little dreamed who one of his guests was that morning.

After breakfast we walked up Broadway, and entering Union Square Park,
took a seat on one of the benches under the trees, watched the children
at play, and talked over the situation. Mrs. Lincoln told me: "Lizzie,
yesterday morning I called for the _Herald_ at the breakfast table, and
on looking over the list of diamond brokers advertised, I selected the
firm of W. H. Brady & Co., 609 Broadway. After breakfast I walked down
to the house, and tried to sell them a lot of jewelry. I gave my name as
Mrs. Clarke. I first saw Mr. Judd, a member of the firm, a very pleasant
gentleman. We were unable to agree about the price. He went back into
the office, where a stout gentleman was seated at the desk, but I could
not hear what he said. [I know now what was said, and so shall the
reader, in parentheses. Mr. Brady has since told me that he remarked to
Mr. Judd that the woman must be crazy to ask such outrageous prices,
and to get rid of her as soon as possible.] Soon after Mr. Judd came
back to the counter, another gentleman, Mr. Keyes, as I have since
learned, a silent partner in the house, entered the store. He came to
the counter, and in looking over my jewelry discovered my name inside of
one of the rings. I had forgotten the ring, and when I saw him looking
at the name so earnestly, I snatched the bauble from him and put it into
my pocket. I hastily gathered up my jewelry, and started out. They asked
for my address, and I left my card, Mrs. Clarke, at the St. Denis Hotel.
They are to call to see me this forenoon, when I shall enter into
negotiations with them."

Scarcely had we returned to the hotel when Mr. Keyes called, and Mrs.
Clarke disclosed to him that she was Mrs. Lincoln. He was much elated to
find his surmise correct. Mrs. L. exhibited to him a large number of
shawls, dresses, and fine laces, and told him that she was compelled to
sell them in order to live. He was an earnest Republican, was much
affected by her story, and denounced the ingratitude of the government
in the severest terms. She complained to him of the treatment she had
received at the St. Denis, and he advised her to move to another hotel
forthwith. She readily consented, and as she wanted to be in an
out-of-the-way place where she would not be recognized by any of her old
friends, he recommended the Earle Hotel in Canal street.

On the way down to the hotel that morning she acceded to a sug