"Thereisnolackofthem，Iassureyou，"——Ireplied。
"Really！Adela，Mr。HowardtellsmetheyhavealbumsinAmerica！"
repeatedtheyoungladytoacharmingsister，nearher；whileonmyleftIhadthesatisfactionofhearingsomegratifyingremarksfromMr。T—————，astothestateofcivilizationinmynativecountry，asshownbysuchafact。
"Andwhatareyouralbumslike？"againinquiredmylovelyneighbor。
"NotlikeLadyHolberton’s，perhaps——butprettywellforayoungnation。"
"Ohdear——notlikeLadyHolberton’sofcourse——hersisquiteunique——
sofullofniceoddthings。ButareyouralbumsinAmericaatalllikeours？"
"Whyyes！wegetmostofthemfromParisandLondon。"
"Ohdear！howstrange——butdon’tyoulongtoseethisnewtreasureofLadyHolberton’s——thatdearniceletterofOtway’s，writtenwhilehewasstarving？"inquiredthecharmingEmily，helpingherselftoabitofpatedePerigord。
{patedePerigord=anexpensiveFrenchdelicacy：gooseliverpatewithtruffles。}
"Yes，Iamexceedinglycurioustoseeit。"
"Youdon’tbelieveitwaswrittenbythatcoarse，vulgarButler，doyou？"
"No，indeed，——itisthepatheticOtway’s，beyondadoubt！"
Myneighbor，theButlerite，gaveacontemptuousshrug，butIpaidhimnoattention，preferringtocoincidewiththesofteyesonmyright，ratherthandisputewiththelearnedspectaclestotheleft。
Afterdinnerwhenwehaddonefulljusticetothebilloffare，concludingwithpines，grapes，andNewtownpippins，wewereallgratifiedwithasightofthepoorpoet’sletter，bywayofbonnebouche。AlittlevolumewrittenbyLadyHolberton——printedbutnotpublished——relatingitspasthistoryfromthedateofitsdiscoveryinthelibraryofLordG—————，hergrandfather，tothepresentday，passedfromhandtohand，andthisreviewofitsvariousadventuresofcourseonlyaddedforcetothecongratulationsofferedupontheacquisitionofthiscelebratedautograph。
{pine=pineapple。Newtownpippin=agreen，tart，tangyAmericanapple，originallyfromLongIsland，afavoriteofGeorgeWashingtonandThomasJefferson；bonnebouche=atastymorsel（French）}
Whilethecompanyweresucceedingeachotherinofferingtheirhomagetothegreatalbum，myattentionwascalledoffbyatapontheshoulderfromafriend，whoinformedmethatMissRowley，averyclever，handsomewomanofacertainage，hadexpressedawishtomakemyacquaintance。Iwasonlytoohappytobepresented。
Afteraverygraciousreception，andaninvitationtoapartyforthefollowingevening，MissRowleyobserved：
"YouhaveAutographs，inAmerica，Iunderstand，Mr。Howard。"
"Bothautographsandcollectors，"Ireplied。
"Really！Perhapsyouareacollectoryourself？"continuedthelady，withanindescribableexpression，halfinterest，halfdisappointment。
"No——merelyahumbleadmirerofthelaborsofothers。"
"Then，"addedthelady，moreblandly，"perhapsyouwillbegood—
naturedenoughtoassistme。"
And，afterasuspiciousglancetowardthespotwhereLadyHolbertonandMr。T—————wereconversingtogether，sheadroitlyplacedherselfinapositiontogivetoourconversationtheprivacyofadiplomatictete—a—tete。
"CouldyoupossiblyprocuremesomeAmericanautographsformycollection？IfindafewwantingundertheAmericanhead——perhapsahundredortwo。"
Iprofessedmyselfreadytodoanythinginmypowerinsogoodacause。
"Hereismylist；Igenerallycarryitaboutme。Youwillseethosethatarewanting，andverypossiblymaysuggestothers。"
Andastheladyspokeshedrewfromherpocketarollofpaperaslong，andaswellcoveredwithnamesasanyminoritypetitiontoCongress。However，Ihadlivedtoomuchamongcollectorsoflatetobeeasilydismayed。ThelistwasheadedbyBlackHawk。Iexpressedmyfearsthatthegallantwarrior’signoranceoflettersmightproveanobstacletoobtaininganythingfromhispen。Ivolunteeredhowevertoprocureinstead，somethingfromaCherokeefriendofmine，theeditorofanewspaper。
{BlackHawk=BlackHawk（1767—1838），anAmericanIndian（Sac）
chieftain，defeatedbytheU。S。Armyin1832，whose"Autobiography"
（1833）becameanAmericanclassic。}
"Howcharming！"exclaimedMissRowley，claspingherhands。"Howveryobligingofyou，Mr。Howard。Areyoufondofshooting？Mybrother’spreservesareinfineorder——orperhapsyouarepartialtoyachting——"
Bowingmythanksfortheseamiablehints，IcarelesslyobservedthattheletteroftheCherokeeeditorwasnosacrificeatall，forthechiefandmyselfwereregularcorrespondents；Ihadadozenofhisletters，andhadjustgivenonetoMr。T—————。ThisintelligenceevidentlylessenedMissRowley’sexcessivegratitude。Shecontinuedherapplications，however，castinganeyeonherlist。
"Perhapsyoucorrespondalsowithsomerowdies，Mr。Howard？Couldyouobligemewitharowdyletter？"
{rowdies=inthemid—nineteenthcentury，anAmericanslangtermforbackwoodsmenorotherroughanddisorderlytypes}
Idrewupalittleatthisrequest；mycorrespondents，Iassuredthelady，weregenerallymenofrespectability，thoughoneofthemwasofasavagerace。
"Nodoubt；butinthewayofautographs，youknow，onewouldcorrespondwith——"
Thesentenceremainedunfinished，fortheladyadded，"IwrotemyselftoMadameLaffarge，notlongsince。IamsorrytosayLadyHolbertonhastwoofhers；butalthoughanexcellentpersoninmostrespects，yetitcannotbedeniedthatasregardsautographs，LadyHolbertonisveryilliberal。IofferedherGrizzelBaillie，twoCardinals，WilliamPitt，andGraceDarling，foroneofherLaffarges；butshewouldnotpartwithit。Yettheexchangewasveryfair，especiallyasMadameLaffargeisstillliving。"
{MadameLaffarge=MarieLafarge（1816—1853），Frenchwomanconvictedin1840forpoisoningherhusband；laterpardoned。GrizzelBaillie=LadyGrizelBaillie（1665—1746），Scottishpoet。WilliamPitt=eitherWilliamPitt"theElder"（1708—1778）orWilliamPitt"theYounger"（1759—1806），bothBritishPrimeMinisters。GraceDarling=
GraceDarling（1815—1842），Englishheroineandlighthousekeeper’sdaughter，famousforherrescueofcastawaysin1838。}
Ibowedanassenttotheremark。
"AndthensheherselfactuallyoncemadeproposalsforSchinderhannes，toafriendofmine，offeringHoward，thephilanthropist，Talma，WilliamPenn，andFenelonforhim——allcommonplaceenough，youknow——andSchinderhannesquiteunique。
Myfriendwasindignant！"
{Schinderhannes=Germanbanditchief，executedin1803。Howard=
JohnHoward（1726—1790），Englishphilanthropistandprisonreformer。
Talma=FrancoisTalma（1763—1826），popularFrenchplaywright。
WilliamPenn（1644—1718），QuakerfounderofPennsylvania。Fenelon=FrancoisFenelon（1651—1715），FrenchArchbishopandwriter}
IventuredtoexcuseLadyHolbertonbysuggestingthatprobablyatthetimeherstockofnotabilitieswaslow。
MissRowleyshookherhead，andcurledherlip，asifshefanciedtheladyhadonlybeenseekingtodriveahardbargain。
"Ononepoint，however，Ihavecarriedtheday，Mr。Howard。LadyHolbertonisnotalittleproudofherVidocq；butIhaveobtainedonefarsuperiortohers，oneaddressedtomyselfsopiquantandgallanttoo。Icalledonthedearoldburglaronpurposetocoaxhimintowritingmeanote。"
{Vidocq=FrancoisVidocq（1775—1857），Frenchpolicedetectivewhoturnedrobber，andwasexposedin1832。}
Iwondered，inpetto，whetherIshouldmeetanyillustriousconvictsatMissRowley’spartythenextevening；butrememberingtohaveheardhercalledanexclusive，itdidnotseemveryprobable。
{inpetto=silently，tooneself（Latin）}
Afterrunninghereyeoverthelistagain，MissRowleymadeanotherinquiry。
"Mr。Howard，couldyougetmesomethingfromanAmericanColonel？"
Iassuredtheladywehadcolonelsofallsorts，andbeggedtoknowwhatparticularvarietyshehadplacedonhercatalogue——wasitanofficeroftheregularservice，oroneofnoserviceatall？
"Oh，thelast，certainly——officerswhohaveseenservicearesocommonplace！"
MyownpenwasimmediatelyplacedatMissRowley’sdisposal，asmyswordwouldhavebeen，hadIownedone。AsIhadbeencalledcolonelahundredtimeswithouthavingcommandedaregimentonce，myownnamewasasgoodasanyotheronthepresentoccasion。
"Youareveryobliging。Sinceyouaresogood，mayIalsotroubleyoutoprocuremealinefromaveryremarkablepersonageofyourcountry——averydistinguishedman——hehasbeenPresident，orSpeakeroftheSenate，orsomethingofthatsort。"
TowhichofourheadmendidMissRowleyallude？
"HeiscalledUncleSam，Ibelieve。"
{UncleSam="UncleSam"becameapopularpersonificationoftheUnitedStatesduringtheWarof1812，replacingBrotherJonathan，andwasoftenusedincontradistinctiontotheBritish"JohnBull"}
Thiswasnotsoeasyatask，forthoughwehavethousandsofcolonels，thereisbutoneUncleSamintheworld。Onhearingthatsuchwasthecase，MissRowley’sanxietyonthesubjectincreasedimmeasurably；butIassuredhertheoldgentlemanonlyputhisnametotreaties，andtariffs；andalthoughhissonswerewonderfullygallant，yethehimselfhadnevercondescendedtonoticeanywomanbutaqueenregnant：andIfurtherendeavoredtogivesomeideaofhisidentity。MissRowleystoppedmeshort，however。
"Onlyprocuremeonelinefromhim，Mr。Howard，andIshallbeindebtedtoyouforlife。ItwillbetimeenoughtofindoutallabouthimwhenIoncehavehisname——thatistheessentialthing。"
Ishrunkfromcommittingmyself，however；declaringthatIwouldassoonengagetoprocureabillet—douxfromPresterJohn。
{PresterJohn=MythicalrulerbelievedintheMiddleAgestoheadapowerfulChristianKingdomsomewhereinAsia；lateridentifiedwiththeChristianKingsofEthiopiainAfrica}
"PresterJohn！Thatwould，indeed，bequiteinvaluable！"
ThisAsiaticdiversionwasahappyone，andcameveryapropos，foritcarriedMissRowleyintoChina；sheinquiredifIhadanyChineseconnections。
"Thoughaltogether，IamprettywellsatisfiedwithmyChinesenegotiations；assoonastheCelestialEmpirewasopenedtothecivilizedworld，Iengagedanagenttheretocollectforme。But，couldyouputmeonthetrackofaConfucius？"
{openedtothecivilizedworld=followingtheso—calledOpiumWar，Britainhadin1842forcedChinatoopentradewithher}
Iwasobligedtoadmitmyinabilitytodoso；andatthesamemomentthecollectinginstinctsofLadyHolbertonandMr。T—————，drewtheirattentiontothecornerwhereMissRowleyandmyselfwereconversing；astheymovedtowardus，MissRowleypocketedherlist，throwingherselfuponmyhonornottobetraythedeficienciesinherroled’equipage，orthecollectingnegociationsjustopenedbetweenus。LadyHolberton，assheadvanced，invitedMissRowley，withanill—concealedairoftriumph，tofeasthereyesoncemoreontheLumleyautograph，andnotlongafterthepartybrokeup。
{roled’equipage=musterroll（French）；here，MissRowley’slistofherautographs}
Thenextday，inpassingHolberton—House，Iobservedthechariotofafashionablephysicianbeforethedoor；andatMissRowley’spartyintheeveninglearnedfromMr。T—————thatLadyHolbertonwasquiteunwell。ThefollowingmorningIcalledtoinquire，andreceivedforanswerthat"herladyshipwasverymuchindisposed。"ItwasnotuntilaweeklaterthatIsawLadyHolbertonherself，takingtheairinHydePark。Shelookedwretchedly——thinandpale。IinquiredfromtheEnglishfriendwithwhomIwasriding，iftherewasanyprobabilityofachangeofministry？Helookedsurprised；andthencatchingthedirectionofmyeye，heobserved，"YouaskonLadyHolberton’saccount；butSirA—————B—————tellsmeherillnesswascausedbythelossoftheLumleyAutograph。"
Thisunexpectedintelligenceprovedonlytootrue。Onreturningtomylodgings，IfoundanotefromLadyHolberton，requestingtoseeme，and，ofcourse，immediatelyobeyedthesummons。
"Lost！——lost！——lost！Mr。Howard！"saidthelady，endeavoringtoconcealheremotion，asshegavemethedetailsofheraffliction。
"Itmusthavebeenstolen——baselystolen——ontheeveningofmyparty。Oh！whydidIsofoolishlyexhibititamongsomanypeople，andcollectorsamongthem，too！NeveragainwillIadmitmorethanonecollectoratatimeintotheroomwithmyalbum！"sheexclaimedwithenergy。
Iwasshocked；surelyLadyHolbertondidnotconceiveitpossiblethatanyofherguestscouldbeguiltyofsuchbaseconduct？
"Howlittleyouknowthem！Butitisthat，Mr。Howard，whichhasinterestedmeinyourfavor——youhavesomuchnaivete，andignoranceofthemoralturpitudeoftheoldworld，thatIfeelconvincedyounevercouldbeguiltyofsuchanactionyourself。"
IassuredLadyHolbertonthatinthisrespectsheonlydidmejustice；
and，infact，atheftofthekindshealludedtoappearedtomeallbutincredible。
"Rememberthatitwasonlytheotherdaythat—————losthisinvaluablealbum；rememberthatlastwinterMadamede—————hadallhernotesonbotanicalsubjectsstolenfromherownportfolio——andI
couldmentionadozeninstancesofthesamewickedness。"
Thesefactswerealreadyknowntome，butIhadforgottenthem。I
remarkedwithaglowofnationalpride，thatwecertainlyweremuchmorevirtuousinthesemattersacrosstheocean；inAmericawearemuchabovepilferingautographs；whenwedosteal，itisbythevolume——weseizeallanauthor’sstockintradeatoneswoop，andwithoutcondescendingtosayeven，thankye，forit。
{author’sstockintrade=thoughostensiblyreferringtothestealingofautographs，SusanFenimoreCooperisalsoclearlyreferringtothewidespreadpiratingofBritishandotherforeignliteraryworksbyAmericanpublishers，intheabsenceofinternationalcopyrightlaws——
whichnotonlycheatedtheauthors，butmadelifedifficultforAmericanauthorsexpectingtobepaidfortheircreations}
"SoIhavealwaysunderstood，Mr。Howard——andIfeltthatmyalbumwassafewithyou，"observedLadyHolberton，withtearsinhereyes。
Wishingtorelievethisdistress，Iproposedadvertisingforthelosttreasure——applyingtothepolice。
LadyHolbertonsmiledthroughhertears，assheassuredmethatthepolice，oldandnew，hadbeenenlistedinherserviceanhourafterthediscoveryofherloss，whilecommunicationshadbeenopenedwiththemunicipalgovernmentsofBrussels，Paris，andVienna，onthesamesubject。
{police，oldandnew=thefirstmodernEnglishpoliceforcehadbeenestablishedin1829bySirRobertPeel——fromwhichtheBritishnicknameof"bobby"forpoliceman。}
"Andhaveyounoclue，nosuspicions？——yourservants——yourmaid？"
Theaspersiononherhouseholdwasindignantlyrepelled。
"Youwillreadilybelieve，Mr。Howard，thatacollector，theownerofsuchanalbumasIhavethehonorofpossessing，isparticularlycarefulastowhomsheadmitsintoherfamily。Iwillvouchforallaboutme；stillIhavesuspicions——but——"
Ibeggedhertospeak，ifshethoughtIcouldbeoftheleastassistance。
"Yes，Iwilltrustmyson’sfriend。Mr。Howard，IheresolemnlyaccuseTheodosiaRowleyofhavingstolentheLumleyAutograph！"
Thedignityofmanner，theconcentratedpassionofexpression，thestrengthofemphasiswithwhichLadyHolbertonspoke，wouldhavedonehonortoaSiddons。Thenaturalstartofhorrorandamazementonmypart，wasalso，nodoubt，veryexpressive——forIwasspeechlesswithsurprise。
"Iseeyoudonotcreditthis，"continuedthelady。
Butthought，likeaflashoflightning，hadalreadyrecalledsomecircumstancesofthelasteveningatHolberton—House。Ididcredittheaccusation，andimmediatelyinformedLadyHolbertonofwhatI
hadobserved，butforgotten，untilremindedofthefactsbyherownremarks。IhadseenMissRowley，bendinglowoverthealbumatamomentwhensomeonewastellinganexceedinglyhumorousstorywhichengrossedtheattentionoftherestofthecompany。
"Couldshehavehadanaccomplice？"criedthelady，withdashingeyes。
Iknewnothingonthatpoint。But，Iadded，thatsoonafterMissRowleyhadlefttheroomveryquietly；andasIfollowedhertofulfillanotherengagement，shehadstarted，turnedpale，andbetrayedmuchnervousness，scarcelyallowingmetoassisthertohercarriage，althoughweleftthehouseatthesameinstant。
LadyHolberton’ssuspicionswerenowconfirmedbeyondadoubt。
"Andyetitseemsincrediblethatanyladyshouldbeguiltyofsuchconduct！"Iexclaimed，almostrepentinghavingallowedthepreviousremarkstopassmylips。"MissRowleyisundoubtedlyawomanofprinciple——orgoodmoralstanding。"
"Moralstanding！——principle！"exclaimedLadyHolberton，bitterly。"Yes，whereanautographisconcerned，TheodosiaRowleyhasalltheprincipleofaMagpie"
{Magpie=Europeanbirdknownforstealingandhidingsmallbrightobjects。}
Whatevermighthavebeenthefact，itwasclearatleastthatLadyHolberton’sopinionwasnowunalterablymadeup。
"Remember，sheisaButlerite！"addedthelady，thusputtingthelasttouchtothecircumstantialevidenceagainstMissRowley。
Weekspassedby。Theadvertisementsremainedunanswered。Thepolicecouldgivenoinformation。LadyHolbertonwasindespair；thephysiciansdeclaredthatherhealthmusteventuallygivewayundertheanxietyanddisappointmentconsequentuponthismelancholyaffair。Muchsympathywasfeltfortheafflictedlady；evenMissRowleycalledoftentocondole，butshewasneveradmitted。
"Icouldnotseethecrocodile！"exclaimedLadyHolberton，quitethrownoffherguardoneday，bythesightofMissRowley’scardwhichshethrewintothefire。
Someconsolation，however，appearedtobederivedfromtheassiduousattentionsofMr。T—————，whopersonallyadmiredLadyHolberton；atleastheprofessedtodoso，thoughsomepersonsaccusedhimofinterestedviews，andaimingatheralbumratherthanherself。Butalthoughhisattentionswerereceived，yetnothingcouldaffordfullconsolation。Atlength，allothermeansfailing，attheendofamonth，itwasproposedthattwopersons，mutualfriendsofLadyHolbertonandMissRowley，shouldcallonthelatterlady，andappealprivatelytohersenseofhonor，torestoretheautographifitwereactuallyinherpossession。Thisplanwasfinallyagreedon；buttheverydayitwastohavebeencarriedintoexecution，MissRowleylefttownforanexcursioninFinland。
Asformyself，Iwasalsoonthewing，andleftLondonaboutthesametime。ThepartingwithLadyHolbertonwasmelancholy；shewasmuchdepressed，andthephysicianshadrecommendedthewatersofWiesbaden。Mr。T—————wasalsopreparingforanexcursiontoGermany；andhewassuspectedofvascillating{sic}inhisButleriteviews，broughtoverbyLadyHolberton’stearsandlogic。
ReturningtoLondon，somethreemonthslater，Ifoundmanyofmyformeracquaintainces{sic}wereabsent；butLadyHolberton，MissRowley，andMr。T—————wereallintownagain。ThedayafterIarrived—
—itwasTuesdaythe20thofAugust——asIwaswalkingalongPiccadilly，aboutfiveo’clockintheafternoon，myeyefellonthewindowsofMr。Thorpe’sgreatestablishment。Iwasthinkingoverhislastcatalogueofautographs，whenIhappenedtoobserveaplain，modest—lookingyounggirlcastingatimidglanceatthedoor。Therewassomethinganxiousandhesitatinginhermanner，whichattractedmyattention。Accustomed，likemostAmericans，toassistawomaninanylittledifficulty，andwithnotionsbettersuitedperhapstothemeridianofYankee—landthanthatofLondon，Iaskedifshewereinanytrouble。HowrichlywasIrewardedfortheactofgood—
nature！Sheblushedandcourtesied{sic}。
{Tuesday，20thofAugust=doesthisdatethefinalcompositionof"TheLumleyAutograph"orofitssetting？August20fellonaTuesdayin1844and1850}
"Please，sir，isittruethattheypaymoneyforoldlettersatthisplace？"
"Theydo——haveyouanythingofthekindtodisposeof？"
Judgeofmygratification，myamazement，whensheproducedtheLumleyAutograph！
OfcourseIinstantlytookit，atherownprice——onlyhalfaguinea——
andIfurthergaveherLadyHolberton’saddress，thatshemightclaimtheliberalrewardpromisedfarthepreciousletter。Tearscameintothepoorchild’seyeswhenshefoundwhatawaitedher，andI
mayaswellobserveatoncethatthisyounggirlprovedtobethedaughterofapoorbed—riddenartisanofClapham，whohadseenbetterdays，butwastheningreatwant。Itisanill—windthatblowsnogoodluck，andthecontestfortheLumleyAutographwasagreatadvantagetothepoorartisanandhisfamily。Thegirlhadpickedupthepaperearlyonemorning，inaroadnearClapham，asshewasgoingtoherwork；LadyHolbertongaveherahandfulofguineasasthepromisedreward——asumbythebyejustdoubleinamountwhatthepoorpoethadreceivedforhisbestpoem——andshealsocontinuedtolookafterthefamilyintheirtroubles。
Buttoreturntotheimportantdocumentitself。NevercanIforgettheexpressivegratitudethatbeamedonthefinecountenanceofLadyHolbertonwhenIrestoreditoncemoretoherpossession。Sherapidlyrecoveredherhealthandspirits，anditwasgenerallyreportedthatseizingthisfavorablemoment，Mr。T—————hadofferedhimselfandhiscollection，andthatbothhadbeengraciouslyaccepted。MissRowleycalledandasortofpaixplatreewasmadeupbetweentheladies。AcargoofAmericanautographsarrivedcontainingtheletteroftheCherokeeeditor，thesign—manualofgovernorsandcolonelswithoutnumber，andIevensucceededinobtainingepistlesfromseveralnotedrowdies，especiallytogratifytheladies。LadyHolbertonmadeherselection，andtherestweredividedbetweenMissRowleyandMr。T—————。JoyattherecoveryoftheLumleyAutographseemedtodiffuseanunusualspiritofharmonyamongcollectors；manydesirableexchangeswerebroughtaboutandthingslookedcharmingly。Alas，howlittlewerewepreparedforwhatensued！
{paixplatree=patched—uppeace（French）}
OntheoccasionofthepresenceinLondonoftwoillustriousroyaltravelers，LadyHolbertongavealargeparty。Sosaidthepapersatleast；butIknewbetter。ItwaschieflytocelebratetherecoveryoftheLumleyAutograph，anditsrestorationtohercelebratedAlbumthatthefetewasgiven。TheAlbumwasproduced，inspiteofahalf—
formedvowofLadyHolbertontothecontrary，butthenHisRoyalHighnessPrince——————————hadparticularlyrequestedtoseetheletterofthepoorpoet，havinghearditmentionedatdinner。Theeveningpassedoffbrilliantly，theirroyalhighnesses，came，saw，anddeparted。Thecrowdfollowedthemtoanotherhouse，whileafavoredfew，chieflycollectors，remainedlingeringaboutthetableonwhichlaytheAlbum。Ishouldhavesaidearlier，thatLadyHolbertonhadappointedanewofficeinherhouseholdtheverydayafterthelossoftheLumleyAutograph；thiswasnootherthanaprettylittlepage，dressedintheoldcostumeofastudentofPadua，whosesoledutyitwastowatchovertheAlbumwheneveritwasremovedfromtherichandheavycaseinwhichitusuallylayenshrined。HewastheguardoftheAlbum，andwasstrictlyenjoinednever，foroneinstant，toremovehiseyesfromthepreciousvolumefromthemomenthewasplacedonduty，untilrelieved。
Well，therewewere，somedozenofus，collectedaboutthetable；
LadyHolbertonlookingtriumphant，Mr。T—————veryproud；andtherestoodthepageoftheAlbum，dressedinhisPaduasoygown，witheyesfastenedonthebook，accordingtoorders，whilehesupporteditsgorgeouscaseinhisarms。SomeremarkwasmadeastotheextraordinarymannerinwhichthepreciousAutographhadbeenlost，andthenfoundagain。Mybloodactuallyboiled，asoneofthecompanyturnedtomeandaskedinasuspicioustone，ifIdidnotknowmoreofitshistorythanIchosetoconfess？Myindignationwasboundless；fortunatelyIcouldproducethefriendwalkingwithmeinPiccadilly，andtheartisan’sfamilyatClapham，aswitnessesinmyfavor。MissRowleywasstandingnearmeatthemoment。
{Paduasoy=astrongcordedorgros—grainsilkfabric，traditionallyassociatedwithPadua，Italy}
"Still，Mr。Howard，"observedthatlady；"Ireallycannotseewhyyoushouldresenttheinsinuationsowarmly。Now，doyouknow，IamnotatallsorrytohaveitinmypowertodeclarethatIhavesomeknowledgeofthefateofthatpaperduringitseclipse。"
Alleyeswereinstantlyfixedonthespeaker。Theladysmiledandcontinued：
"LadyHolbertonthinkstheLumleyAutographwasstolen——I
understandsheeventhoughtitwasstolenbymyself——"
Shehereturneddeliberatelytowardourhostess，wholookeduneasy。
"Ifsuchwereyoursuspicions，LadyHolberton，"continuedMissRowley，speakingwithgreatdeliberation——"Iamhappytosaytheywerequitecorrect——youonlydidmejustice——Iamproudtodeclarethedeedwasmine——"
Wewereallspeechlessathearingthissuddenandboldavowal。
"ItwasI，TheodosiaRowley，whocarriedoff——thewordisoflittleconsequence——whostole，Irepeat，thatpreciouspaper。Solongasthetreasurewasmine，theconsciousnessofpossessingitwassufficientinitself——buthavingafterwardlostitfrommypocketbyunpardonablecarelessness，Ishallatleastnowgloryinthedaringdeedwhichmadeitoncemyown。"
Conceivetheamazementwhichtheseremarks——deliveredwithcalmenthusiasm——producedamongthelisteningcircle。Weallknowthathighcrimesandmisdemeanorsenougharecommittedbymen，andwomentoo；butsomehoworotherthedelinquentsarenotoftengiventotalkingofthem；theywouldjustasliefingeneralthattheactshouldnotbeknown。TheeffectofMissRowley’swordswasdifferentondifferentindividuals。Asformyself，Iinvoluntarilyfeltforthehandkerchiefinmypocket。Thepageofthealbumdrewnearer。
LadyHolbertonlookedaghast，asthoughshehadseenacannibal。
Somebittheirlips；othersopenedtheireyes。Mr。T—————，however，whoheldthealbumatthemoment，andwasbendingoveritwhenMissRowleybeganherextraordinarydisclosure，raisedhiseyes，fixedhisglassesonthefairspeaker，andsentthroughthemsuchaglanceasnowordscanfullydescribe。Itwasaglanceofintenseadmiration。
"Whatexaltedviews！Whatsublimesentiments！"heexclaimedinanecstasy。
ButMr。T—————’sblazeofadmirationwasnottheonlyflameatwork，whilehewasgazingattheheroineofthemoment。Inthesuddenburstofenthusiasmrousedbythefairpurloiner，heforgotallelse；
thepreciousvolumeinhishanddrooped，touchedtheflameofawax—lightonthetable，andinanotherinstantthegreatHolbertonAlbum，thatAlbumofEuropeanreputation——wasburningbeforeoureyes——itsinvaluableleaveswerecurling，andblackening，andsmokingunderthedevouringflame！
AshriekfromLadyHolberton——anunearthlycryfromthepageoftheAlbum——bothechoedbythespectators，cametoolate。Thevolumewashalfconsumed。OftheLumleyAutographnotalineremained！
Suchwastheill—fatedendoftheletterofthepoorstarvingpoet。Itwaswrittenamidgloomanddistress；itscareerclosedinastormyhour。ThelossoftheAlbumofcoursebrokeofftheengagementbetweenLadyHolbertonandMr。T—————。Thishowevercouldscarcelyhavebeenregrettedunderthecircumstances，fortheirunion，afterthecatastrophemusthavebeenonelongseriesofmiserablereproaches。ThesuddenchangeinMr。T—————’sfeelingstowardMissRowleywasnotamomentaryone；theadmirationfirstkindledbythatlady’sbolddeclaration，grewtobethestrongestsentimentofhisheart，andonlyafewweekslaterhewasmadethehappiestofmenbyreceivingashisownthefairhandwhichaccomplishedthedeed。MissRowleyandMr。T—————wereunitedinthebandsofmatrimonyandcollectorship。LadyHolbertonwasstillinconsolablewhenIleftLondon；shewasthinkingoftravelingamongtheHottentots，orinanyotherclimewherealbumsareunknownandherlosscouldbeforgotten。ThejourneytoKaffirlandwashoweverpostponeduntilthenextchangeofministry，andIhavelearnedrecentlythattheladyhassofarrecoveredherspiritsastobethinkingofan’Omnibus。’Theverylastpacket，indeed，broughtaflatteringapplicationtomyself；LadyHolbertongraciouslydeclaringthatthenameofJonathanHowardisnotonlyvaluedbyherself，asthatofafriend，butinterestingtocollectorsgenerally，ashavingbeenonceconnectedwiththatmuchlamenteddocument，nowlosttotheworld，theletterofthepoorstarvingpoet，knownastheLumleyAutograph。
{"Omnibus"=inthiscontext，an"omnibusbill"（i。e。，onedealingwithavarietyofsubject）inParliament}