h,
though in some ways distasteful to his mind, he did not doubt that he
could practise with the skill of a detective.

The next day he proceeded to put his plan in action. At the corner of
Tottenham Court Road, however, the Senorita suddenly turned back, and
met him face to face, with every mark of pleasure and surprise.

"Ah, Senor, I am sometimes fortunate!" she cried. "I was looking for a
messenger"; and with the sweetest of smiles she despatched him to the
east end of London, to an address which he was unable to find. This was
a bitter pill to the knight-errant; but when he returned at night, worn
out with fruitless wandering and dismayed by his _fiasco_, the lady
received him with a friendly gaiety, protesting that all was for the
best, since she had changed her mind and long since repented of her
message.

Next day he resumed his labours, glowing with pity and courage, and
determined to protect Teresa with his life. But a painful shock awaited
him. In the narrow and silent Hanway Street, she turned suddenly about
and addressed him with a manner and a light in her eyes, that were new
to the young man's experience.

"Do I understand that you follow me, Senor?" she cried. "Are these the
manners of the English gentleman?"

Harry confounded himself in the most abject apologies and prayers to be
forgiven, vowed to offend no more, and was at length dismissed,
crestfallen and heavy of heart. The check was final; he gave up that
road to service; and began once more to hang about the square or on the
terrace, filled with remorse and love, admirable and idiotic, a fit
object for the scorn and envy of older men. In these idle hours, while
he was courting fortune for a sight of the beloved, it fell out
naturally that he should observe the manners and appearance of such as
came about the house. One person alone was the occasional visitor of the
young lady: a man of considerable stature and distinguished only by the
doubtful ornament of a chin-beard in the style of an American deacon.
Something in his appearance grated upon Harry; this distaste grew upon
him in the course of days; and when at length he mustered courage to
inquire of the Fair Cuban who this was, he was yet more dismayed by her
reply.

"That gentleman," said she, a smile struggling to her face, "that
gentleman, I will not attempt to conceal from you, desires my hand in
marriage, and presses me with the most respectful ardour. Alas, what am
I to say? I, th