last day of the month. Had I reached my destination in
time?

As I interpreted the writing of the apparition, I had still some hours
at my disposal. The phrase, "at the month's end," meant, as I understood
it, at the last hour of the last day in the month. If I took up my
position "under the shadow of Saint Paul's," say, at ten that night, I
should arrive at the place of meeting with two hours to spare, before
the last stroke of the clock marked the beginning of the new month.

At half-past nine, I left my mother to rest after her long journey, and
privately quit the house. Before ten, I was at my post. The night was
fine and clear; and the huge shadow of the cathedral marked distinctly
the limits within which I had been bid to wait, on the watch for events.

The great clock of Saint Paul's struck ten--and nothing happened.

The next hour passed very slowly. I walked up and down; at one time
absorbed in my own thoughts; at another, engaged in watching the gradual
diminution in the number of foot passengers who passed me as the night
advanced. The City (as it is called) is the most populous part of
London in the daytime; but at night, when it ceases to be the center of
commerce, its busy population melts away, and the empty streets assume
the appearance of a remote and deserted quarter of the metropolis. As
the half hour after ten struck--then the quarter to eleven--then the
hour--the pavement steadily became more and more deserted. I could count
the foot passengers now by twos and threes; and I could see the places
of public refreshment within my view beginning already to close for the
night.

I looked at the clock; it pointed to ten minutes past eleven. At that
hour, could I hope to meet Mrs. Van Brandt alone in the public street?

The more I thought of it, the less likely such an event seemed to be.
The more reasonable probability was that I might meet her once more,
accompanied by some friend--perhaps under the escort of Van Brandt
himself. I wondered whether I should preserve my self-control, in the
presence of that man, for the second time.

While my thoughts were still pursuing this direction, my attention was
recalled to passing events by a sad little voice, putting a strange
little question, close at my side.

"If you please, sir, do you know where I can find a chemist's shop open
at this time of night?"

I looked round, and discovered a poorly clad little boy, with a basket
over his arm, and a morsel