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in the Bodleian Library； or in the Bibliotheque at Paris。 In this
emergency a letter to his former secretary would furnish him with
the information that he required。 But he was ignorant of
Penrose's present address。 The Lorings might possibly know itso
to the Lorings he resolved to apply。
CHAPTER III。
FATHER BENWELL AND THE BOOK。
R OMAYNE'S first errand in London was to see his wife； and to
make inquiries at Mrs。 Eyrecourt's house。 The report was more
favorable than usual。 Stella whispered； as she kissed him； 〃I
shall soon come back to you； I hope！〃
Leaving the horses to rest for a while； he proceeded to Lord
Loring's residence on foot。 As he crossed a street in the
neighborhood； he was nearly run over by a cab； carrying a
gentleman and his luggage。 The gentleman was Mr。 Winterfield； on
his way to Derwent's Hotel。
Lady Loring very kindly searched her card…basket； as the readiest
means of assisting Romayne。 Penrose had left his card； on his
departure from London； but no address was written on it。 Lord
Loring； unable himself to give the required information；
suggested the right person to consult。
〃Father Benwell will be here later in the day；〃 he said。 〃If you
will write to Penrose at once； he will add the address。 Are you
sure； before the letter goes； that the book you want is not in my
library？〃
〃I think not；〃 Romayne answered； 〃but I will write down the
title； and leave it here with my letter。〃
The same evening he received a polite note from Father Benwell；
informing him that the letter was forwarded； and that the book he
wanted was not in Lord Loring's library。 〃If there should be any
delay or difficulty in obtaining this rare volume；〃 the priest
added； 〃I only wait the expression of your wishes； to borrow it
from the library of a friend of mine； residing in the country。〃
By return of post the answer； affectionately and gratefully
written； arrived from Penrose。 He regretted that he was not able
to assist Romayne personally。 But it was out of his power （in
plain words； he had been expressly forbidden by Father Benwell）
to leave the service on which he was then engaged。 In reference
to the book that was wanted； it was quite likely that a search in
the catalogues of the British Museum might discover it。 He had
only met with it himself in the National Library at Paris。
This information led Romayne to London again； immediately。 For
the first time he called at Father Benwell's lodgings。 The priest
was at home； expecting the visit。 His welcome was the perfection
of unassuming politeness。 He asked for the last news of 〃poor
Mrs。 Eyrecourt's health；〃 with the sympathy of a true friend。
〃I had the honor of drinking tea with Mrs。 Eyrecourt； some little
time since；〃 he said。 〃Her flow of conversation was never more
delightfulit seemed impossible to associate the idea of illness
with so bright a creature。 And how well she kept the secret of
your contemplated marriage！ May I offer my humble congratulations
and good wishes？〃
Romayne thought it needless to say that Mrs。 Eyrecourt had not
been trusted with the secret until the wedding day was close at
hand。 〃My wife and I agreed in wishing to be married as quietly
as possible；〃 he answered； after making the customary
acknowledgments。
〃And Mrs。 Romayne？〃 pursued Father Benwell。 〃This is a sad trial
for her。 She is in attendance on her mother； I suppose？〃
〃In constant attendance； I am quite alone now。 To change the
subject； may I ask you to look at the reply which I have received
from Penrose？ It is my excuse for troubling you with this visit。〃
Father Benwell read the letter with the closest attention。 In
spite of his habitual self…control； his vigilant eyes brightened
as he handed it back。
Thus far； the priest's well…planned scheme； （like Mr。 Bitrake's
clever inquiries） had failed。 He had not even entrapped Mrs。
Eyrecourt into revealing the marriage engagement。 Her
unconquerable small…talk had foiled him at every point。 Even when
he had deliberately kept his seat after the other guests at the
tea…table had taken their departure； she rose with the most
imperturbable coolness； and left him。 〃I have a dinner and two
parties to…night； and this is just the time when I take my little
restorative nap。 Forgive meand do come again！〃 When he sent the
fatal announcement of the marriage to Rome； he had been obliged
to confess that he was indebted for the discovery to the
newspaper。 He had accepted the humiliation； he had accepted the
defeatbut he was not beaten yet。 〃I counted on Romayne's
weakness； and Miss Eyrecourt counted on Romayne's weakness； and
Miss Eyrecourt has won。 So let it be。 My turn will come。〃 In that
manner he had reconciled himself to his position。 And nowhe
knew it when he handed back the letter to Romaynehis turn _had_
come！
〃You can hardly go to Paris to consult the book；〃 he said； 〃in
the present state of Mrs。 Eyrecourt's health？〃
〃Certainly not！〃
〃Perhaps you will send somebody to search the catalogue at the
British Museum？〃
〃I should have done that already； Father Benwell； but for the
very kind allusion in your note to your friend in the country。
Even if the book is in the Museum Library； I shall be obliged to
go to the Reading Room to get my information。 It would be far
more convenient to me to have the volume at home to consult； if
you think your friend will trust me with it。〃
〃I am certain he will trust you with it。 My friend is Mr。
Winterfield； of Beaupark House； North Devon。 Perhaps you may have
heard of him？〃
〃No； the name is quite new to me。〃
〃Then come and see the man himself。 He is now in Londonand I am
entirely at your service。〃
In half an hour more； Romayne was presented to a well…bred；
amiable gentleman in the prime of life； smoking； and reading the
newspaper。 The bowl of his long pipe rested on the floor； on one
side of him； and a handsome red and white spaniel reposed on the
other。 Before his visitors had been two minutes in the room； he
understood the motive which had brought them to consult him； and
sent for a telegraphic form。
〃My steward will find the book and forward it to your address by
passenger train this afternoon；〃 he said。 〃I will tell him to put
my printed catalogue of the library into the parcel； in case I
have any other books which may be of use to you。〃
With those words； he dispatche