at hand when he ought to be upon the scene of his assignation. The

more he reflected the less he liked the prospect, and as at that
moment an eddy in the crowd began to draw him in the direction of

the door, he suffered it to carry him away without resistance. The
eddy stranded him in a corner under the gallery, where his ear was

immediately struck with the voice of Madame Zephyrine. She was
speaking in French with the young man of the blond locks who had

been pointed out by the strange Britisher not half-an-hour before.
"I have a character at stake," she said, "or I would put no other

condition than my heart recommends. But you have only to say so
much to the porter, and he will let you go by without a word."

"But why this talk of debt?" objected her companion.
"Heavens!" said she, "do you think I do not understand my own

hotel?"
And she went by, clinging affectionately" target="_blank" title="ad.热情地；体贴地">affectionately to her companion's arm.

This put Silas in mind of his billet.
"Ten minutes hence," thought he, "and I may be walking with as

beautiful a woman as that, and even better dressed - perhaps a real
lady, possibly a woman or title."

And then he remembered the spelling, and was a little downcast.
"But it may have been written by her maid," he imagined.

The clock was only a few minutes from the hour, and this immediate
proximity set his heart beating at a curious and rather

disagreeable speed. He reflected with relief that he was in no way
bound to put in an appearance. Virtue and cowardice were together,

and he made once more for the door, but this time of his own
accord, and battling against the stream of people which was now

moving in a contrary direction. Perhaps this prolonged resistance
wearied him, or perhaps he was in that frame of mind when merely to

continue in the same determination for a certain number of minutes
produces a reaction and a different purpose. Certainly, at least,

he wheeled about for a third time, and did not stop until he had
found a place of concealment within a few yards of the appointed

place.
Here he went through an agony of spirit, in which he several times

prayed to God for help, for Silas had been devoutly educated. He
had now not the least inclination for the meeting; nothing kept him

from flight but a silly fear lest he should be thought unmanly; but
this was so powerful that it kept head against all other motives;

and although it could not decide him to advance, prevented him from
definitely running away. At last the clock indicated ten minutes

past the hour. Young Scuddamore's spirit began to rise; he peered
round the corner and saw no one at the place of meeting; doubtless

his unknown correspondent had wearied and gone away. He became as
bold as he had formerly been timid. It seemed to him that if he

came at all to the appointment, however late, he was clear from the
charge of cowardice. Nay, now he began to suspect a hoax, and

actually complimented himself on his shrewdness in having suspected
and outmanoeuvred his mystifiers. So very idle a thing is a boy's

mind!
Armed with these reflections, he advancedboldly from his corner;

but he had not taken above a couple of steps before a hand was laid
upon his arm. He turned and beheld a lady cast in a very large

mould and with somewhat stately features, but bearing no mark of
severity in her looks.

"I see that you are a very self-confident lady-killer," said she;
"for you make yourself expected. But I was determined to meet you.

When a woman has once so far forgotten herself as to make the first
advance, she has long ago left behind her all considerations of

petty pride."
Silas was overwhelmed by the size and attractions of his

correspondent and the suddenness with which she had fallen upon
him. But she soon set him at his ease. She was very towardly and

lenient in her behaviour; she led him on to make pleasantries, and
then applauded him to the echo; and in a very short time, between

blandishments and a liberalexhibition of warm brandy, she had not
only induced him to fancy himself in love, but to declare his

passion with the greatest vehemence.
"Alas!" she said; "I do not know whether I ought not to deplore

this moment, great as is the pleasure you give me by your words.
Hitherto I was alone to suffer; now, poor boy, there will be two.

I am not my own mistress. I dare not ask you to visit me at my own
house, for I am watched by jealous eyes. Let me see," she added;

"I am older than you, although so much weaker; and while I trust in
your courage and determination, I must employ my own knowledge of

the world for our mutual benefit. Where do you live?"
He told her that he lodged in a furnished hotel, and named the

street and number.
She seemed to reflect for some minutes, with an effort of mind.

"I see," she said at last. "You will be faithful and obedient,
will you not?"

Silas assured her eagerly of his fidelity.
"To-morrow night, then," she continued, with an encouraging smile,

"you must remain at home all the evening; and if any friends should
visit you, dismiss them at once on any pretext that most readily

presents itself. Your door is probably shut by ten?" she asked.
"By eleven," answered Silas.

"At a quarter past eleven," pursued the lady, "leave the house.
Merely cry for the door to be opened, and be sure you fall into no

talk with the porter, as that might ruin everything. Go straight
to the corner where the Luxembourg Gardens join the Boulevard;

there you will find me waiting you. I trust you to follow my
advice from point to point: and remember, if you fail me in only

one particular, you will bring the sharpest trouble on a woman
whose only fault is to have seen and loved you."

"I cannot see the use of all these instructions," said Silas.
"I believe you are already beginning to treat me as a master," she

cried, tapping him with her fan upon the arm. "Patience, patience!
that should come in time. A woman loves to be obeyed at first,

although afterwards she finds her pleasure in obeying. Do as I ask
you, for Heaven's sake, or I will answer for nothing. Indeed, now

I think of it," she added, with the manner of one who has just seen
further into a difficulty, "I find a better plan of keeping

importunate visitors away. Tell the porter to admit no one for
you, except a person who may come that night to claim a debt; and

speak with some feeling, as though you feared the interview, so
that he may take your words in earnest."

"I think you may trust me to protect myself against intruders," he
said, not without a little pique.

"That is how I should prefer the thing arranged," she answered
coldly. "I know you men; you think nothing of a woman's

reputation."
Silas blushed and somewhat hung his head; for the scheme he had in

view had involved a little vain-glorying before his acquaintances.
"Above all," she added, "do not speak to the porter as you come

out."
"And why?" said he. "Of all your instructions, that seems to me

the least important."
"You at first doubted the wisdom of some of the others, which you

now see to be very necessary," she replied. "Believe me, this also
has its uses; in time you will see them; and what am I to think of

your affection, if you refuse me such trifles at our first
interview?"

Silas confounded himself in explanations and apologies; in the
middle of these she looked up at the clock and clapped her hands