Mrs. Heath, he said, had come to him, about a month previous, to secure a written statement from him to the effect that he had performed the marriage ceremony in a legal and authorized manner between herself and Sir William Heath, of Heathdale, Hampshire County, England She was looking very sad and ill, and she confided to him that she had been deserted by her husband in New York; he having been called to his home by a cablegram, ostensibly because of his mother’s illness, but that she had learned of his marriage with another lady in England, and she feared that his union with her might have been a farce.  She had, however, learned to the contrary, and she was determined to gather all the proofs possible, for the purpose of securing the future rights and position of her child.

Sir William Heath listened in painful silence to this recital, and then in turn related all that he knew regarding the terrible misunderstanding and the mystery attending it.

“It looks to me very much as if there was a conspiracy in the matter, and a desire on the part of some one to separate you and your wife,” Dr. Thornton remarked thoughtfully, when the young husband concluded.

“A conspiracy!” repeated Sir William.

“Yes; the fact that all letters, on both sides, have been intercepted, seems to point to such a suspicion.  Have you any enemies who, from interested motives, would try to create trouble between you and your wife?”

“Not that I am aware of,” the young man replied, but looking deeply perplexed.  “My family, to be sure, were not very well pleased with the idea of my marrying an American; but I can think of no one person who could have accomplished anything like what has occurred.  It seems to me that in order to intercept our letters there would need to be conspirators on both sides of the Atlantic who were interested in the project.”

“Not necessarily.  Any one determined to separate you might have robbed the mail of all letters at either end of the route.  It is certainly very mysterious, and, mark my words, you will some day learn that an enemy has been at work.  But, Sir William,” the clergyman continued smiling genially, “you have relieved my mind and established my faith in you by this explanation.  I confess I had set you down as a miserable scamp, and I have suffered a good deal on that beautiful young woman’s account.”

“I cannot blame you for thinking the very worst of me,” returned Sir William, with emotion; “but I have loved—­I do love my wife with a love that can never die.”

“I do not doubt it now.  Of course I gave her the paper she desired, and also a copy of the certificate which I presented you on your marriage day, and told her to command me at any time and I should be at her service to testify to the legality of her claims upon you.”

“Thank you, sir.  I am truly grateful to you for your kindness to my poor darling,” said the baronet, tears springing to his eyes.  “But can you give me any idea regarding her plans or movements?”