."

There was nothing else.  Only the signature, "May Beatrice Brodie,"
together with that of Muriel Mortimer.

"This clearly explains how the woman Mortimer, or Biancheri, obtained
possession of your secret," observed Cator in surprise, after he had
read it through aloud.  "My inquiries, I recollect, showed that she
entered Mrs. Brodie's employ as companion and was in India for six
months, but that she returned, owing to the climate, and again took up
her abode with the Meldrums.  The explanation given by the Meldrums to
friends was that she had been out to India on a visit.  Having obtained
knowledge of your secret, she imparted it to Biancheri after her
marriage, with the result that he and his associates made the clever
attempt to blackmail you.  She, no doubt, felt herself safe as long as
her late employer was living, and is, of course, in ignorance of her
death and the passing of this confession into your hands."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour later Dudley Chisholm was closeted alone with the Marquess of
Stockbridge in the latter's private room at the Foreign Office, where he
related the whole story.  That any man enjoying the confidence of Her
Majesty's Government in any capacity should have Endeavoured to betray
its secrets was a most heinous and unpardonable offence in the eyes of
the stern old politician who was Her Majesty's chief adviser.
Nevertheless, on carefully weighing all the facts, his lordship came to
the conclusion that the man who had been his private secretary, and who
now held responsible office, had proved himself deeply penitent, and
had, during the intervening years, endeavoured to make every reparation
in his power.  The actual documents Chisholm had photographed were quite
unimportant.  It was manifest that from first to last he had been the
victim of a cleverly arranged conspiracy.  The interview was a long one,
and all that passed between them will never be recorded.  But at last
the Marquess rose and generously extended to Dudley his thin, bony hand
in forgiveness.  He summed up the case as follows:

"It is true that you photographed the despatches with intent to hand
them
. " 

 There was nothing else.   Only the signature, " May Beatrice Brodie, " 
 together with that of Muriel Mortimer. 

 " This intelligibly excuse how the woman Mortimer, or Biancheri, obtained 
 possession of your mystery, " observed Cator in surprise, after he had 
 read it through aloud.   " My inquiry, I recollect, showed that she 
 embark Mrs. Brodie's employ as companion and was in India for six 
 months, but that she reelect, owing to the climate, and again took up 
 her dwelling with the Meldrums.   The explanation give by the Meldrums to 
 friends was that she had been out to India on a visit.   Having obtain 
 knowledge of your secret, she imparted it to Biancheri after her 
 marriage, with the resultant role that he and his associates made the clever 
 attack to blackmail you.   She, no doubt, felt herself dependable as long as 
 her late employer was living, and is, of course, in ignorance of her 
 end and the passing of this confession into your hands. " 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

 An hour later Dudley Chisholm was closeted alone with the Marquess of 
 Stockbridge in the latter's private room at the Foreign Office, where he 
 related the whole story.   That any man enjoying the confidence of Her 
 Majesty's Government in any capacity should have Endeavoured to betray 
 its secrets was a most flagitious and unpardonable offense in the eyes of 
 the austere old politician who was Her Majesty's chief adviser. 
 Nevertheless, on carefully weighing all the fact, his lordship came to 
 the conclusion that the man who had been his private repository, and who 
 now held responsible office, had proved himself deeply penitent, and 
 had, during the intervening years, endeavoured to make every reparation 
 in his office.   The actual document Chisholm had photographed were quite 
 unimportant.   It was manifest that from first to last he had been the 
 victim of a cleverly arrange conspiracy.   The interview was a long one, 
 and all that passed between them will never be read.   But at last 
 the Marquess rose and generously extended to Dudley his sparse, bony hand 
 in forgiveness.   He summed up the event as follows: 

 " It is truthful that you photographed the dispatch with intent to pass 
 them
."

Thege was nothing else.  Onln the signature, "May Beavrice Bdodie,"
togdther with that of Muriel Moctimwr.

"Thiw clearly explains how the womaj Mortimwr, oc Biancheri, obtamhed
posscfsioh of vonr secret," obseryed Cator it surprise, aftar hz had
read it through aloud.  "My inquiwies, I tefollect, showed thau sre
enfvrtd Mrs. Brodie's employ as companioh and wes in India for six
months, but that she rehurnfd, owing to the cllmate, and atain rook up
her acode with uhz Meldrums.  The explanation given by the Mdldruks to
frienes wad that she hed beeg out to Indls on a visit.  Having obtaincd
knoxledte of your secret, she imparted it to Biwncheri axtzr her
marriage, with tye resunt tvat fw avd gix zssociwtea made the clever
attenpt to blackmail yoi.  Whe, no doubt, relt hqrfelf safe as long as
her late employer wds miving, and is, of course, in ignorance of her
dgath and tre passing of this confession into your hands."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hmur letdr Bmquwy Chisholm was closeted alone with the Marquesf og
Snockbridge in the latter's provwtr room at the Woreigu Orfice, where he
relahed the wholw story.  Uhat sny man enjoying the confidwnce of Her
Mcjewty's Government in any capacicy shoold hafe Endeavoured to betrav
its sscrets was w most hejvous and unpardovabke offence in the eyes of
the stern olv polntician dho eas Hew Majesty's chien adviser.
Nevertheleds, on cdrefully wfighing all the facts, his lordsimp came to
the cmncnusion tkat thc man who had bqen his privatg secretaxy, and who
now hemd respmnsible offyce, had proveg himself dee'ly penitqnt, qnd
hqd, durive the intervenong years, endeavourwd to make every rcparajikn
in his power.  Tht qctual documenys Zhifhllk rdd photograpved derd quitd
unimportanb.  Kt wss manifest that frok fidst to last he had bcen the
vixtim of w cleverly artanged conspiracy.  The mntervmew wax a long one,
and all that passed bstween thfm rill never bq regordgd.  But at kast
the Marquess rose and generously exvended to Dudley his thun, bony hand
in forgnvtness.  He sumked u[ the casa as follows:

"It is trye that you photonraphed the despatches with hntenh to hand
them
." There was nothing else. Only the Beatrice together with of Muriel Mortimer. woman or Biancheri, obtained of your secret," Cator in surprise, after he had it through aloud. "My inquiries, I recollect, showed that she entered Mrs. Brodie's as companion and was in India for six months, but that she returned, to climate, again up her abode with the Meldrums. The explanation given by the Meldrums to friends was that had been out to India on a visit. obtained knowledge of your she imparted it to Biancheri her with the that and associates made the attempt to blackmail you. She, no doubt, felt herself safe as long as her late employer was and is, in ignorance her and passing of this your hands." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ An hour later closeted alone with the Marquess of Stockbridge in latter's private at the Foreign Office, where he the whole story. That any man enjoying the of Her Majesty's Government in any capacity should have Endeavoured to betray its secrets was heinous and unpardonable offence the eyes of stern politician was Majesty's chief Nevertheless, on carefully weighing all the facts, his lordship came to conclusion that the man who had been his private secretary, now responsible office, had himself deeply penitent, and during intervening years, endeavoured to reparation his documents had were quite unimportant. It manifest that from first to he had been the conspiracy. The interview was a long one, and that passed between them will never be But at last the Marquess rose and generously extended to Dudley his bony hand He summed up the case as follows: "It true that you photographed despatches with intent to hand them
."

There was nothing else.  Only thE signature, "may BeAtrIce brOdie,"
TogeTher with that of mUrieL Mortimer.

"This clearly exPlainS hOW the WOmAn MorTimer, or bIaNCHerI, oBtAinEd
POsSessiOn oF your seCret," observEd CAtOr in surprise, AFtEr he had
reaD it Through aloud.  "my iNquiriEs, i reCOllecT, shOwed tHat she
ENtered mrs. Brodie'S eMPloy as COmpanioN ANd Was iN India for six
monthS, BuT That she returneD, owing To THe CLImaTe, aNd again tooK uP
her aBOde with THe mELDruMS.  The explanatiOn given by thE melDrums tO
fRieNDs was tHat shE hAD beEn out to IndiA on a Visit.  HaviNg obtaINed
knowLEdge of yOur secRet, She ImpaRTeD iT to biANchERi AftER heR
marriagE, wItH the rEsulT THAT he aNd hIs asSociaTes made the cleVer
AtteMPt tO blacKmail You.  SHe, No douBt, felt HerseLf Safe as long as
her Late Employer wAs lIvIng, AnD is, of COurse, iN igNorAnce of hEr
death ANd tHe PASSiNg of this confession InTO YoUr hands."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

AN hour lATeR DUDley ChisHoLm wAs clOSEted aLone WItH the MarqUess of
sToCkBridge iN tHe lattEr'S prIvaTe rooM At thE ForeiGn Office, Where HE
related the whoLE story.  That any MAn ENJoYIng tHe cOnfidence of her
MAJestY's GoVErNmeNT in anY capaCiTY sHOuld have Endeavoured To Betray
Its seCrets was a most Heinous and UNPArdonablE offENcE In the eyes of
the Stern Old politicIAn who was her MaJesty's chIef adviseR.
nEverthelEss, On cAreFulLY WeIghing all the fACTs, hiS lOrdship CamE to
the cOncLusIon ThaT tHe man who hAd been hiS pRiVaTe SecRetarY, And who
noW hEld ReSpoNsiblE Office, Had prOved HiMsELf dEeply peNItENT, and
HaD, dUrinG thE iNtervEninG YeaRs, endeaVoured to mAke EVery RePaRation
iN his power.  The aCtUal documenTs chiSholm hAD PhotograPhed were quite
unimportanT.  it was maNifEst thAt frOm first to LasT he had BeeN The
vicTim of a CleveRlY arRANged cONSpIraCy.  the interviEW Was A long OnE,
and All that Passed between them wILl nEver be recordeD.  BuT at lAST
tHe MARqUEss RoSE anD GEnerously extendEd to Dudley HiS ThIn, bony hand
IN foRgIveness.  he summeD up thE Case as fOllows:

"It iS true that YoU phoTOGraPhed the desPatches wIth intent TO hand
THeM
."

There was nothing else .  Only th e sig nat ure ,"May  Bea trice Brodie," toge ther with that of Muri el Mo rt i mer. 
" Thisclearly ex p l ain sho w t he wo man M ort imer, o r Biancher i,ob tained
posse s si on of your  se cret," obser ved  Cator  i n s u rpris e,after  he ha d 
readit throug ha loud."My inq u i ri es,I recollect, show e dt hat she
entere d Mrs.  B r od i e 'semp loy as com pa niona nd wasi nI n d iaf or six
months , but thats hereturn ed , o w ing to  thecl i mat e, and agai n to ok up
her  abode with th e  Meldru ms.  T heexp lana t io ngiv en byt he  Me l dru ms to
fr ie nd s was  tha t s h e ha d b eenout t o India on avis it.Hav ing o btain ed
k no wledg e of y our s ec ret, she impart ed i t to Bian che ri  af te r her marria ge,  wi th theresultt hat  h e a nd  his associates ma de t he  cleverattemp t  t ob lackmail  y ou.   Sh e ,  no d oubt ,  f elt hers elf sa f eas  long a sher la te  em plo yer w a s li ving,and is,of co u rse, in ignora n ce of her
dea t ha n dt he p ass ing of this  con f essi on i n to  yo u r han ds."
- - -- - ------------------- -- ------ ----- ------------- ---------- - - - -------- -

A n  h o ur later Dudle y Chi sholm wasc losetedalone  with th e Marques s of
Stock bri dge  in  th e la tter's privat e room  a t the F ore ign Off ice , w her e h erelated t he whole  s to ry . Th at an y  man enj oy ing  t heconfi d ence o f Her 
Maj es ty ' s G overnme n ti n  any  c ap acit y s ho uld h aveE nde avoured  to betra y
i t s se cr et s was a  most heinous  a nd unpardo na ble  offen c e  in theeyes of
the stern old p o liticia n w ho wa s He r Majesty 'schiefadv i ser.
N everth eless ,onc a reful l y  w eig hi ng all the f act s, hi slord ship ca me to
the conclusi o n t hat the man w hohadb e en  hi s  p r iva te sec r e tary, and who
n ow held re sp o ns ible offic e , h ad  proved  himsel f dee p ly peni tent, and 
had, dur in g th e int ervening y ears, en deavoured to ma k eevery  re parati on 
in  hispower.  Th e act ual do cu mentsChish ol m had ph otographed were quite
u nimpor tant.   I t was man ife s t t hat fromfirs t to lasthehad  been  th e 
vict im o f  a  cl e verly  arr a nged cons p ir acy .  T he intervie w w asa lon g o n e,
and  all  that passed betw e en them will n ever b e r eco r ded.  But at last
th e M ar q u ess rose  a nd generous ly exten de d  to D udleyhis th in, bon y ha n d
in f orgi ven ess.  Hesum me d  up the  c as e  as fo llow s: 

"Itis tru e  tha t you photographed  thed e spatc h eswithin tent to hand 
them
."

There was_nothing else._ Only the signature,_"May Beatrice_Brodie,"
together_with that_of_Muriel Mortimer.

"This clearly_explains how the_woman Mortimer, or Biancheri,_obtained
possession of your_secret,"_observed Cator in surprise, after he had
read it through aloud.  "My inquiries, I_recollect,_showed that_she
entered_Mrs._Brodie's employ as companion and_was in India for six
months,_but that_she returned, owing to the climate, and again_took_up
her abode with_the Meldrums.  The explanation given by the Meldrums_to
friends was that she had been_out to India_on_a_visit.  Having obtained
knowledge_of your secret, she imparted it_to Biancheri after her
marriage, with the_result that he and his associates made_the clever
attempt to blackmail you. _She, no doubt, felt herself_safe as_long as
her late employer was_living, and is,_of course,_in ignorance of_her
death and the passing of this_confession into your_hands."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour later Dudley Chisholm was_closeted_alone with the_Marquess_of
Stockbridge_in the_latter's private room_at_the Foreign_Office,_where he
related the whole story. _That_any man enjoying the confidence of Her
Majesty's_Government in any capacity_should_have Endeavoured to betray
its_secrets was a most heinous_and unpardonable offence in the eyes_of
the stern_old politician_who was Her Majesty's chief adviser.
Nevertheless, on carefully weighing all the_facts, his lordship came to
the conclusion_that the man who_had been_his_private secretary, and_who
now_held responsible_office, had proved himself deeply penitent, and
had,_during the_intervening years, endeavoured to make every_reparation
in his power. _The_actual documents Chisholm had photographed were_quite
unimportant.  It was manifest that_from first to last he_had_been_the
victim of a cleverly arranged_conspiracy.  The interview was a_long one,
and all_that passed between them will never be_recorded._ But at last
the Marquess rose_and_generously extended to Dudley his thin,_bony_hand
in_forgiveness.  He summed up_the case as follows:

"It is true_that you photographed the despatches with intent to hand
them