be accused of the crime, andprobably sent to Siberia. Well, I reflected for a moment. Then I tooksome food, stole out, and made my way again into the snow-coveredwilderness. Ah! the recollection of it all is still upon me, thoughyears have since elapsed."
"And then?" asked Max, when he found tongue.
"Since then I and my brothers Levi and Ben have abandoned the old life,but I have ever since been determined to avenge the brutal murder ofthat poor old peasant. I made a vow not to enjoy the luxuries which mymoney brought me until my conscience had been cleared and the assassinbrought to justice. Hence, I have lived in the desolation attendantupon pauperism. I have been the Pauper of Park Lane. Seven years ago Isent an agent to the place, and purchased all the interior of the house.Then, when I came to live here, I had the drawing-room fitted as yousee it, and have since awaited my opportunity. The other night, as youknow, Jean Adam came to renew his false charge against me, and I tookhim upstairs and ushered him suddenly into the scene of his crime. Ah!his terror was horrible to witness: he trembled from head to foot. Hesaw the hangman's rope around his neck. Then I took him into the nextroom, and showed him in silence what I had prepared for him. He readhis own name inscribed there, and with a curse upon his lips, drew hisrevolver and put an end to his life."
Both his hearers remained in silence. It had surely been a justvengeance--blood for blood!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A year has now passed.
Marion is now the wife of Max Barclay, and the pair spend the greaterpart of their time at the beautiful old castle Kilmaronock, up inPerthshire, for in her perfect happiness she prefers a healthy out-doorlife to that of London.
Rolfe, who is still confidential secretary to Mr Samuel Statham, hasmarried Maud, and has abandoned his bachelor chambers in Jermyn Streetfor a pretty little house in Curzon Street, where he is quite near tothe mansion in Park Lane.
Doctor Petrovitch has returned to Servia at the invitation of the King,and is expected every day to accept the portfolio of Prime Minister.Old Duncan Macgregor has been promoted to be general manager of thegreat Clyde and Motherwell Locomotive Works; while Levi acts as servantto his brother, their secret still being kept, and the position ofStatham Brothers in the City is to-day higher than it has ever been.
As regards the Park Lane mansion, with the red-striped sun-blinds--thehouse you know well, without doubt--there is now no further mysteryconcerning it. The rumours regarding its beautiful interior, and thesounds of piano-playing were all of course, the outcome of gossip. Thetruth, however, is now common knowledge, and society during the pastnine months or so has been amazed to see painters, decorators, andupholsterers so busily at work. It is evident that old Sam intends toentertain largely during this coming season.
The house is now exquisitely furnished from top to bottom. He no longersleeps on his little camp bed, or dines off a chump chop cooked over agas-stove by old Levi. The dark shadow has now been lifted from hislife.
In fact, he no longer lives in the squalor of an empty house as "ThePauper of Park Lane."
The End.
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