IN THE TEST. MR. PEEBLES* STORY. 133 



the freedom of the press. But to return to my fair 

 companion in adversity, and the results of our ac- 

 quaintance. On looking at a card which she had 

 given me, I discovered that her name was Miss 

 Juliana Raymond, and also that she resided in 

 Charles Street, Covent Garden. This latter circum- 

 stance rather annoyed me, but I determined to draw 

 no conclusions until I had seen her again, and 

 acquainted myself with her history. Accordingly, 

 having adorned my person as much as possible, I 

 drove in my cab to her residence. The house it- 

 self was not prepossessing, but I was firm in my 

 resolution to remain unprejudiced. I accordingly 

 knocked at the door, and applied the usual ques- 

 tion to the opening menial ' Is Miss Juliana Ray- 

 ' mond at home ?' ' She don't live here," said the 

 girl. Strange, thought I, and again looked at the 

 card and the number on the door. At this critical 

 moment I heard a door bang at the top of the 

 house, and then some one call over the banisters, 

 ' Mary, Mary, if that's Mr. Peebles shew him up.' 

 The mandate was obeyed, and after clambering 

 many stairs, I was ushered into a small back room. 

 The servant having thus introduced me, retired to 

 an adjoining apartment, from which I heard some 

 whispering, and ' give me that ribbon,' ' another 

 pin, &c.' This suggested to me the idea that my 

 fair one was adorning herself, and during the oper- 

 ation I took the opportunity of scrutinizing the room 



