message was brought to her that her husband desired to see her for a few minutes, and she tripped gaily away, saying to CASANUOVA, “Wait here; I shall return directly.”  In a quarter of an hour, however, her maid came to tell him that her Ladyship was suffering, and begged him to excuse her, and he departed.  When the maid returned to Lady CALLENDER, she found her lying dead on the floor of her room, with a small phial, which had contained prussic acid, clasped tightly in her hand.

This is what had happened:  Sir CHARLES had received the letters; they left no doubt in his mind that the wife he adored was betraying him, and he, too, resolved on revenge.  He sent for his wife.  When she came in, he at once confronted her with her letters, and taxed her with her guilt.  A terrible scene of tears, entreaties, and bitter reproaches ensued, but Sir CHARLES was as adamant, and his wife retired to her bedroom in a state of nervous prostration, which immediately brought on a toothache.  At this point she sent for her maid, and gave her the message to CASANUOVA.

The Coroner was sympathetic, and did what he could, but the evidence in favour of the suicide theory seemed overwhelming, and the jury returned a verdict to this effect, with a rider strongly commenting on the danger of selling such deadly poisons.  But it was never explained how Lady CALLENDER obtained the prussic acid, nor why she had selected that particular moment for its use.  I ought to add, that CASANUOVA left England before the inquest, and has never returned.  On the mystery of the final catastrophe the manuscript throws no light.  It ends abruptly.  But the whole tone of it leads me to believe, that in some unexplained manner Sir CHARLES himself had been instrumental in causing his wife’s death.  But you, no doubt, know, and could tell us if you wished.

So there, my friend, you have the story.  Sorry I couldn’t make it more cheerful.  Do you remember the part you played in it?

Yours, &c., DIOGENES ROBINSON.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  EXTRACT FROM THE CATALOGUE OF A RECENT SALE.

“A PAIR OF OLD-FASHIONED SNUFFERS.  VERY RARE.”]

* * * * *

THE COMING OF NINETY-TWO.

(WITH HUMBLE APOLOGIES, AND HEARTY NEW-YEAR GREETINGS, TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS AUTHOR OF “THE COMING OF ARTHUR.")

  And PUNCHIUS ever served the good Old Year
  Before his death-hour struck; and on the night
  When he, on twelve’s last stroke must pass away,
  Room making for his heir, great PUNCHIUS-MERLIN
  Left the Old King, and passing forth to breathe,
  Then from the mystic gateway by the chasm
  Descending through the wintry night—­a night
  In which the bounds of year and year were blent—­
  Beheld, so high upon the wave-tost deep
  It seemed in heaven, a light, the shape thereof
  An angel winged, and all from head to