f urging my suit
with success. Why should we meet again in life, when both of us are
travelling opposite roads?"

"This suit of yours is, then, a real demand, founded upon an actual
loss,--matter of fact throughout?" This, although said in these few
words, had nothing offensive in its tone, and I replied by an assurance
of my good faith and veracity.

"Send me the memorial this evening; to-morrow, or the day after
at farthest, you shall have an answer. As for your demand upon the
Havannah, the banker is my own, and I can answer for your being
honorably dealt with; all your property in his keeping, I will
guarantee."

"If that be so, Senhora, I am indifferent about the Spanish Minister's
reply; I shall have wealth more than enough for all my desires, without
him."

"How do you call yourself in these papers?" asked she, hurriedly.

"El Conde de Cregano."

"And you were known by that title in Mexico?"

"Certainly; I have no other."

She stared at me fixedly for a minute or two, and then muttered to
herself, "By what pretension should _I_ question his rank!" then,
turning to me, said, "Senhor el Conde de Cregano, I receive the world at
large every evening save Saturday; that night I reserve for my friends.
Come as often as you can during the week, but never omit a Saturday;
visit me at the opera frequently; speak to me always when we meet in
public places; be my intimate friend, in fact, but not more,--you have
too much tact to be my admirer." With this she gave me her hand, which
I pressed respectfully to my lips, and bowing deeply, moved towards the
door.

"We understand each other," said she, calmly.

"Perfectly, Madame," replied I.

"Then never say, sir," resumed she, in a stern, determined voice, "never
say that you are not an adventurer; never dare to tell me that one who
so quickly assumes a part is not a professed actor on the great boards
of life, ready to take the character assigned him, be it broad farce
or comedy,--ay, or even tragedy, if needs were. Do not deny or seek
to contradict me; I did not care that your countship had fourteen
quarterings behind it,--nay, I like you even better as you are. There,
now you look natural and at your ease. Adieu, Monsieur le Comte."

"Adieu, Madame la Marquise," said I putting as much irony into my accent
as might repay her; and then we parted. Whatever her feelings, I know
not,--mine, I own, were scarcely of the pleasantest; prompting me to
make my residence