524 AN EPOCH IN THE LIFE OP 



stained casements or of again seeing you under circumstances of less 

 painful restraint ?' 



" ' Yes, most skilfully contrived no, you must not ask it ; do not 

 the darkness is now dissipating my warmest thanks are yours, but to 

 meet again would be eminently dangerous the light increases fast -for 

 heavens sake, now leave me should I be discovered every object is gra- 

 dually becoming more and more distinct.' 



" ' The profound interest you have excited in my bosom provokes my 

 importunities ; tell me then, I beseech you, that I may be honoured with 

 another interview, if but one, and I shall leave you now on the instant.' 



" ' Speak not in so high a tone these views, I believe, are the work 

 of a foreign artist what you ask it is imposssible that I can concede the 

 light is so rapidly increasing pray, pray, leave me !' 



" ' You refuse, then, so to honour me ?' 



" ' Be satisfied with this, that if I durst I know not what I say 

 where would a note reach you ?' 



" ' At the New Hummums, addressed to Captain Crush ; think of 

 last night, and remember the name.' 



' I pressed to my lips the tips of her dear delightful fingers, then did 

 as I was bidden." 



" Impudence, mendacity, and folly, in villainous combination ! well, 

 and what then became you ?" asked Mulciber. 



" Anxious to penetrate the mystery," resumed his friend, " I sped 

 away to the inner circle of the park to consult the precious billet in 

 which I doubt not was to be found a perfect or a partial revelation of 

 this occult affair ; and taking from my pocket this pretty, precious, per- 

 fumed, document, I read these words " 



" First, to whom is it addressed ?" 



" Superscription it hath none ; consequently, the fracture of the seal 

 violated the right of no man living ; and in this respect my conscience " 



*' Fred, the less you say about conscience, perad venture, the. better ; 

 but the contents ?" 



" You shall hear. ' It has cost me much to accord this meeting, 

 transient as it must be. I am sensible of its imprudence, but the ser- 

 vices rendered by you last night are so gratefully remembered by me, 

 that I cannot forego the opportunity, hazardous as it is, of conveying to 

 you the expression of my sincere and warmest acknowledgements !'" 



"Well; go on." 



" There is not another word." 



" Brief, if not explicit may I ask the signature ?" 



" You may." 



" What is it ?" 



" There is none. Not even a lonely initial ! You will perceive, 

 therefore, my very excellent friend, that I was as much in the dark now 

 as before. In this plight I tried by synthesis to build up a decent con- 

 jecture. A lady's feelings outraged by something done by somebody in 

 the crush room of an opera-house an old man violent and vindictive 

 the interposition of a chivalrous cavalier an assignation woman's 

 gratitude old man husband to the lady jealous and distrustful, per- 

 haps right, perhaps wrong outrage public and discourteous rebuke ; 

 quaere the cavalier vindicates her innocence, throws the gauntlet, and 



