Adrien took up the book and glanced through it.

“Is this true?” he said, with an earnestness that all present understood.  “Am I still a rich man?”

“The statement is correct, sir,” returned Mr. Harker respectfully.  “You will find that you have in reality benefited by his cunning and astuteness, even after the racing debts are fully paid.”

Adrien laid the book on the table.

“I am grateful,” he said gravely.  “But I would leave this room penniless, and gladly, if by so doing I could bring one life back to us.”  Then, almost overcome by his emotion, he abruptly left the room.

On the morrow, despite all efforts to hush the matter up, the news went flying through the land.  Adrien Leroy, the well-beloved of Vanity Fair, had been betrayed by his friend and confidant.  Great was the sensation when all the facts came out into the full light, and it was known that Adrien had been saved by the traitor’s own daughter, who had given her life that his might be spared.

Mr. Harker was well rewarded for the part he had taken in exposing Jasper Vermont, and preserving the Leroys from the pitfalls and ruin he had dug for them.  All the forged bills were promptly burnt, and there remained only those real amounts that Adrien had signed, and which, all put together, only amounted to but a minute fraction of the supposed sums owing by the young man.

Jessica was buried in Windleham churchyard; the funeral was attended by all the Leroys, as well as by many of the countryfolk, for her sad little story had become known.  Ada Lester was also present; she paid her last visit to the neighbourhood of Barminster on that day, and, with a tact most unusual to her, refrained from attracting any attention so far as the Leroys were concerned.

Well placed now in money matters, and proprietress of the Casket Theatre, she settled down to learn the art of acting as well as dancing, and eventually married her business manager.  She also undertook to look after her sister, who, however, died shortly afterwards, without ever regaining her memory, or learning of the fate which had befallen the man whom she had once loved, or the daughter of whose existence she had forgotten since the day of her birth.

It took some time to settle up all the details of “Harker’s Ltd.”  Jasper Vermont had died intestate; and although advertisements were inserted in various papers, seeking his next-of-kin, no answers were received.  The money, therefore, reverted to the Crown; and Mr. Harker, taking up his real name of Goodwin, settled in Kingston with his daughter and her husband, who now, thanks to Lord Barminster, owned a flourishing business.

Lady Merivale never visited Barminster Castle again.  She had succeeded in convincing her husband of the harmless nature of her flirtation with Adrien, and patiently bore the brunt of his very natural resentment at the publicity accorded to his name at the trial; though he acknowledged that under the circumstances she could have done nothing else but come forward to exonerate Leroy.  Then her ladyship retired into the country with her husband, who was greatly gratified in the dutiful interest she showed in him and his farm.  All love of intrigue seemed to have died out when her flirtation with Adrien ended, nor was it ever revived.