. I'm late to-day in making my
inquiries after our young lady. You see we have been hard at work
upstairs, getting the bedroom ready for a new lodger. Such a contrast
to the person who has just left. A perfect gentleman, this time--and
so kind in waiting a week till I was able to accommodate him. My ground
floor rooms were vacant, as you know--but he said the terms were too
high for him. Oh, I didn't forget to mention that we had an invalid in
the house! Quiet habits (I said) are indeed an essential qualification
of any new inmate, at such a time as this. He understood. 'I've been an
invalid myself' (he said); 'and the very reason I am leaving my present
lodgings is that they are not quiet enough.' Isn't that just the sort of
man we want? And, let me tell you, a handsome man too. With a drawback,
I must own, in the shape of a bald head. But such a beard, and such a
thrilling voice! Hush! Did I hear her calling?"

At last, the landlady permitted other sounds to be audible, besides the
sound of her own voice. It became possible to discover that Carmina was
now awake. Teresa hurried into the bedroom.

Left by herself in the sitting-room, the landlady--"purely out of
curiosity," as she afterwards said, in conversation with her new
lodger--opened the cupboard, and looked in.

The canister stood straight before her, on an upper shelf. Did Miss
Carmina's nurse take snuff? She examined the canister: there was a
white powder inside. The mutilated label spoke in an unknown tongue. She
wetted her finger and tasted the powder. The result was so disagreeable
that she was obliged to use her handkerchief. She put the canister back,
and closed the cupboard.

"Medicine, undoubtedly," the landlady said to herself. "Why should she
hurry to put it away, when I came in?"

CHAPTER LI.

In eight days from the date of his second interview with Mrs. Gallilee,
Mr. Le Frank took possession of his new bedroom.

He had arranged to report his proceedings in writing. In Teresa's state
of mind, she would certainly distrust a fellow-lodger, discovered in
personal communication with Mrs. Gallilee. Mr. Le Frank employed the
first day after his arrival in collecting the materials for a report. In
the evening, he wrote to Mrs. Gallilee--under cover to a friend, who was
instructed to forward the letter.

"Private and confidential. Dear Madam,--I have not wasted my time and my
opportunities, as you will presently see.

"My bedroom is immed