eir journals and stared.

"Hoity-toity," said the waiter, and he left off throwing the sand.

"Well, what's the matter now?" said one of the guests.

"I wish to see the master of the house on business of urgency," said
Sybil, "to himself and to one of his friends, and his servant here will
not even reply to my inquiries."

"I say, Saul, why don't you answer the young lady?" said another guest.

"So I did," said Saul. "Did you call for coffee, Ma'am?"

"Here's Mr Tanner, if you want him, my dear." said the first guest, as
a lean black-looking individual, with grizzled hair and a red nose,
entered the coffee-room from the interior. "Tanner, here's a lady wants
you."

"And a very pretty girl too," whispered one to another.

"What's your pleasure?" said Mr Tanner abruptly.

"I wish to speak to you alone," said Sybil: and advancing towards him
she said in a low voice, "'Tis about Walter Gerard I would speak to
you."

"Well, you can step in here if you like," said Tanner very
discourteously; "there's only my wife:" and he led the way to the
inner room, a small close parlour adorned with portraits of Tom Paine,
Cobbett, Thistlewood, and General Jackson; with a fire, though it was
a hot July, and a very fat woman affording still more heat, and who
was drinking shrub and water and reading the police reports. She stared
rudely at Sybil as she entered following Tanner, who himself when the
door was closed said, "Well, now what have you got to say?"

"I wish to see Walter Gerard."

"Do you indeed!"

"And," continued Sybil notwithstanding his sneering remark, "I come here
that you may tell me where I may find him."

"I believe he lives somewhere in Westminster," said Tanner, "that's all
I know about him; and if this be all you had to say it might have been
said in the coffee-room."

"It is not all that I have to say," said Sybil; "and I beseech you, sir,
listen to me. I know where Gerard lives: I am his daughter, and the same
roof covers our heads. But I wish to know where they meet to-night--you
understand me;" and she looked at his wife, who had resumed her police
reports; "'tis urgent.

"I don't know nothing about Gerard," said Tanner, "except that he comes
here and goes away again."

"The matter on which I would see him," said Sybil, "is as urgent as the
imagination can conceive, and it concerns you as well as himself; but
if you know not where I can find him"--and she moved as if about to
retire--"'tis of