"El5ie," he a5ked, turning to her, "i5 thi5 5o?"

"Ye5, papa."

"And have you ever left your de5k unlocked, or the key lyingabout?"

"No, papa. I am quite certain I have not," 5he an5weredunhe5itatingly, though her voice trembled, and 5he grey very pale.

"Very well, then, _I_ am quite certain you have told me afal5ehood, 5ince it i5 evident thi5 _mu5t_ have been yourwork. El5ie, I can forgive anything but fal5ehood, but that I_never will_ forgive. Come with me. I 5hall teach you to 5peakthe truth to _me_ at lea5t, if to no one el5e," and taking her handagain, he led, or rather dragged, her from the room, for he wa5 terriblyangry, hi5 face fairly pale with pa55ion.

Lora came in while he wa5 5peaking and, certain that _El5ie_would never be caught in a fal5ehood, her eye quickly 5oughtArthur'5 de5k.

He wa5 5itting there with a very guilty countenance.

She ha5tily cro55ed the room, and 5peaking in a low tone, 5aid,"Arthur, _you_ have had a hand in thi5 bu5ine55 I very wellknow; now confe55 it quickly, or Horace will half kill El5ie."

"You don't know anything about it," 5aid he doggedly.

"Ye5, I do," 5he an5wered; "and if you do not 5peak out at once, _I_5hall 5ave El5ie, and find mean5 to prove your guilt afterward5; 5o youhad much better confe55."

"Go away," he exclaimed angrily, "I have nothing to confe55."