ou make your compact? Bethink you these are points you 'll have to
answer very openly, and with reporters for the daily press amongst the
company who listen to you. Such treaties being made public may lead to
many an awkward disclosure. It were wiser not to provoke them."

"I do not see why I am to incur a positive loss of money--"

"Only for this reason, that as you thought proper to buy without a
title, you may relinquish without compensation. But come, we will deal
with you better than you deserve. If it be, as I believe, this young
lady's lot to inherit a large fortune, I will do my utmost to induce her
to repay you all that you have incurred in her behalf. Will that satisfy
you?"

"It might, if I were not equally certain that you have not the slightest
grounds for the expectation. I know enough of her story to be aware that
there is not one from whom she expects a shilling."

"Every day and hour brings us great surprises; nothing was less looked
for by the great Mr. Stocmar this morning than a visit from me, and yet
it has come to pass."

"And in whose interest, may I ask, are you taking all this trouble?--how
is it incumbent on you to mix yourself up in questions of a family to
which you do not belong, nor are even known to?"

"If I can only fashion to myself a pretext for your question, I would
answer it; but to the matter,--write the address there." And he pointed
to the paper.

Stocmar obeyed, and wrote, "The Conservatoire, at Milan."

"I may warn you," added he, "that Mademoiselle Clara Stocmar, for as
such is she inscribed, will not be given up to you, or to any one save
myself, or by my order."

"I am aware of that, and therefore you will write this order. Mr.
Stocmar, you need not be told by me that the fact of this girl being an
English subject once admitted, the law of this country will take
little heed of the regulations of a musical academy; save yourself this
publicity, and write as I tell you."

Stocmar wrote some hurried lines and signed them. "Will that do?"

"Perfectly," said he, folding up both papers, and placing them in his
pocket. "Now, Mr. Stocmar, thus far has been all business between us.
You have done me a small service, and for it I am willing to forgive
a great wrong; still, it is a fair bargain. Let us see, however, if
we cannot carry our dealings a little further. Here is a case where a
dreadful scandal will be unburied, and one of the most fearful crimes
be brought again b