and offered his
place to the lady who remained. She hesitated to take advantage of his
kindness, until he reminded her that he had heard what she said to her
friend. Before the third Resolution was proposed, his seat would be at
his own disposal again. She thanked him, and without further ceremony
took his place He was provided with an opera-glass, which he more than
once offered to her, when famous orators appeared on the platform;
she made no use of it until a speaker--known in the City as a
ship-owner--stepped forward to support the second Resolution.

His name (announced in the advertisements) was Ernest Lismore.

The moment he rose, the lady asked for the opera-glass. She kept it to
her eyes for such a length of time, and with such evident interest in
Mr. Lismore, that the curiosity of her neighbors was aroused. Had
he anything to say in which a lady (evidently a stranger to him)
was personally interested? There was nothing in the address that he
delivered which appealed to the enthusiasm of women. He was undoubtedly
a handsome man, whose appearance proclaimed him to be in the prime of
life--midway perhaps between thirty and forty years of age. But why a
lady should persist in keeping an opera-glass fixed on him all through
his speech, was a question which found the general ingenuity at a loss
for a reply.

Having returned the glass with an apology, the lady ventured on putting
a question next. "Did it strike you, sir, that Mr. Lismore seemed to be
out of spirits?" she asked.

"I can't say it did, ma'am."

"Perhaps you noticed that he left the platform the moment he had done?"

This betrayal of interest in the speaker did not escape the notice of
a lady, seated on the bench in front. Before the old gentleman could
answer, she volunteered an explanation.

"I am afraid Mr. Lismore is troubled by anxieties connected with his
business," she said. "My husband heard it reported in the City yesterday
that he was seriously embarrassed by the failure--"

A loud burst of applause made the end of the sentence inaudible. A
famous member of Parliament had risen to propose the third Resolution.
The polite old man took his seat, and the lady left the hall to join her
friend.

"Well, Mrs. Callender, has Mr. Lismore disappointed you?"

"Far from it! But I have heard a report about him which has alarmed me:
he is said to be seriously troubled about money matters. How can I find
out his address in the City?"

"We can st