第2章

"Yes，sir；aboutlikeFanny"s。"

Mr。Grycespreadhishandoverhisbreastinawaythatassuredmeofhissatisfaction，andallowedthegirltogo。

"Wewillnowproceedtotheyard，"saidhe。Butatthatmomentthedoorofthefrontroomopenedandagentlemansteppedleisurelyintothehall，whomatfirstglanceIrecognizedasthemasterofthehouse。Hewasdressedforthestreetandhadhishatinhishand。Atthesightweallstoodsilent，Mrs。Danielsflushinguptotherootsofhergrayhair。

Mr。Blakeisanelegant-lookingmanasyouperhapsknow；proud，reserved，andatriflesombre。Asheturnedtocometowardsus，thelightshiningthroughthewindowsatourright，fellfulluponhisface，revealingsuchaself-absorbedandmelancholyexpression，I

involuntarilydrewbackasifIhadunwittinglyintrudeduponagreatman"sprivacy。Mr。Gryceonthecontrarysteppedforward。

"Mr。Blake，Ibelieve，"saidhe，bowinginthatdeferentialwayheknowssowellhowtoassume。

Thegentleman，startledasitevidentlyseemedfromareverie，lookedhastilyup。MeetingMr。Gryce"sblandsmile，hereturnedthebow，buthaughtily，andasitappearedinanabstractedway。

"Allowmetointroducemyself，"proceededmysuperior。"IamMr。Grycefromthedetectivebureau。Wewerenotifiedthismorningthatagirlinyouremployhaddisappearedfromyourhouselastnightinasomewhatstrangeandunusualway，andIjuststeppedoverwithmymanhere，toseeifthematterisofsufficientimportancetoinquireinto。Withmanyapoligiesfortheintrusion，Istandobedienttoyourorders。"

Withafrownexpressiveofannoyance，Mr。BlakeglancedaroundanddetectingMrs。Daniels，said:"Didyouconsidertheaffairsoseriousasthat?"

Shenodded，seemingtofinditdifficulttospeak。

Heremainedlookingatherwithanexpressionofsomedoubt。"Icanhardlythink，"saidhe，"suchextrememeasureswerenecessary；thegirlwilldoubtlesscomeback，orifnot——"Hisshouldersgaveaslightshrugandhetookouthisgloves。

"Thedifficultyseemstobe，"quothMr。Gryceeyeingthosegloveswithhismostintentandconcentratedlook，"thatthegirldidnotgoalone，butwashelpedaway，orforcedaway，bypartieswhohadpreviouslybrokenintoyourhouse。"

"Thatisastrangecircumstance，"remarkedMr。Blake，butstillwithoutanyappearanceofinterest，"andifyouaresureofwhatyousay，demands，perhaps，someinquiry。Iwouldnotwishtoputanythinginthewayofjusticesuccoringtheinjured。But——"againhegavethatslightshrugoftheshoulders，indicativeofdoubt，ifnotindifference。

Mrs。Danielstrembled，andtookastepforward。Ithoughtshewasgoingtospeak，butinsteadofthatshedrewbackagaininherstrangehesitatingway。

Mr。Grycedidnotseemtonotice。

"Perhapssir，"saidhe，"ifyouwillstepupstairswithmetotheroomoccupiedbythisgirl，Imaybeabletoshowyoucertainevidenceswhichwillconvinceyouthatourerrandhereisnotoneofpresumption。"

"Iamreadytoconcedethatwithouttroublingmyselfwithproof，"

observedthemasterofthehousewiththefaintestshowofasperity。

"Yetifthereisanythingtoseeofastartlingnature，perhapsIhadbestyieldtoyourwishes。Whereaboutsinthehouseisthisgirl"sroom，Mrs。Daniels?"

"Itis——Igaveherthethirdstoryback，Mr。Blake；"repliedthatwoman，nervouslyeyeinghisface。"Itwaslargeandlightforsewing，andshewassonice——"

Heimpatientlywavedhishandonwhichhehadbythistimefittedhisglovetoanicety，asifthesedetailswereanunnecessaryboretohim，andmotionedhertoshowtheway。Instantlyanewfeelingappearedtoseizeher，thatofalarm。

"IhardlythinkyouneedtroubleMr。Blaketogoup-stairs，"shemurmured，turningtowardsMr。Gryce。"IamsurewhenyoutellhimtheCurtainsweretorn，andthechairupset，thewindowopenand——"

ButMr。GrycewasalreadyonthestairswithMr。Blake，whomthissmalloppositionseemedtohaveatoncedetermined。

"OmyGod!"shemurmuredtoherself，"whocouldhaveforeseenthis。"

Andignoringmypresencewithalltheegotismofextremeagitation，shehurriedpastmetotheroomabove，whereIspeedilyjoinedher。

CHAPTERIII

THECONTENTSOFABUREAUDRAWER

Mr。BlakewasstandinginthecentreoftheroomwhenIentered，carelesslyfollowingwithhiseyesthemotionofMr。Gryce"sfingerasthatgentlemanpointedwithunwearyingassiduitytothevariouslittledetailsthathadstruckus。Hishatwasstillinhishand，andhepresentedaveryformidableandimposingappearance，orsoMrs。Danielsappearedtothinkasshestoodwatchinghimfromthecorner，whithershehadwithdrawnherself。

"Aforcibledepartureyousee，"exclaimedMr。Gryce；"shehadnoteventimetogatherupherclothes；"andwithasuddenmovementhestoopedandpulledoutoneofthebureaudrawersbeforetheeyesofhisnonchalantlistener。

Immediatelyasmotheredexclamationstruckourears，andMrs。Danielsstartedforward。

"Ipray，gentlemen，"sheentreated，advancinginsuchawayastoplaceherselfagainstthefrontofthebureauinamannertoprecludetheopeningofanymoredrawers，"thatyouwillrememberthatamodestwomansuchasthisgirlwas，wouldhardlyliketohaveherclothingdisplayedbeforetheeyesofstrangers。"

Mr。Gryceinstantlyclosedthedrawer。

"Youareright，"saidhe；"pardontheroughwaysofasomewhathardenedofficerofthelaw。"

Shedrewupclosertothebureau，stillprotectingitwithhermeagrebutenergeticformwhilehereyesrestedwithalmostasavageexpressionuponthemasterofthehouseasifhe，andnotthedetective，hadbeentheaggressorwhoseadvancesshefeared。

Mr。Blakedidnotreturnthelook。

"Ifthatisallyoucanshowme，IthinkIwillproceedtomyappointment，"saidhe。"ThematterdoesseemtobemoreseriousthanIthought，andifyoujudgeitnecessarytotakeanyactivemeasures，why，letnoconsiderationofmygreatandinherentdisliketonotorietyofanykind，interferewithwhatyouconsideryourduty。Asforthehouse，itisatyourcommand，underMrs。Daniels"direction。

Goodmorning。"Andreturningourbowswithonesingularlyimpressiveforallitselegantcarelessness，heatoncewithdrew。

Mrs。Danielstookonelongdeepbreathandcamefromthebureau。

InstantlyMr。Grycestoopedandpulledoutthedrawershehadsovisiblyprotected。Awhitetowelmetoureyes，spreadneatlyoutatitsfulllength。Liftingit，welookedbeneath。Acarefullyfoldeddressofdarkbluesilk，toallappearanceelegantlymade，confrontedourrathereagereyes。Besideit，acollarofexquisitelace——Iknowenoughofsuchmatterstobeajudge——prickedthroughbyagoldbreast-pinofastrangeanduniquepattern。Awitheredbunchofwhatappearedtohavebeenabouquetofredroses，surmountedthewhole，givingtotheotherwisecommonplacecollectiontheappearanceofarelicfromthetomb。

Webothdrewbackinsomeamazement，involuntarilyglancingupatMrs。

Daniels。

"Ihavenoexplanationtogive，"saidthatwoman，withacalmnessstrangelyincontrasttotheagitationshehaddisplayedwhileMr。

Blakehadremainedintheroom。"Thatthosethingsrichastheyare，reallybelongedtothegirl，Ihavenodoubt。Shebroughtthemwhenshecame，andtheyonlyconfirmwhatIhavebeforeintimated:thatshewasnoordinarysewinggirl，butawomanwhohadseenbetterdays。"

Withalow"humph!"andanotherglanceatthedarkbluedressanddelicatecollar，Mr。Grycecarefullyreplacedtheclothhehadtakenfromthem，andsoftlyclosedthedrawerwithouteitherofushavinglaidafingeruponasinglearticle。Fiveminuteslaterhedisappearedfromtheroom。

Ididnotseehimagaintilloccasiontookmebelow，whenIbeheldhimsoftlyissuefromMr。Blake"sprivateapartment。Meetingme，hesmiled，andIsawthatwhetherhewasconsciousofbetrayingitornot，hehadcomeuponsomeclueorattheleastfashionedforhimselfsometheorywithwhichhewasmoreorlesssatisfied。

"Anelegantapartment，that，"whisperedhe，noddingsidewaystowardtheroomhehadjustleft，"pityyouhaven"ttimetoexamineit。"

"AreyousurethatIhaven"t?"returnedI，drawingastepnearertoescapetheeyesofMrs。Danielswhohaddescendedafterme。

"Quitesure；"andwehasteneddowntogetherintotheyard。

Butmycuriosityoncearousedinthiswaywouldnotletmerest。

TakinganopportunitywhenMr。Grycewasengagedinbanterwiththegirlsbelow，andinthiswaylearningmoreinaminuteofwhathewantedtoknowthansomemenwouldgatherinanhourbythatoranyothermethod，Istolelightlybackandenteredthisroom。

Ialmoststartedinmysurprise。InsteadoftheluxuriousapartmentI

hadpreparedmyselftobehold，aplain，scantily-furnishedroomopenedbeforeme，ofanaturebetweenalibraryandastudio。Therewasnotevenacarpetonthepolishedfloor，onlyarug，whichstrangetosaywasnotplacedinthecentreoftheroomorevenbeforethefireplace，butononeside，anddirectlyinfrontofapicturethatalmostatfirstblushhadattractedmyattentionasbeingtheonlyarticleintheroomworthlookingat。Itwastheportraitofawoman，handsome，haughtyandalluring；amodernbeauty，witheyesoffireburningbeneathhighpiledlocksofjettyblackness，thatwereonlyrelievedfrombeingtoointensebythescarlethoodofanoperacloak，thatwasdrawnoverthem。"Asister，"Ithoughttomyself，"itistoomodernforhismother，"andItookastepnearertoseeifI

couldtraceanylikenessinthechiselledfeaturesofthisdisdainfulbrunette，tothemorecharacteristiconesofthecarelessgentlemanwhohadstoodbutafewmomentsbeforeinmypresence。AsIdidso，I

wasstruckwiththedistancewithwhichthepicturestoodoutfromthewall，andthoughttomyselfthattheawkwardnessoftheframingcamenearmarringthebeautyofthisotherwiselovelyworkofart。AsforthelikenessIwasinsearchof，IfounditorthoughtIdid，intheexpressionoftheeyeswhichwereofthesamecolorasMr。Blake"sbutmorefullandpassionate；andsatisfiedthatIhadexhaustedallthepicturecouldtellme，IturnedtomakewhatotherobservationsI

could，whenIwasstartledbyconfrontingtheagitatedcountenanceofMrs。Danielswhohadenteredbehindme。

"ThisisMr。Blake"sroom，"saidshewithdignity；"nooneeverintrudesherebutmyself，noteventheservants。"

"Ibegpardon，"saidI，glancingaroundinvainforthesomethingwhichhadawakenedthatlookofsatisfactioninMr。Gryce"seyes。"I

wasattractedbythebeautyofthispicturevisiblethroughthehalfopendoorandsteppedintofavormyselfwithanearerview。Itisverylovely。AsisterofMr。Blake?"

"No，hiscousin；"andsheclosedthedoorafteruswithanemphasisthatproclaimedshewasanythingbutpleased。

Itwasmylastefforttoobtaininformationonmyownaccount。InafewmomentslaterMr。Gryceappearedfrombelow，andaconversationensuedwithMrs。Danielsthatabsorbedmywholeattention。

"Youareveryanxious，mymanheretellsme，thatthisgirlshouldbefound?"remarkedMr。Gryce；"somuchsothatyouarewillingtodefrayalltheexpensesofasearch?"

Shebowed。"AsfarasIamablesir；Ihaveafewhundredsinthebank，youarewelcometothem。IwouldnotkeepadollarbackifI

hadthousands，butIampoor，andcanonlypromiseyouwhatImyselfpossess；though——"andhercheeksgrewflushedandhotwithanunnaturalagitation——"Ibelievethatthousandswouldnotbelackingiftheywerefoundnecessary。I——Icouldalmostswearyoushallhaveanythinginreasonwhichyourequire；onlythegirlmustbefoundandsoon。"

"Haveyouthought，"proceededMr。Gryce，uterlyignoringthewildnessofthesestatements，"thatthegirlmaycomebackherselfifletalone?"

"Shewillcomebackifshecan，"quothMrs。Daniels。

"Didsheseemsowellsatisfiedwithherhomeastowarrantyouinsayingthat?"

"Shelikedherhome，butshelovedme，"returnedthewomansteadily。

"Shelovedmesowellshewouldneverhavegoneasshedidwithoutbeingforced。Yes，"saidshe，"thoughshemadenooutcryandstoppedtoputonherbonnetandshawl。Shewasnotagirltomakeafuss。Iftheyhadkilledheroutright，shewouldneverhaveutteredacry。"

"Whydoyousaythey?"

"BecauseIamconfidentIheardmorethanoneman"svoiceinherroom。"

"Humph!Wouldyouknowthosevoicesifyouheardthemagain?"

"No。"

TherewasasurpriseinthislastnegativewhichMr。Gryceevidentlynoticed。

"Iask，"saidhe，"becauseIhavebeentoldthatMr。Blakelatelykeptabodyservantwhohasbeenseentolookatthisgirlmorethanonce，whenshehaspassedhimonthestairs。"

Mrs。Daniels"faceturnedscarletwithrageandshehastilyrosefromthechair。"Idon"tbelieveit，"saidshe；"Henrywasamanwhoknewhisplace，and——Iwon"thearsuchthings，"shesuddenlyexclaimed；

"Emilywas——wasalady，and——"

"Well，well，"interposedMr。Grycesoothingly，"thoughthecatlooksattheking，itisnosignthekinglooksatthecat。Wehavetothinkofeverythingyouknow。"

"Youmustneverthinkofanythinglikethat。"

Mr。Grycesoftlyranhisthumbaroundthebrimofthehatheheldinhishand。"Mrs。Daniels，"observedhe，"itwouldgreatlyfacilitatemattersifyouwouldkindlytelluswhyyoutakesuchaninterestinthisgirl。Oneglimpseatherrealhistorywoulddomoretowadssettingusontherighttrackthananythingelseyoucouldoffer"

Herfaceassumedanunmistakablefrown。"HaveInottoldyou，"saidshe，"whatisknownofit?Thatshecametomeabouttwoyearsagoforwork；thatIlikedher，andsohiredher；thatshehasbeenwithuseversinceand——"

"Thenyouwillnottellus?"exclaimedMr。Gryce。

Herfacefellandalookofhesitationcrossedit。

"Idoubtifwecandoanythingunlessyoudo，"continuedhe。

Hercountenancesettledagainintoaresolvedexpression。

"Youaremistaken，"saidshe；"ifthegirlhadasecret——asnearlyallgirlshave，broughtlowasshehasevidentlybeen——ithadnothingtodowithherdisappearance，norwouldaknowledgeofithelpyouinanyway。Iamconfidentofthisandsoshallholdmypeace。"

Shewasnotawomantobefrightenedorcajoledintomakingrevelationsshedidnotthinknecessary，andseeingit，Mr。Grycerefrainedfromurgingherfurther。

"However，youwillatleasttellmethis，"saidhe，"whatweretheknick-knacksshetookawaywithherfromherbureaudrawer?"

"No，"saidshe，"fortheyhavenothingtodowithherabduction。Theywerearticlesofpositivevaluetoher，thoughIassureyouoflittleimportancetoanyoneelse。Allthatisshownbytheirdisappearanceisthefactthatshehadamoment"stimeallowedherinwhichtocollectwhatshemostwanted。"

Mr。Grycearose。"Well，"saidhe，"youhavegivenusahardsumtoworkout，butIamnotthemantorecoilfromanythinghard。IfIcandiscoverthewhereaboutsofthisgirlIwillcertainlydoit，butyoumusthelpme。"

"I，how?"

"ByinsertingapersonalintheHerald。Yousayshelovesyou；andwouldcomebackifshecould。Nowwhetheryoubelieveitornotthisisopentodoubt；thereforeIwouldadvisethatyoutakesomesuchmeansasthattoinformheroftheanxietyofherfriendsandtheirdesiretocommunicatewithher。"

"Impossible，"shecriedvehemently。"Ishouldbeafraid——"

"Well?"

"ImightputitthatMrs。D——，anxiousaboutEmily，desiresinformationofherwhereabouts——"

"Putitanywayyoulike。"

"Youhadbetteradd，"saidI，speakingforthefirsttime，"thatyouwouldbewillingtopayforinformation。"

Yes，"saidMrGryce，"addthat。"

Mrs。Danielsfrowned，butmadenoobjection，andaftergettingasminuteadescriptionaspossibleoftheclothingwornbythegirlthenightbefore，weleftthehouse。

CHAPTERIV

THOMPSON"SSTORY

"Anaffairofsomemystery，"remarkedMr。Gryce，aswehaltedatthecornertotakeafinallookatthehouseanditsenvirons。"Whyagirlshouldchoosesuchamethodofdescentasthat，"——andhepointedtotheladderdownwhichwebelievedhertohavecome——"toleaveahouseofwhichshehadbeenaninmateforayear，bafflesme，Icantellyou。Ifitwerenotforthosemarksofbloodwhichbetrayhertrack，Iwouldbedisinclinedtobelieveanysuchhare-brainedadventurewaseverperpetratedbyawoman。Asitis，whatwould"ntI

giveforherphotograph。Blackhair，blackeyes，whitefaceandthinfigure!whatadescriptionwherebytofindagirlinthisgreatcityofNewYork。Ah!"saidhewithsuddengratification，"hereisMr。

Blakeagain；hisappointmentmusthavebeenafailure。Letusseeifhisdescriptionwillbeanymoredefinite。"Andhurryingtowardstheadvancingfigureofthatgentleman，heputsomequestionstohim。

InstantlyMr。Blakestopped，lookedathimblanklyforamoment，thenrepliedinatonesufficientlyloudformetohear:

"Iamsorry，sir，ifmydescriptioncouldhavedoneyouanygood，butIhavenottheremotestideahowthegirllooked。Ididnotknowtillthismorningeven，thattherewassuchapersoninmyhouseasasewing-woman。IleaveallsuchdomesticconcernsentirelywithMrs。

Daniels。"

Mr。Gryceagainbowedlowandventuredanotherquestion。Theanswercameasbefore，distinctlytomyears。

"O，Imayhaveseenher，Icannotsayaboutthat；Iveryoftenrunacrosstheservantsinthehall；butwhethersheistallorshort，lightordark，prettyorugly，Iknownomorethanyoudo，sir。"ThenwithadignifiednodcalculatedtoabashamaninMr。Gryce"sposition，inquired，"Isthatall?"

Itdidnotseemtobe，Mr。Gryceputanotherquestion。

Mr。Blakegivehimasurprisedstarebeforereplying，thencourteouslyremarked，"Idonotconcernmyselfwithservantsaftertheyhaveleftme。Henrywasanexcellentvalet，butatrifledomineering，somethingwhichI

neverallowinanyonewhoapproachesme。Idismissedhimandthatwastheendofit，Iknownothingofwhathasbecomeofhim。"

Mr。Grycebowedanddrewback，andMr。Blake，withthehaughtysteppeculiartohim，passedbyhimandreenteredhishouse。

"Ishouldnotliketogetintothatman"sclutches，"saidI，asmysuperiorrejoinedme；"hehasawayofmakingoneappearsosmall。"

Mr。Gryceshotanaskancelookathisshadowgloomilyfollowinghimalongthepavement。"Yetitmayhappenthatyouwillhavetoruntheriskofthatveryexperience。"

Iglancedtowardshiminamazement。

"Ifthegirldoesnotturnupofherownaccord，orifwedonotsucceedingettingsometraceofhermovements，Ishallbetemptedtoplaceyouwhereyoucanstudyintothewaysofthisgentleman"shousehold。Iftheaffairisamystery，ithasitscentreinthathouse。"

IstaredatMr。Grycegoodandroundly。"YouhavecomeacrosssomethingwhichIhavemissed，"observedI，"oryoucouldnotspeaksopositively。"

"Ihavecomeacrossnothingthatwasnotinplainsightofanybodywhohadeyestoseeit，"hereturnedshortly。

Ishookmyheadslightlymortified。

"Youhaditallbeforeyou，"continuedhe，"andifyouwerenotabletopickupsufficientfactsonwhichtobaseaconclusion，youmustn"tblamemeforit。"

MorenettledthanIwouldbewillingtoconfess，Iwalkedbackwithhimtothestation，sayingnothingthen，butinwardlydeterminedtoreestablishmyreputationwithMr。Grycebeforetheaffairwasover。

Accordinglyhuntingupthemanwhohadpatroledthedistrictthenightbefore，IinquiredifhehadseenanyonegoinoroutofthesidegateofMr。Blake"shouseon——street，betweenthehoursofelevenandone。

"No，"saidhe，"butIheardThompsontellacuriousstorythismorningaboutsomeonehehadseen。"

"Whatwasit?"

"Hesaidhewaspassingthatwaylastnightabouttwelveo"clockwhenheremarkedstandingunderthelamponthecornerofSecondAvenue，agroupconsistingoftwomenandawoman，whonosoonerbeheldhimthantheyseparated，themendrawingbackintoSecondAvenueandthewomancominghastilytowardshim。Notunderstandingthemove，hestoodwaitingherapproach，wheninsteadofadvancingtowherehewas，shepausedatthegateofMr。Blake"shouseandliftedherhandasiftoopenit，whenwithawildandterrifiedgestureshestartedback，coveringherfacewithherhands，andbeforeheknewit，hadactuallyfledinthedirectionfromwhichshehadcome。Alittlestartled，Thompsonadvancedandlookedthroughthegatebeforehimtoseeifpossiblewhathadalarmedher，whentohisgreatsurprise，hebeheldthepalefaceofthemasterofthehouse，Mr。Blakehimself，lookingthroughthebarsfromtheothersideofthegate。Heinhisturnstartedbackandbeforehecouldrecoverhimself，Mr。Blakehaddisappeared。Hesayshetriedthegateafterthat，butfounditlocked。"

"Thompsontellsyouthisstory，doeshe?"

"Yes。"

"Well，"saidI，"it"saprettywildkindofatale，andallIhavegottosayis，thatneitheryounorThompsonhadbettergoblabbingitaroundtoomuch。MumisthewordwheresuchmenasMr。Blakeareconcerned。"AndIdepartedtohuntupThompson。

Buthehadnothingtoaddtohisstatement，exceptthatthegirlappearedtobetallandthin，andwascloselywrappedaboutinashawl。MynextmovewastomakesuchinquiriesasIcouldwithsafetyintotheprivateconcernsofMr。Blakeandhisfamily，anddiscovered——well，suchfactsasthese:

ThatMr。Blakewasamanwhoifhepaidbutlittleattentiontodomesticaffairswasyetrarelyseenoutofhisownhouse，exceptuponoccasionsofgreatpoliticalimportance，whenhewasalwaystobefoundontheplatformatmeetingsofhisconstituents。Thoughtotheordinaryobserveramaneminentlycalculated，fromhisgoodlooks，fineposition，andsolidwealthtoenjoysociety，henotonlymanifestedadistasteforit，butevenwentsofarastorefusetoparticipateinthesocialdinnersofhismostintimatefriends；theonlytabletowhichhewouldsitdownbeingthatofsomepubliccaterer，wherehewassureoffindingnonebuthispoliticalassociatesassembled。

Toallappearancehewishedtoavoidtheladies，atheoryborneoutbythefactthatnever，eveninchurch，onthestreet，oratanyplaceofamusement，washeobservedwithoneathisside。Thisfactinaman，young——hewasnotfarfromthirty-fiveatthattime——rich，andmarriageable，would，however，havebeenmorenoteworthythanitwasifhehadnotbeenknowntobelongtoafamilyeminentfortheireccentricities。Notamanofallhisracebuthadpossessedsomemarkedpeculiarity。Hisfather，bibliomaniacthoughhewas，wouldnevertreatamanorawomanwithdecency，whomentionedShakspearetohim，norwouldheacknowledgetohisdyingdayanyexcellenceinthatdivinepoetbeyondahappywayofputtingwordstogether。Mr。

Blake"sunclehatedallmembersofthelegalprofession，andasforhisgrandfather——butyouhaveheardwhatamaniaofdislikehehadagainstthatsimplearticleofdiet，fish；nowhisfriendswereobligedtoomititfromtheirbillsoffarewhenevertheyexpectedhimtodinner。IfthenMr。Blakechosetohaveanypetantipathy——asforwomenforinstance——hesurelyhadprecedentenoughinhisownfamilytobackhim。However，itwaswhisperedinmyearbyonegentleman，aformerpoliticalcolleagueofhiswhohadbeenwithhiminWashington，thathewasknownatonetimetoshowconsiderableattentiontoMissEvelynBlake，thatcousinofhiswhohassincemadesuchabrilliantthingofitbymarrying，andstraightwaylosingbydeath，awealthyoldscapegraceofaFrenchnoble，theCountDeMirac。Butthatwasnotamattertobetalkedabout，MadametheCountessbeingfreeatpresentandinNewYork，thoughtoallappearanceuponanythingbutpleasanttermswithherquondamadmirer。

RememberingthepictureIhadseeninMr。Blake"sprivateapartment，I

askedifthisladywasabrunette，andbeingtoldshewas，andofthemostpronouncedtype，feltforthemomentIhadstumbleduponsomethingintheshapeofaclue；butuponresortingtoMr。Grycewithmyinformation，heshookhisheadwithashortlaughandtoldmeI

wouldhavetodivedeeperthanthatifIwantedtofishupthetruthlyingatthebottomofthiswell。

CHAPTERV

ANEWYORKBELLE

Meanwhilealloureffortstoobtaininformationinregardtothefateorwhereaboutsofthemissinggirl，hadsofarprovedutterlyfutile。

EventheadvertisementsinsertedbyMrs。Danielshadproducednoeffect；andfrustratedinmyschemeIbegantodespair，whentheaccountsofthatsameMrs。Daniel"sstrangeandunaccountablebehaviorduringthesedaysofsuspense，whichcametomethroughFanny，(theprettyhousemaidatMr。Blake"s，whoseacquaintanceIhadlatelytakentocultivating，)arousedoncemoremydormantenergiesandledmetoaskmyselfiftheaffairwasquiteashopelessasitseemed。

"Ifshewasaghost，"washerfinalexpressiononthesubject，"shecould"ntgoperamberlatingthishousemorethanshedoes。Itseemsasifshecould"ntkeepstillaminute。Upstairsanddown，upstairsanddown，tillwe"remostwild。Andsowhiteassheisandsotrembling!Whyherhandsshakesoallthetimesheneverdaresliftadishoffthetable。AndthenthewayshehangsaboutMr。Blake"sdoorwhenhe"sathome!Shenevergoesin，thatstheoddestpartofit，butwalksupanddownbeforeit，wringingherhandsandtalkingtoherselfjustlikeamadwoman。Why，Ihaveseenheralmostputherhandontheknobtwiceinanafternoonperhaps，thendrawbackasifshewasafraiditwouldburnher；andifbyanychancethedooropenedandMr。Blakecameout，yououghttohaveseenhowsherun。

WhatitallmeansIdon"tknow，butIhavemyimaginings，andifsheis"ntcrazy，why——"etc。，etc。

InfaceoffactsliketheseIfeltitwouldbepureinsanitytodespair。Lettherebebutamystery，thoughitinvolvedamanofthepositionofMr。BlakeandIwassafe。Myonlyapprehensionhadbeenthatthewholeaffairwoulddissolveitselfintoanordinaryelopementorsomesuchcommon-placematter。

Where，therefore，afewminuteslater，FannyannouncedthatMr。BlakehadorderedacarriagetotakehimtotheCharityBallthatevening，Ideterminedtofollowhimandlearnifpossiblewhatchangehadtakenplaceinhimselforhiscircumstances，toleadhimintosuchaninnovationuponhisusualhabits。ThoughthehourwaslateIhadbutlittledifficultyincarryingoutmyplan，arrivingattheAcademysomethinglessthananhouraftertheopeningdance。

ThecrowdwasgreatandIcirculatedthefloorthreetimesbeforeI

cameuponhim。WhenIdid，IownIwasslightlydisappointed；forinsteadoffindinghimasIanticipated，thecentreofanadmiringcircleofladiesandgentlemen，IespiedhimwithdrawnintoacornerwithablandoldpoliticianoftheFifteenthWard，discussing，asI

presentlyoverheard，themeritsanddemeritsofacertainSmithwhoatthattimewasmakingsomedisturbanceintheparty。

"Ifthatisallhehascomefor，"thoughtI，"IhadbetterhavestayedathomeandmadelovetotheprettyFanny。"Andsomewhatchagrined，Itookupmystandnearby，andbeganscrutinizingtheladies。

SuddenlyIfeltmyheartstandstill，thenoiseofvoicesceasingthesameinstantbehindme。Aladywaspassingonthearmofaforeign-lookinggentleman，whomitdidnotrequireasecondglancetoidentifywiththesubjectoftheportraitinMr。Blake"shouse。Olderbysomefewyearsthanwhenherpicturewaspainted，herbeautyhadassumedacertaindefiantexpressionthatsufficientlybetrayedthefactthattheyearshadnotbeensowhollyhappyasshehadprobablyanticipatedwhenshejiltedhandsomeHolmanBlakefortheoldFrenchCount。AtalleventssoIinterpretedthelookoflatentscornthatburnedinherdarkeyes，assheslowlyturnedherrichlybejeweledheadtowardsthecornerwherethatgentlemanstood，andmeetinghiseyesnodoubt，bowedwithasuddenlossofself-possessionthatnotallthehaughtycarriageofhernobleform，helddoublyerectforthenextfewmoments，couldquiteconcealormakeforgotten。

"Shestillloveshim，"Iinwardlycommentedandturnedtoseeifthesurprisehadawakenedanyexpressiononhisuncommunicativecountenance。