paleness overspread his face, and his eyes were turned away from me
with the same extraordinary expression in them to which I have already
alluded.

"Do you mind leaving the ball early to-night?" he asked, still not
looking at me.

"Not at all," said I. "Can I do anything for you? Are you ill?"

"No--at least nothing to speak of. Will you come to my rooms?"

"At once, if you like."

"No, not at once. _I_ must go home directly; but don't you come to me
for half an hour yet. You have not been at my rooms before, I know, but
you will easily find them out; they are close by. There is a card with
my address. I _must_ speak to you to-night; my life depends on it. Pray
come! for God's sake, come when the half hour is up!"

I promised to be punctual, and he left me directly.

Most people will be easily able to imagine the state of nervous
impatience and vague expectation in which I passed the allotted period
of delay, after hearing such words as those Monkton had spoken to
me. Before the half hour had quite expired I began to make my way out
through the ballroom.

At the head of the staircase my friend, the _attache,_ met me.

"What! going away already?" Said he.

"Yes; and on a very curious expedition. I am going to Monkton's rooms,
by his own invitation."

"You don't mean it! Upon my honor, you're a bold fellow to trust
yourself alone with 'Mad Monkton' when the moon is at the full."

"He is ill, poor fellow. Besides, I don't think him half as mad as you
do."

"We won't dispute about that; but mark my words, he has not asked you
to go where no visitor has ever been admitted before without a special
purpose. I predict that you will see or hear something to-night which
you will remember for the rest of your life."

We parted. When I knocked at the courtyard gate of the house where
Monkton lived, my friend's last words on the palace staircase recurred
to me, and, though I had laughed at him when he spoke them, I began to
suspect even then that his prediction would be fulfilled.

CHAPTER III.

THE porter who let me into the house where Monkton lived directed me to
the floor on which his rooms were situated. On getting upstairs, I found
his door on the landing ajar. He heard my footsteps, I suppose, for he
called to me to come in before I could knock.

I entered, and found him sitting by the table, with some loose letters
in his hand, which he was just tying together into a packet. I noticed,
as he as