ter expedition, and impatient to
ascertain the substance of his conversation with the servant.

When I interrogated her on the subject, she betrayed a little fear and
hesitation, but at last she told me every thing that had transpired. The
strange gentleman, whom she had never seen before, and who so completely
concealed his features that she should not be able to identify him
again, asked her a great number of questions about my movements, and
especially if I had been out during the day. He appeared surprised to
learn that I had only just left home, and wanted to know whether I was
expected back that night, and whether I was going out of town. It
happened that I had occupied myself throughout the morning in packing my
carpet-bag and portmanteau, so that I might be able to attend Astraea's
expected summons at a moment's notice; and the servant, whose distrust
was awakened by the urgent manner of the questioner, tried to fence off
his inquiries about my traveling preparations, but his superior
dexterity finally extracted the fact from her. Having obtained that
significant clew to my intentions, he suddenly wished her good-night,
and disappeared. The girl was so frightened by his mysterious air and
abrupt interrogations, that I believe she fancied I was going to fight a
duel; for about that time there had been a fatal duel, which furnished a
topic of general conversation, and which, I suppose, put the sagacious
suspicion into her head.

"Forewarned, forearmed," says the old proverb. I was now fairly apprised
that the dwarf was upon my track, and I resolved, as a mere measure of
precaution, ignorant as I was of the machinations I had to fear, that
whatever course it might become necessary to adopt, should be carried
out with the utmost secrecy.

The next morning came a letter from Astraea. No language can adequately
depict the agitation with which I opened the envelope. I felt as if my
fate was contained in the inclosure--as it was!

It consisted of only a single line, scrawled in haste over a great sheet
of paper, at the top of which was an address in the country, in another
hand-writing, with the following words beneath, written by Astraea:

"I am here: come to me _quickly_.--A."

The assurance which this brief intimation conveyed that Astraea had left
London, relieved me of at least one source of anxiety; and all that now
remained was to obey her mandate, and join her without loss of time in
her retreat. I own tha