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Hyde Park。 She looked wretchedlythin and pale。 I inquired from the
English friend with whom I was riding； if there was any probability of
a change of ministry？ He looked surprised； and then catching the
direction of my eye； he observed；
〃You ask on Lady Holberton's account； but Sir A… B… tells me
her illness was caused by the loss of the Lumley Autograph。〃
This unexpected intelligence proved only too true。 On returning to my
lodgings； I found a note from Lady Holberton； requesting to see me；
and； of course； immediately obeyed the summons。
〃Lost！lost！lost！ Mr。 Howard！〃 said the lady； endeavoring to conceal
her emotion； as she gave me the details of her affliction。
〃It must have been stolenbasely stolenon the evening of my
party。 Oh！ why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people；
and collectors among them； too！ Never again will I admit more than
one collector at a time into the room with my album！〃 she exclaimed
with energy。
I was shocked； surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible
that any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct？
〃How little you know them！ But it is that； Mr。 Howard； which has
interested me in your favoryou have so much naivete； and
ignorance of the moral turpitude of the old world； that I feel
convinced you never could be guilty of such an action yourself。〃
I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice；
and； in fact； a theft of the kind she alluded to appeared to me all but
incredible。
〃Remember that it was only the other day that … lost his
invaluable album； remember that last winter Madame de … had all
her notes on botanical subjects stolen from her own portfolioand I
could mention a dozen instances of the same wickedness。〃
These facts were already known to me； but I had forgotten them。 I
remarked with a glow of national pride； that we certainly were much
more virtuous in these matters across the ocean； in America we are
much above pilfering autographs； when we do steal； it is by the
volumewe seize all an author's stock in trade at one swoop； and
without condescending to say even； thank ye； for it。
｛author's stock in trade = though ostensibly referring to the stealing
of autographs； Susan Fenimore Cooper is also clearly referring to the
widespread pirating of British and other foreign literary works by
American publishers； in the absence of international copyright laws
which not only cheated the authors； but made life difficult for
American authors expecting to be paid for their creations｝
〃So I have always understood； Mr。 Howardand I felt that my album
was safe with you；〃 observed Lady Holberton； with tears in her eyes。
Wishing to relieve this distress； I proposed advertising for the lost
treasureapplying to the police。
Lady Holberton smiled through her tears； as she assured me that the
police； old and new； had been enlisted in her service an hour after
the discovery of her loss； while communications had been opened
with the municipal governments of Brussels； Paris； and Vienna； on
the same subject。
｛police； old and new = the first modern English police force had been
established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel from which the British
nickname of 〃bobby〃 for policeman。｝
〃And have you no clue； no suspicions？your servantsyour maid？〃
The aspersion on her household was indignantly repelled。
〃You will readily believe； Mr。 Howard； that a collector； the owner of
such an album as I have the honor of possessing； is particularly
careful as to whom she admits into her family。 I will vouch for all
about me； still I have suspicionsbut〃
I begged her to speak； if she thought I could be of the least
assistance。
〃Yes； I will trust my son's friend。 Mr。 Howard； I here solemnly accuse
Theodosia Rowley of having stolen the Lumley Autograph！〃
The dignity of manner； the concentrated passion of expression； the
strength of emphasis with which Lady Holberton spoke； would have
done honor to a Siddons。 The natural start of horror and amazement
on my part； was also； no doubt； very expressivefor I was
speechless with surprise。
〃I see you do not credit this；〃 continued the lady。
But thought； like a flash of lightning； had already recalled some
circumstances of the last evening at Holberton…House。 I did credit
the accusation； and immediately informed Lady Holberton of what I
had observed； but forgotten； until reminded of the facts by her own
remarks。 I had seen Miss Rowley； bending low over the album at a
moment when some one was telling an exceedingly humorous story
which engrossed the attention of the rest of the company。
〃Could she have had an accomplice？〃 cried the lady； with dashing
eyes。
I knew nothing on that point。 But； I added； that soon after Miss
Rowley had left the room very quietly； and as I followed her to fulfill
another engagement； she had started； turned pale； and betrayed
much nervousness； scarcely allowing me to assist her to her carriage；
although we left the house at the same instant。
Lady Holberton's suspicions were now confirmed beyond a doubt。
〃And yet it seems incredible that any lady should be guilty of such
conduct！〃 I exclaimed； almost repenting having allowed the previous
remarks to pass my lips。 〃Miss Rowley is undoubtedly a woman of
principleor good moral standing。〃
〃Moral standing！principle！〃 exclaimed Lady Holberton； bitterly。 〃Yes；
where an autograph is concerned； Theodosia Rowley has all the
principle of a Magpie 〃
｛Magpie = European bird known for stealing and hiding small bright
objects。｝
Whatever might have been the fact； it was clear at least that Lady
Holberton's opinion was now unalterably made up。
〃Remember； she is a Butlerite！〃 added the lady； thus putting the last
touch to the circumstantial evidence against Miss Rowley。
Weeks passed by。 The advertisements remained unanswered。 The
police could give no information。 Lady Holberton was in despair； the
physicians declared that her health must eventually give way under
the anxiety and disappointment consequent upon this melancholy
affair。 Much sympathy was felt for the afflicted lady； even Miss
Rowley called often to condole； but she was never admitted。
〃I could not see the crocodile！〃 exclaimed Lady Holberton； quite
thrown off her guard one day； by the sight of Miss Rowley's card
which she threw into the fire。
Some consolation； however； appeared to be derived from the
assiduous attentions of Mr。 T…； who personally admired Lady
Holberton； at least he professed to do so； though some persons
accused him of interested views； and aiming at her album rather
than herself。 But although his attentions were received； yet nothing
could afford full consolation。 At length； all other means failing； at
the end of a month； it was proposed that two persons； mutual
friends of Lady Holberton and Miss Rowley； should call on the latter
lady； and appeal privately to her sense of honor； to restore the
autograph if it were actually in her possession。 This plan was finally
agreed on； but the very day it was to have been carried into
execution； Miss Rowley left town for an excursion in Finland。
As for myself； I was also on the wing； and left London about the
same time。 The parting with Lady Holberton was melancholy； she
was much depressed； and the physicians had recommended the
waters of Wiesbaden。 Mr。 T… was also preparing for an excursion
to Germany； and he was suspected of vascillating ｛sic｝ in his
Butlerite views； brought over by Lady Holberton's tears and logic。
Returning to London； some three months later； I found many of my
former acquaintainces ｛sic｝ were absent； but Lady Holberton； Miss
Rowley； and Mr。 T… were all in town again。 The day after I arrived…
…it was Tuesday the 20th of Augustas I was walking along
Piccadilly； about five o'clock in the afternoon； my eye fell on the
windows of Mr。 Thorpe's great establishment。 I was thinking over his
last catalogue of autographs； when I happened to observe a plain；
modest…looking young girl casting a timid glance at the door。 There
was something anxious and hesitating in her manner； which
attracted my attention。 Accustomed； like most Americans； to assist a
woman in any little difficulty； and with notions better suited perhaps
to the meridian of Yankee…land than that of London； I asked if she
were in any trouble。 How richly was I rewarded for the act of good…
nature！ She blushed and courtesied ｛sic｝。
｛Tuesday； 20th of August = does this date the final composition of
〃The Lumley Autograph〃 or of its setting？ August 20 fell on a
Tuesday in 1844 and 1850｝
〃Please； sir； is it true that they pay money for old letters at this
place？〃
〃They dohave you any thing of the kind to dispose of？〃
Judge of my gratification； my amazement； when she produced the
Lumley Autograph！
Of course I instantly took it； at her own priceonly half a guinea
and I further gave her Lady Holberton's address； that she might
claim the liberal reward promised far the precious letter。 Tears came
into the poor child's eyes when she found what awaited her； and I
may as well observe at once that this young girl proved to be the
daughter of a poor bed…ridden artisan of Clapham； who had seen
better days；