for
hypodermic incisions that poison a man's blood, should be appropriately
costumed in a moss-green velvet robe, should wear frizzled bangs as
yellow as yonder bouquet of Marechal Neils, so suggestive of the
warning flag flying over pest-houses!"

"It is very evident you are not equally generous in surrendering the
amiability of Timon, along with the depravity of Iago, to the arsenal
of feminine weapons. What corroding mildew of discontent has fallen
from Mrs. Parkman's velvet dress, and rusted the bright blade of your
chivalry?"

"The very breath of Iago, filling my ears and firing my heart with the
architectural details of her coveted 'castle in Spain.' Glenbeigh is
her cousin. The ladder of his preferment is set up before my eyes, and
his Excellency springs up the rounds, from Governor to Senatorship,
thence to a place in the Cabinet, certainly to an important foreign
embassy; where, in the eternal fitness of things, somebody, somebody
with tender brown eyes like a thrush's, and the voice of a siren, and
the red lips of Hebe--will be invited to reign as l'ambassadrice! If I
am not as mad with jealous despair as Othello, attribute my escape
either to a sublime faith in your adorable constancy and
incorruptibility, or to my own colossal vanity, fatuous beyond
absolution."

He pressed her arm closer to his side, and covered with one hand the
gloved fingers resting on his sleeve; then added:

"You must permit me to congratulate you upon your beautiful toilette
to-night. The harmony of the dress, and the grace of the wearer leave
nothing to be desired. Although debarred the pleasure of dining with
you, I had hoped to enter, at least, with the coffee, but the freight
train upon which I returned, was delayed; and I had no choice but to
await your arrival here."

He indulged so rarely in verbal compliments, that she flushed with
profound gratification at flip fervor of his tone.

"I am glad you like my dress, to which your roses lend the loveliest
garniture. I was not aware that X--could furnish at this season such
superb La France buds. Where did you find them?"

"They travelled several hundred miles, for the privilege of nestling
against my Leo's heart."

Spartan thieves are not the only heroic sufferers who smile and make no
moan, clasping close the hidden fangs ravening on their vitals.

"As you mentioned in your note that very important business had called
you unexpectedly away, I hope your mission proved