for these were notorious, although I was entirely ignorant
of their notoriety, and my good old relative discovered, much to
her chagrin, that she had been deceived in supposing me aware of her
identity, and that I had been merely making a fool of myself in making
open love, in a theatre, to an old woman unknown. By way of punishing me
for this imprudence, she concocted with Talbot a plot. He purposely kept
out of my way to avoid giving me the introduction. My street inquiries
about "the lovely widow, Madame Lalande," were supposed to refer to
the younger lady, of course, and thus the conversation with the three
gentlemen whom I encountered shortly after leaving Talbot's hotel will
be easily explained, as also their allusion to Ninon De L'Enclos. I had
no opportunity of seeing Madame Lalande closely during daylight; and,
at her musical soiree, my silly weakness in refusing the aid of glasses
effectually prevented me from making a discovery of her age. When
"Madame Lalande" was called upon to sing, the younger lady was intended;
and it was she who arose to obey the call; my great, great, grandmother,
to further the deception, arising at the same moment and accompanying
her to the piano in the main drawing-room. Had I decided upon escorting
her thither, it had been her design to suggest the propriety of my
remaining where I was; but my own prudential views rendered this
unnecessary. The songs which I so much admired, and which so confirmed
my impression of the youth of my mistress, were executed by Madame
Stephanie Lalande. The eyeglass was presented by way of adding a reproof
to the hoax--a sting to the epigram of the deception. Its presentation
afforded an opportunity for the lecture upon affectation with which
I was so especially edified. It is almost superfluous to add that the
glasses of the instrument, as worn by the old lady, had been exchanged
by her for a pair better adapted to my years. They suited me, in fact,
to a T.

The clergyman, who merely pretended to tie the fatal knot, was a boon
companion of Talbot's, and no priest. He was an excellent "whip,"
however; and having doffed his cassock to put on a great-coat, he drove
the hack which conveyed the "happy couple" out of town. Talbot took a
seat at his side. The two scoundrels were thus "in at the death,"
and through a half-open window of the back parlor of the inn, amused
themselves in grinning at the denouement of the drama. I believe I shall
be forced to cal