e day, but always accompanied the younger in
any evening visits to the theatre or the houses of friends.

It was only within the last few weeks that such visits had been made.

The younger lady was in delicate health, and under the care of an
English physician famous for skill in the treatment of pulmonary
complaints. It was by his advice that she took daily walking exercise in
the Bois. The establishment consisted of three servants, all Italians,
and speaking but imperfect French. The garcon did not know whether
either of the ladies was married, but their mode of life was free from
all scandal or suspicion; they probably belonged to the literary or
musical world, as the garcon had observed as their visitors the eminent
author M. Savarin and his wife; and, still more frequently, an old man
not less eminent as a musical composer.

"It is clear to me now," said Lemercier, as the two friends reseated
themselves in the carriage, "that our pearly ange is some Italian singer
of repute enough in her own country to have gained already a competence;
and that, perhaps on account of her own health or her friend's, she is
living quietly here in the expectation of some professional engagement,
or the absence of some foreign lover."

"Lover! do you think that?" exclaimed Alain, in a tone of voice that
betrayed pain.

"It is possible enough; and in that case the Englishman may profit
little by the information I have promised to give him."

"You have promised the Englishman?"

"Do you not remember last night that he described the lady, and said
that her face haunted him: and I--"

"Ah! I remember now. What do you know of this Englishman? He is rich, I
suppose."

"Yes, I hear he is very rich now; that an uncle lately left him an
enormous sum of money. He was attached to the English Embassy many years
ago, which accounts for his good French and his knowledge of Parisian
life. He comes to Paris very often, and I have known him some time.
Indeed he has intrusted to me a difficult and delicate commission. The
English tell me that his father was one of the most eminent members of
their Parliament, of ancient birth, very highly connected, but ran
out his fortune and died poor; that our friend had for some years to
maintain himself, I fancy, by his pen; that he is considered very able;
and, now that his uncle has enriched him, likely to enter public life
and run a career as distinguished as his father's."

"Happy man! happy are the