"Thereisnolackofthem，Iassureyou，"——Ireplied。
　　"Really！Adela，Mr。HowardtellsmetheyhavealbumsinAmerica！"
　　repeatedtheyoungladytoacharmingsister，nearher；whileonmyleftIhadthesatisfactionofhearingsomegratifyingremarksfromMr。T—————，astothestateofcivilizationinmynativecountry，asshownbysuchafact。
　　"Andwhatareyouralbumslike？"againinquiredmylovelyneighbor。
　　"NotlikeLadyHolberton’s，perhaps——butprettywellforayoungnation。"
　　"Ohdear——notlikeLadyHolberton’sofcourse——hersisquiteunique——
　　sofullofniceoddthings。ButareyouralbumsinAmericaatalllikeours？"
　　"Whyyes！wegetmostofthemfromParisandLondon。"
　　"Ohdear！howstrange——butdon’tyoulongtoseethisnewtreasureofLadyHolberton’s——thatdearniceletterofOtway’s，writtenwhilehewasstarving？"inquiredthecharmingEmily，helpingherselftoabitofpatedePerigord。
　　{patedePerigord=anexpensiveFrenchdelicacy：gooseliverpatewithtruffles。}
　　"Yes，Iamexceedinglycurioustoseeit。"
　　"Youdon’tbelieveitwaswrittenbythatcoarse，vulgarButler，doyou？"
　　"No，indeed，——itisthepatheticOtway’s，beyondadoubt！"
　　Myneighbor，theButlerite，gaveacontemptuousshrug，butIpaidhimnoattention，preferringtocoincidewiththesofteyesonmyright，ratherthandisputewiththelearnedspectaclestotheleft。
　　Afterdinnerwhenwehaddonefulljusticetothebilloffare，concludingwithpines，grapes，andNewtownpippins，wewereallgratifiedwithasightofthepoorpoet’sletter，bywayofbonnebouche。AlittlevolumewrittenbyLadyHolberton——printedbutnotpublished——relatingitspasthistoryfromthedateofitsdiscoveryinthelibraryofLordG—————，hergrandfather，tothepresentday，passedfromhandtohand，andthisreviewofitsvariousadventuresofcourseonlyaddedforcetothecongratulationsofferedupontheacquisitionofthiscelebratedautograph。
　　{pine=pineapple。Newtownpippin=agreen，tart，tangyAmericanapple，originallyfromLongIsland，afavoriteofGeorgeWashingtonandThomasJefferson；bonnebouche=atastymorsel（French）}
　　Whilethecompanyweresucceedingeachotherinofferingtheirhomagetothegreatalbum，myattentionwascalledoffbyatapontheshoulderfromafriend，whoinformedmethatMissRowley，averyclever，handsomewomanofacertainage，hadexpressedawishtomakemyacquaintance。Iwasonlytoohappytobepresented。
　　Afteraverygraciousreception，andaninvitationtoapartyforthefollowingevening，MissRowleyobserved：
　　"YouhaveAutographs，inAmerica，Iunderstand，Mr。Howard。"
　　"Bothautographsandcollectors，"Ireplied。
　　"Really！Perhapsyouareacollectoryourself？"continuedthelady，withanindescribableexpression，halfinterest，halfdisappointment。
　　"No——merelyahumbleadmirerofthelaborsofothers。"
　　"Then，"addedthelady，moreblandly，"perhapsyouwillbegood—
　　naturedenoughtoassistme。"
　　And，afterasuspiciousglancetowardthespotwhereLadyHolbertonandMr。T—————wereconversingtogether，sheadroitlyplacedherselfinapositiontogivetoourconversationtheprivacyofadiplomatictete—a—tete。
　　"CouldyoupossiblyprocuremesomeAmericanautographsformycollection？IfindafewwantingundertheAmericanhead——perhapsahundredortwo。"
　　Iprofessedmyselfreadytodoanythinginmypowerinsogoodacause。
　　"Hereismylist；Igenerallycarryitaboutme。Youwillseethosethatarewanting，andverypossiblymaysuggestothers。"
　　Andastheladyspokeshedrewfromherpocketarollofpaperaslong，andaswellcoveredwithnamesasanyminoritypetitiontoCongress。However，Ihadlivedtoomuchamongcollectorsoflatetobeeasilydismayed。ThelistwasheadedbyBlackHawk。Iexpressedmyfearsthatthegallantwarrior’signoranceoflettersmightproveanobstacletoobtaininganythingfromhispen。Ivolunteeredhowevertoprocureinstead，somethingfromaCherokeefriendofmine，theeditorofanewspaper。
　　{BlackHawk=BlackHawk（1767—1838），anAmericanIndian（Sac）
　　chieftain，defeatedbytheU。S。Armyin1832，whose"Autobiography"
　　（1833）becameanAmericanclassic。}
　　"Howcharming！"exclaimedMissRowley，claspingherhands。"Howveryobligingofyou，Mr。Howard。Areyoufondofshooting？Mybrother’spreservesareinfineorder——orperhapsyouarepartialtoyachting——"
　　Bowingmythanksfortheseamiablehints，IcarelesslyobservedthattheletteroftheCherokeeeditorwasnosacrificeatall，forthechiefandmyselfwereregularcorrespondents；Ihadadozenofhisletters，andhadjustgivenonetoMr。T—————。ThisintelligenceevidentlylessenedMissRowley’sexcessivegratitude。Shecontinuedherapplications，however，castinganeyeonherlist。
　　"Perhapsyoucorrespondalsowithsomerowdies，Mr。Howard？Couldyouobligemewitharowdyletter？"
　　{rowdies=inthemid—nineteenthcentury，anAmericanslangtermforbackwoodsmenorotherroughanddisorderlytypes}
　　Idrewupalittleatthisrequest；mycorrespondents，Iassuredthelady，weregenerallymenofrespectability，thoughoneofthemwasofasavagerace。
　　"Nodoubt；butinthewayofautographs，youknow，onewouldcorrespondwith——"
　　Thesentenceremainedunfinished，fortheladyadded，"IwrotemyselftoMadameLaffarge，notlongsince。IamsorrytosayLadyHolbertonhastwoofhers；butalthoughanexcellentpersoninmostrespects，yetitcannotbedeniedthatasregardsautographs，LadyHolbertonisveryilliberal。IofferedherGrizzelBaillie，twoCardinals，WilliamPitt，andGraceDarling，foroneofherLaffarges；butshewouldnotpartwithit。Yettheexchangewasveryfair，especiallyasMadameLaffargeisstillliving。"
　　{MadameLaffarge=MarieLafarge（1816—1853），Frenchwomanconvictedin1840forpoisoningherhusband；laterpardoned。GrizzelBaillie=LadyGrizelBaillie（1665—1746），Scottishpoet。WilliamPitt=eitherWilliamPitt"theElder"（1708—1778）orWilliamPitt"theYounger"（1759—1806），bothBritishPrimeMinisters。GraceDarling=
　　GraceDarling（1815—1842），Englishheroineandlighthousekeeper’sdaughter，famousforherrescueofcastawaysin1838。}
　　Ibowedanassenttotheremark。
　　"AndthensheherselfactuallyoncemadeproposalsforSchinderhannes，toafriendofmine，offeringHoward，thephilanthropist，Talma，WilliamPenn，andFenelonforhim——allcommonplaceenough，youknow——andSchinderhannesquiteunique。
　　Myfriendwasindignant！"
　　{Schinderhannes=Germanbanditchief，executedin1803。Howard=
　　JohnHoward（1726—1790），Englishphilanthropistandprisonreformer。
　　Talma=FrancoisTalma（1763—1826），popularFrenchplaywright。
　　WilliamPenn（1644—1718），QuakerfounderofPennsylvania。Fenelon=FrancoisFenelon（1651—1715），FrenchArchbishopandwriter}
　　IventuredtoexcuseLadyHolbertonbysuggestingthatprobablyatthetimeherstockofnotabilitieswaslow。
　　MissRowleyshookherhead，andcurledherlip，asifshefanciedtheladyhadonlybeenseekingtodriveahardbargain。
　　"Ononepoint，however，Ihavecarriedtheday，Mr。Howard。LadyHolbertonisnotalittleproudofherVidocq；butIhaveobtainedonefarsuperiortohers，oneaddressedtomyselfsopiquantandgallanttoo。Icalledonthedearoldburglaronpurposetocoaxhimintowritingmeanote。"
　　{Vidocq=FrancoisVidocq（1775—1857），Frenchpolicedetectivewhoturnedrobber，andwasexposedin1832。}
　　Iwondered，inpetto，whetherIshouldmeetanyillustriousconvictsatMissRowley’spartythenextevening；butrememberingtohaveheardhercalledanexclusive，itdidnotseemveryprobable。
　　{inpetto=silently，tooneself（Latin）}
　　Afterrunninghereyeoverthelistagain，MissRowleymadeanotherinquiry。
　　"Mr。Howard，couldyougetmesomethingfromanAmericanColonel？"
　　Iassuredtheladywehadcolonelsofallsorts，andbeggedtoknowwhatparticularvarietyshehadplacedonhercatalogue——wasitanofficeroftheregularservice，oroneofnoserviceatall？
　　"Oh，thelast，certainly——officerswhohaveseenservicearesocommonplace！"
　　MyownpenwasimmediatelyplacedatMissRowley’sdisposal，asmyswordwouldhavebeen，hadIownedone。AsIhadbeencalledcolonelahundredtimeswithouthavingcommandedaregimentonce，myownnamewasasgoodasanyotheronthepresentoccasion。
　　"Youareveryobliging。Sinceyouaresogood，mayIalsotroubleyoutoprocuremealinefromaveryremarkablepersonageofyourcountry——averydistinguishedman——hehasbeenPresident，orSpeakeroftheSenate，orsomethingofthatsort。"
　　TowhichofourheadmendidMissRowleyallude？
　　"HeiscalledUncleSam，Ibelieve。"
　　{UncleSam="UncleSam"becameapopularpersonificationoftheUnitedStatesduringtheWarof1812，replacingBrotherJonathan，andwasoftenusedincontradistinctiontotheBritish"JohnBull"}
　　Thiswasnotsoeasyatask，forthoughwehavethousandsofcolonels，thereisbutoneUncleSamintheworld。Onhearingthatsuchwasthecase，MissRowley’sanxietyonthesubjectincreasedimmeasurably；butIassuredhertheoldgentlemanonlyputhisnametotreaties，andtariffs；andalthoughhissonswerewonderfullygallant，yethehimselfhadnevercondescendedtonoticeanywomanbutaqueenregnant：andIfurtherendeavoredtogivesomeideaofhisidentity。MissRowleystoppedmeshort，however。
　　"Onlyprocuremeonelinefromhim，Mr。Howard，andIshallbeindebtedtoyouforlife。ItwillbetimeenoughtofindoutallabouthimwhenIoncehavehisname——thatistheessentialthing。"
　　Ishrunkfromcommittingmyself，however；declaringthatIwouldassoonengagetoprocureabillet—douxfromPresterJohn。
　　{PresterJohn=MythicalrulerbelievedintheMiddleAgestoheadapowerfulChristianKingdomsomewhereinAsia；lateridentifiedwiththeChristianKingsofEthiopiainAfrica}
　　"PresterJohn！Thatwould，indeed，bequiteinvaluable！"
　　ThisAsiaticdiversionwasahappyone，andcameveryapropos，foritcarriedMissRowleyintoChina；sheinquiredifIhadanyChineseconnections。
　　"Thoughaltogether，IamprettywellsatisfiedwithmyChinesenegotiations；assoonastheCelestialEmpirewasopenedtothecivilizedworld，Iengagedanagenttheretocollectforme。But，couldyouputmeonthetrackofaConfucius？"
　　{openedtothecivilizedworld=followingtheso—calledOpiumWar，Britainhadin1842forcedChinatoopentradewithher}
　　Iwasobligedtoadmitmyinabilitytodoso；andatthesamemomentthecollectinginstinctsofLadyHolbertonandMr。T—————，drewtheirattentiontothecornerwhereMissRowleyandmyselfwereconversing；astheymovedtowardus，MissRowleypocketedherlist，throwingherselfuponmyhonornottobetraythedeficienciesinherroled’equipage，orthecollectingnegociationsjustopenedbetweenus。LadyHolberton，assheadvanced，invitedMissRowley，withanill—concealedairoftriumph，tofeasthereyesoncemoreontheLumleyautograph，andnotlongafterthepartybrokeup。
　　{roled’equipage=musterroll（French）；here，MissRowley’slistofherautographs}
　　Thenextday，inpassingHolberton—House，Iobservedthechariotofafashionablephysicianbeforethedoor；andatMissRowley’spartyintheeveninglearnedfromMr。T—————thatLadyHolbertonwasquiteunwell。ThefollowingmorningIcalledtoinquire，andreceivedforanswerthat"herladyshipwasverymuchindisposed。"ItwasnotuntilaweeklaterthatIsawLadyHolbertonherself，takingtheairinHydePark。Shelookedwretchedly——thinandpale。IinquiredfromtheEnglishfriendwithwhomIwasriding，iftherewasanyprobabilityofachangeofministry？Helookedsurprised；andthencatchingthedirectionofmyeye，heobserved，"YouaskonLadyHolberton’saccount；butSirA—————B—————tellsmeherillnesswascausedbythelossoftheLumleyAutograph。"
　　Thisunexpectedintelligenceprovedonlytootrue。Onreturningtomylodgings，IfoundanotefromLadyHolberton，requestingtoseeme，and，ofcourse，immediatelyobeyedthesummons。
　　"Lost！——lost！——lost！Mr。Howard！"saidthelady，endeavoringtoconcealheremotion，asshegavemethedetailsofheraffliction。
　　"Itmusthavebeenstolen——baselystolen——ontheeveningofmyparty。Oh！whydidIsofoolishlyexhibititamongsomanypeople，andcollectorsamongthem，too！NeveragainwillIadmitmorethanonecollectoratatimeintotheroomwithmyalbum！"sheexclaimedwithenergy。
　　Iwasshocked；surelyLadyHolbertondidnotconceiveitpossiblethatanyofherguestscouldbeguiltyofsuchbaseconduct？
　　"Howlittleyouknowthem！Butitisthat，Mr。Howard，whichhasinterestedmeinyourfavor——youhavesomuchnaivete，andignoranceofthemoralturpitudeoftheoldworld，thatIfeelconvincedyounevercouldbeguiltyofsuchanactionyourself。"
　　IassuredLadyHolbertonthatinthisrespectsheonlydidmejustice；
　　and，infact，atheftofthekindshealludedtoappearedtomeallbutincredible。
　　"Rememberthatitwasonlytheotherdaythat—————losthisinvaluablealbum；rememberthatlastwinterMadamede—————hadallhernotesonbotanicalsubjectsstolenfromherownportfolio——andI
　　couldmentionadozeninstancesofthesamewickedness。"
　　Thesefactswerealreadyknowntome，butIhadforgottenthem。I
　　remarkedwithaglowofnationalpride，thatwecertainlyweremuchmorevirtuousinthesemattersacrosstheocean；inAmericawearemuchabovepilferingautographs；whenwedosteal，itisbythevolume——weseizeallanauthor’sstockintradeatoneswoop，andwithoutcondescendingtosayeven，thankye，forit。
　　{author’sstockintrade=thoughostensiblyreferringtothestealingofautographs，SusanFenimoreCooperisalsoclearlyreferringtothewidespreadpiratingofBritishandotherforeignliteraryworksbyAmericanpublishers，intheabsenceofinternationalcopyrightlaws——
　　whichnotonlycheatedtheauthors，butmadelifedifficultforAmericanauthorsexpectingtobepaidfortheircreations}
　　"SoIhavealwaysunderstood，Mr。Howard——andIfeltthatmyalbumwassafewithyou，"observedLadyHolberton，withtearsinhereyes。
　　Wishingtorelievethisdistress，Iproposedadvertisingforthelosttreasure——applyingtothepolice。
　　LadyHolbertonsmiledthroughhertears，assheassuredmethatthepolice，oldandnew，hadbeenenlistedinherserviceanhourafterthediscoveryofherloss，whilecommunicationshadbeenopenedwiththemunicipalgovernmentsofBrussels，Paris，andVienna，onthesamesubject。
　　{police，oldandnew=thefirstmodernEnglishpoliceforcehadbeenestablishedin1829bySirRobertPeel——fromwhichtheBritishnicknameof"bobby"forpoliceman。}
　　"Andhaveyounoclue，nosuspicions？——yourservants——yourmaid？"
　　Theaspersiononherhouseholdwasindignantlyrepelled。
　　"Youwillreadilybelieve，Mr。Howard，thatacollector，theownerofsuchanalbumasIhavethehonorofpossessing，isparticularlycarefulastowhomsheadmitsintoherfamily。Iwillvouchforallaboutme；stillIhavesuspicions——but——"
　　Ibeggedhertospeak，ifshethoughtIcouldbeoftheleastassistance。
　　"Yes，Iwilltrustmyson’sfriend。Mr。Howard，IheresolemnlyaccuseTheodosiaRowleyofhavingstolentheLumleyAutograph！"
　　Thedignityofmanner，theconcentratedpassionofexpression，thestrengthofemphasiswithwhichLadyHolbertonspoke，wouldhavedonehonortoaSiddons。Thenaturalstartofhorrorandamazementonmypart，wasalso，nodoubt，veryexpressive——forIwasspeechlesswithsurprise。
　　"Iseeyoudonotcreditthis，"continuedthelady。
　　Butthought，likeaflashoflightning，hadalreadyrecalledsomecircumstancesofthelasteveningatHolberton—House。Ididcredittheaccusation，andimmediatelyinformedLadyHolbertonofwhatI
　　hadobserved，butforgotten，untilremindedofthefactsbyherownremarks。IhadseenMissRowley，bendinglowoverthealbumatamomentwhensomeonewastellinganexceedinglyhumorousstorywhichengrossedtheattentionoftherestofthecompany。
　　"Couldshehavehadanaccomplice？"criedthelady，withdashingeyes。
　　Iknewnothingonthatpoint。But，Iadded，thatsoonafterMissRowleyhadlefttheroomveryquietly；andasIfollowedhertofulfillanotherengagement，shehadstarted，turnedpale，andbetrayedmuchnervousness，scarcelyallowingmetoassisthertohercarriage，althoughweleftthehouseatthesameinstant。
　　LadyHolberton’ssuspicionswerenowconfirmedbeyondadoubt。
　　"Andyetitseemsincrediblethatanyladyshouldbeguiltyofsuchconduct！"Iexclaimed，almostrepentinghavingallowedthepreviousremarkstopassmylips。"MissRowleyisundoubtedlyawomanofprinciple——orgoodmoralstanding。"
　　"Moralstanding！——principle！"exclaimedLadyHolberton，bitterly。"Yes，whereanautographisconcerned，TheodosiaRowleyhasalltheprincipleofaMagpie"
　　{Magpie=Europeanbirdknownforstealingandhidingsmallbrightobjects。}
　　Whatevermighthavebeenthefact，itwasclearatleastthatLadyHolberton’sopinionwasnowunalterablymadeup。
　　"Remember，sheisaButlerite！"addedthelady，thusputtingthelasttouchtothecircumstantialevidenceagainstMissRowley。
　　Weekspassedby。Theadvertisementsremainedunanswered。Thepolicecouldgivenoinformation。LadyHolbertonwasindespair；thephysiciansdeclaredthatherhealthmusteventuallygivewayundertheanxietyanddisappointmentconsequentuponthismelancholyaffair。Muchsympathywasfeltfortheafflictedlady；evenMissRowleycalledoftentocondole，butshewasneveradmitted。
　　"Icouldnotseethecrocodile！"exclaimedLadyHolberton，quitethrownoffherguardoneday，bythesightofMissRowley’scardwhichshethrewintothefire。
　　Someconsolation，however，appearedtobederivedfromtheassiduousattentionsofMr。T—————，whopersonallyadmiredLadyHolberton；atleastheprofessedtodoso，thoughsomepersonsaccusedhimofinterestedviews，andaimingatheralbumratherthanherself。Butalthoughhisattentionswerereceived，yetnothingcouldaffordfullconsolation。Atlength，allothermeansfailing，attheendofamonth，itwasproposedthattwopersons，mutualfriendsofLadyHolbertonandMissRowley，shouldcallonthelatterlady，andappealprivatelytohersenseofhonor，torestoretheautographifitwereactuallyinherpossession。Thisplanwasfinallyagreedon；buttheverydayitwastohavebeencarriedintoexecution，MissRowleylefttownforanexcursioninFinland。
　　Asformyself，Iwasalsoonthewing，andleftLondonaboutthesametime。ThepartingwithLadyHolbertonwasmelancholy；shewasmuchdepressed，andthephysicianshadrecommendedthewatersofWiesbaden。Mr。T—————wasalsopreparingforanexcursiontoGermany；andhewassuspectedofvascillating{sic}inhisButleriteviews，broughtoverbyLadyHolberton’stearsandlogic。
　　ReturningtoLondon，somethreemonthslater，Ifoundmanyofmyformeracquaintainces{sic}wereabsent；butLadyHolberton，MissRowley，andMr。T—————wereallintownagain。ThedayafterIarrived—
　　—itwasTuesdaythe20thofAugust——asIwaswalkingalongPiccadilly，aboutfiveo’clockintheafternoon，myeyefellonthewindowsofMr。Thorpe’sgreatestablishment。Iwasthinkingoverhislastcatalogueofautographs，whenIhappenedtoobserveaplain，modest—lookingyounggirlcastingatimidglanceatthedoor。Therewassomethinganxiousandhesitatinginhermanner，whichattractedmyattention。Accustomed，likemostAmericans，toassistawomaninanylittledifficulty，andwithnotionsbettersuitedperhapstothemeridianofYankee—landthanthatofLondon，Iaskedifshewereinanytrouble。HowrichlywasIrewardedfortheactofgood—
　　nature！Sheblushedandcourtesied{sic}。
　　{Tuesday，20thofAugust=doesthisdatethefinalcompositionof"TheLumleyAutograph"orofitssetting？August20fellonaTuesdayin1844and1850}
　　"Please，sir，isittruethattheypaymoneyforoldlettersatthisplace？"
　　"Theydo——haveyouanythingofthekindtodisposeof？"
　　Judgeofmygratification，myamazement，whensheproducedtheLumleyAutograph！
　　OfcourseIinstantlytookit，atherownprice——onlyhalfaguinea——
　　andIfurthergaveherLadyHolberton’saddress，thatshemightclaimtheliberalrewardpromisedfarthepreciousletter。Tearscameintothepoorchild’seyeswhenshefoundwhatawaitedher，andI
　　mayaswellobserveatoncethatthisyounggirlprovedtobethedaughterofapoorbed—riddenartisanofClapham，whohadseenbetterdays，butwastheningreatwant。Itisanill—windthatblowsnogoodluck，andthecontestfortheLumleyAutographwasagreatadvantagetothepoorartisanandhisfamily。Thegirlhadpickedupthepaperearlyonemorning，inaroadnearClapham，asshewasgoingtoherwork；LadyHolbertongaveherahandfulofguineasasthepromisedreward——asumbythebyejustdoubleinamountwhatthepoorpoethadreceivedforhisbestpoem——andshealsocontinuedtolookafterthefamilyintheirtroubles。
　　Buttoreturntotheimportantdocumentitself。NevercanIforgettheexpressivegratitudethatbeamedonthefinecountenanceofLadyHolbertonwhenIrestoreditoncemoretoherpossession。Sherapidlyrecoveredherhealthandspirits，anditwasgenerallyreportedthatseizingthisfavorablemoment，Mr。T—————hadofferedhimselfandhiscollection，andthatbothhadbeengraciouslyaccepted。MissRowleycalledandasortofpaixplatreewasmadeupbetweentheladies。AcargoofAmericanautographsarrivedcontainingtheletteroftheCherokeeeditor，thesign—manualofgovernorsandcolonelswithoutnumber，andIevensucceededinobtainingepistlesfromseveralnotedrowdies，especiallytogratifytheladies。LadyHolbertonmadeherselection，andtherestweredividedbetweenMissRowleyandMr。T—————。JoyattherecoveryoftheLumleyAutographseemedtodiffuseanunusualspiritofharmonyamongcollectors；manydesirableexchangeswerebroughtaboutandthingslookedcharmingly。Alas，howlittlewerewepreparedforwhatensued！
　　{paixplatree=patched—uppeace（French）}
　　OntheoccasionofthepresenceinLondonoftwoillustriousroyaltravelers，LadyHolbertongavealargeparty。Sosaidthepapersatleast；butIknewbetter。ItwaschieflytocelebratetherecoveryoftheLumleyAutograph，anditsrestorationtohercelebratedAlbumthatthefetewasgiven。TheAlbumwasproduced，inspiteofahalf—
　　formedvowofLadyHolbertontothecontrary，butthenHisRoyalHighnessPrince——————————hadparticularlyrequestedtoseetheletterofthepoorpoet，havinghearditmentionedatdinner。Theeveningpassedoffbrilliantly，theirroyalhighnesses，came，saw，anddeparted。Thecrowdfollowedthemtoanotherhouse，whileafavoredfew，chieflycollectors，remainedlingeringaboutthetableonwhichlaytheAlbum。Ishouldhavesaidearlier，thatLadyHolbertonhadappointedanewofficeinherhouseholdtheverydayafterthelossoftheLumleyAutograph；thiswasnootherthanaprettylittlepage，dressedintheoldcostumeofastudentofPadua，whosesoledutyitwastowatchovertheAlbumwheneveritwasremovedfromtherichandheavycaseinwhichitusuallylayenshrined。HewastheguardoftheAlbum，andwasstrictlyenjoinednever，foroneinstant，toremovehiseyesfromthepreciousvolumefromthemomenthewasplacedonduty，untilrelieved。
　　Well，therewewere，somedozenofus，collectedaboutthetable；
　　LadyHolbertonlookingtriumphant，Mr。T—————veryproud；andtherestoodthepageoftheAlbum，dressedinhisPaduasoygown，witheyesfastenedonthebook，accordingtoorders，whilehesupporteditsgorgeouscaseinhisarms。SomeremarkwasmadeastotheextraordinarymannerinwhichthepreciousAutographhadbeenlost，andthenfoundagain。Mybloodactuallyboiled，asoneofthecompanyturnedtomeandaskedinasuspicioustone，ifIdidnotknowmoreofitshistorythanIchosetoconfess？Myindignationwasboundless；fortunatelyIcouldproducethefriendwalkingwithmeinPiccadilly，andtheartisan’sfamilyatClapham，aswitnessesinmyfavor。MissRowleywasstandingnearmeatthemoment。
　　{Paduasoy=astrongcordedorgros—grainsilkfabric，traditionallyassociatedwithPadua，Italy}
　　"Still，Mr。Howard，"observedthatlady；"Ireallycannotseewhyyoushouldresenttheinsinuationsowarmly。Now，doyouknow，IamnotatallsorrytohaveitinmypowertodeclarethatIhavesomeknowledgeofthefateofthatpaperduringitseclipse。"
　　Alleyeswereinstantlyfixedonthespeaker。Theladysmiledandcontinued：
　　"LadyHolbertonthinkstheLumleyAutographwasstolen——I
　　understandsheeventhoughtitwasstolenbymyself——"
　　Shehereturneddeliberatelytowardourhostess，wholookeduneasy。
　　"Ifsuchwereyoursuspicions，LadyHolberton，"continuedMissRowley，speakingwithgreatdeliberation——"Iamhappytosaytheywerequitecorrect——youonlydidmejustice——Iamproudtodeclarethedeedwasmine——"
　　Wewereallspeechlessathearingthissuddenandboldavowal。
　　"ItwasI，TheodosiaRowley，whocarriedoff——thewordisoflittleconsequence——whostole，Irepeat，thatpreciouspaper。Solongasthetreasurewasmine，theconsciousnessofpossessingitwassufficientinitself——buthavingafterwardlostitfrommypocketbyunpardonablecarelessness，Ishallatleastnowgloryinthedaringdeedwhichmadeitoncemyown。"
　　Conceivetheamazementwhichtheseremarks——deliveredwithcalmenthusiasm——producedamongthelisteningcircle。Weallknowthathighcrimesandmisdemeanorsenougharecommittedbymen，andwomentoo；butsomehoworotherthedelinquentsarenotoftengiventotalkingofthem；theywouldjustasliefingeneralthattheactshouldnotbeknown。TheeffectofMissRowley’swordswasdifferentondifferentindividuals。Asformyself，Iinvoluntarilyfeltforthehandkerchiefinmypocket。Thepageofthealbumdrewnearer。
　　LadyHolbertonlookedaghast，asthoughshehadseenacannibal。
　　Somebittheirlips；othersopenedtheireyes。Mr。T—————，however，whoheldthealbumatthemoment，andwasbendingoveritwhenMissRowleybeganherextraordinarydisclosure，raisedhiseyes，fixedhisglassesonthefairspeaker，andsentthroughthemsuchaglanceasnowordscanfullydescribe。Itwasaglanceofintenseadmiration。
　　"Whatexaltedviews！Whatsublimesentiments！"heexclaimedinanecstasy。
　　ButMr。T—————’sblazeofadmirationwasnottheonlyflameatwork，whilehewasgazingattheheroineofthemoment。Inthesuddenburstofenthusiasmrousedbythefairpurloiner，heforgotallelse；
　　thepreciousvolumeinhishanddrooped，touchedtheflameofawax—lightonthetable，andinanotherinstantthegreatHolbertonAlbum，thatAlbumofEuropeanreputation——wasburningbeforeoureyes——itsinvaluableleaveswerecurling，andblackening，andsmokingunderthedevouringflame！
　　AshriekfromLadyHolberton——anunearthlycryfromthepageoftheAlbum——bothechoedbythespectators，cametoolate。Thevolumewashalfconsumed。OftheLumleyAutographnotalineremained！
　　Suchwastheill—fatedendoftheletterofthepoorstarvingpoet。Itwaswrittenamidgloomanddistress；itscareerclosedinastormyhour。ThelossoftheAlbumofcoursebrokeofftheengagementbetweenLadyHolbertonandMr。T—————。Thishowevercouldscarcelyhavebeenregrettedunderthecircumstances，fortheirunion，afterthecatastrophemusthavebeenonelongseriesofmiserablereproaches。ThesuddenchangeinMr。T—————’sfeelingstowardMissRowleywasnotamomentaryone；theadmirationfirstkindledbythatlady’sbolddeclaration，grewtobethestrongestsentimentofhisheart，andonlyafewweekslaterhewasmadethehappiestofmenbyreceivingashisownthefairhandwhichaccomplishedthedeed。MissRowleyandMr。T—————wereunitedinthebandsofmatrimonyandcollectorship。LadyHolbertonwasstillinconsolablewhenIleftLondon；shewasthinkingoftravelingamongtheHottentots，orinanyotherclimewherealbumsareunknownandherlosscouldbeforgotten。ThejourneytoKaffirlandwashoweverpostponeduntilthenextchangeofministry，andIhavelearnedrecentlythattheladyhassofarrecoveredherspiritsastobethinkingofan’Omnibus。’Theverylastpacket，indeed，broughtaflatteringapplicationtomyself；LadyHolbertongraciouslydeclaringthatthenameofJonathanHowardisnotonlyvaluedbyherself，asthatofafriend，butinterestingtocollectorsgenerally，ashavingbeenonceconnectedwiththatmuchlamenteddocument，nowlosttotheworld，theletterofthepoorstarvingpoet，knownastheLumleyAutograph。
　　{"Omnibus"=inthiscontext，an"omnibusbill"（i。e。，onedealingwithavarietyofsubject）inParliament}