en?"

"Be not alarmed," said I, with augmented mildness. There was, indeed,
compassion and sorrow at my heart, and these must have somewhat
influenced my looks. "Be not alarmed. I came to confer a benefit, not to
perpetrate an injury. I came not to censure or expostulate with you,
but merely to counsel and aid a being that needs both; all I want is to
see her. In this chamber I sought not you, but her. Only lead me to her,
or tell me where she is. I will then rid you of my presence."

"Will you compel me to call those who will punish this insolence as it
deserves?"

"Dearest madam! I compel you to nothing. I merely supplicate. I would
ask you to lead me to these gentlemen, if I did not know that there are
none but females in the house. It is you who must receive and comply
with my petition. Allow me a moment's interview with Clemenza Lodi.
Compliance will harm you not, but will benefit her. What is your
objection?"

"This is the strangest proceeding! the most singular conduct! Is this a
place fit to parley with you? I warn you of the consequence of staying a
moment longer. Depend upon it, you will sorely repent it."

"You are obdurate," said I, and turned towards the younger, who listened
to this discourse in tremors and panic. I took her hand with an air of
humility and reverence. "Here," said I, "there seems to be purity,
innocence, and condescension. I took this house to be the temple of
voluptuousness. Females I expected to find in it, but such only as
traded in licentious pleasures; specious, perhaps not destitute of
talents, beauty, and address, but dissolute and wanton, sensual and
avaricious; yet in this countenance and carriage there are tokens of
virtue. I am born to be deceived, and the semblance of modesty is
readily assumed. Under this veil, perhaps, lurk a tainted heart and
depraved appetites. Is it so?"

She made me no answer, but somewhat in her looks seemed to evince that
my favourable prepossessions were just. I noticed likewise that the
alarm of the elder was greatly increased by this address to her
companion. The thought suddenly occurred that this girl might be in
circumstances not unlike those of Clemenza Lodi; that she was not
apprized of the character of her associates, and might by this meeting
be rescued from similar evils.

This suspicion filled me with tumultuous feelings. Clemenza was for a
time forgotten. I paid no attention to the looks or demeanour of the
elder, but was wholly oc