knowledge of the fate of that paper during its eclipse."

All eyes were instantly fixed on the speaker. The lady smiled and
continued:

"Lady Holberton thinks the Lumley Autograph was stolen--I
understand she even thought it was stolen by myself--"

She here turned deliberately toward our hostess, who looked uneasy.

"If such were your suspicions, Lady Holberton," continued Miss
Rowley, speaking with great deliberation--"I am happy to say they
were quite correct--you only did me justice--I am proud to declare
the deed was mine--"

We were all speechless at hearing this sudden and bold avowal.

"It was I, Theodosia Rowley, who carried off--the word is of little
consequence--who stole, I repeat, that precious paper. So long as
the treasure was mine, the consciousness of possessing it was
sufficient in itself--but having afterward lost it from my pocket by
unpardonable carelessness, I shall at least now glory in the daring
deed which made it once my own."

Conceive the amazement which these remarks--delivered with calm
enthusiasm--produced among the listening circle. We all know that
high crimes and misdemeanors enough are committed by men, and
women too; but somehow or other the delinquents are not often
given to talking of them; they would just as lief in general that the
act should not be known. The effect of Miss Rowley's words was