to everybody. Though her
husband was a handsome man, he was as unprincipled as he was
unfortunate. He gambled. This she once admitted to me, and while at long
intervals he met with some luck he more often returned dispirited and
with that hungry, ravaging look you expect to see in a wolf cheated of
its prey.

"I used to be afraid he would strike her after some one of these
disappointments, but I do not think he ever did. She had a determined
character of her own, and there have been times when I have thought he
was as much afraid of her as she was of him. I became sure of this after
one night. Mrs. L'Hommedieu and myself were having a little supper
together in the front parlour you have so lately occupied. It was a very
ordinary supper, for the L'Hommedieus' purse had run low, and Mrs.
L'Hommedieu was not the woman to spend much at any time on her eating.
It was palatable, however, and I would have enjoyed it greatly, if Mrs.
L'Hommedieu had shown more appetite. But she ate scarcely anything and
seemed very anxious and unhappy, though she laughed now and then with
sudden gusts of mirth too hysterical to be real. It was not late, and
yet we were both very much surprised when there came a knock at the
door, followed by the entrance of a visitor.

"Mrs. L'Hommedieu, who was always _la grande dame_, rose without
apparent embarrassment to meet the gentleman who entered, though I knew
she could not help but feel keenly the niggardly appearance of the board
she left with such grace. The stranger--he was certainly a stranger;
this I could see by the formality of her manner--was a gentleman of
urbane bearing and a general air of prosperity.

"I remember every word that passed.

"'My name is Lafarge,' said he. 'I am, or rather have been, under great
obligations to your husband, and I have come to discharge my debt. Is he
at home?'

"Mrs. L'Hommedieu's eye, which had sparkled at his name, dropped
suddenly as he put the final question.

"'I am sorry,' she returned after a moment of embarrassment, 'but my
husband is very seldom home evenings. If you will come about noon some
day----'

"'Thank you,' said he, with a bright smile, 'but I will finish my
business now and with you, seeing that Mr. L'Hommedieu is not at home.
Years ago--I am sure you have heard your husband mention my name--I
borrowed quite a sum of money from him, which I have never paid. You
recall the amount, no doubt?'

"'I have heard Mr. L'Hommedieu say it