcliff bought and gaveto Tibbie as a wedding present, and that we are supremely happy in eachother's love is only to tell you what you already know. The smart setknow Tibbie no more, for she is content with her simple, healthfulcountry life. And she is all in all to me--my love.
Winsloe, who has been traced to Buenos Ayres, has not yet been arrested,although Pickering is still confident of success, but Parham and Vickersare now awaiting trial on the very serious charges of blackmail, robberyand murder. Very little evidence was given before the magistrate at BowStreet, but at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court, Londonwill surely be startled by the sensational evidence which the policewill give concerning that grim dark house in Clipstone Street--the Houseof Doom.
Death sentences await both prisoners, without a doubt.
"_Whatsoever a Man Soweth, that shall he also Reap_."
The End.
Whatsoever a Man Soweth Page 38
