l, florid, unstudied
eloquence of the lower orders was at her command, and well-turned
periods of perfect abuse and neat incisive remarks upon our characters,
our persons and attributes generally, rippled in a smooth, unbroken
stream from her lips as she followed us. Just at that moment there was
not a policeman nor any other being within sight.

We walked on, and the woman's curses and imprecations upon us filled
the grey silence of the street. At last a porter on his way to work
passed us, and she transferred her attentions and oratory to him. Dick
glanced at me and laughed.

"Well, there was an extensive vocabulary, Victor! How would some of
those words sound in your fiancee's mouth?"

I laughed too.

"You always were good at a sophistical sneer, but vile language has
nothing to do with what I was talking about."

"No; of course not. It does strike one as curious, doesn't it," he
added after a minute, "that a creature like that and the girl we have
been with this evening can belong to the same sex."

"Well, I don't know," I answered; "I know there is the sort of idea
that it is funny, but somehow it does not strike me more with reference
to woman than to ourselves. I mean it does not seem more incongruous
than that a man like yourself and an offal sweeper belong to the same
sex."

"No; perhaps not. One of those houses is yours, isn't it?" Dick said.

"Yes; number 2," I answered, as we went up to the door.

"They seem to have turned the light out."

I opened the door and Dick went in. I followed, and when the door was
shut behind us the hall was in nether darkness. We found our way to the
foot of the stairs, where an undefined heap barred our way. Not knowing
what it was I kicked it, and Dick exclaimed,--

"Take care! I think that's your man," and a groan confirmed the
statement.

"Hullo, Walters! I am very sorry. I had no idea it was you. I hope I
haven't hurt you!" I said as the servant got on his feet. "Why do you
turn the lights out? However, it's just as well you are here. Bring me
upstairs the soda, champagne, and the new lot of cigars. I suppose
there is the lamp in my room?"

"Yes, sir."

"You won't care to turn out again, Dick, to-night, will you?" I said as
we went upstairs. "There's an awfully comfortable sofa in my room,
quite as good as a bed. Will you accept that?"

"Oh yes; I always find I can go to sleep anywhere. Do you remember,
when we were camping out at Shikarpur, those nights