in?" said the tigress, almost
languishing again with one eye.

"Well; no. What would be the use? No man likes to be shut in, you
know."

"Go, then," said the tigress; "but if you think that this is to be
the end of it you'll find yourself wonderfully mistaken. You poor
false, drivelling creature! Lily Dale won't touch you with a pair of
tongs. It's no use your going to her."

"Go away, sir, this moment, and don't contaminate my room an instant
longer by your presence," said the dragon, who had observed through
the window that the bull's-eye was still in full force before the
house. Then John Eames withdrew, and descending into the hall made
his way in the dark to the front door. For aught he knew there might
still be treachery in regard to the lock; but his heart was comforted
as he heard the footfall of the policeman on the door-step. With much
fumbling he succeeded at last in turning the key and drawing the
bolt, and then he found himself at liberty in the street. Before he
even spoke a word to the policeman he went out into the road and
looked up at the window. He could just see the figure of the dragon's
helmet as she was closing the shutters. It was the last he ever saw
of Lady Demolines or of her daughter.

"What was it all about?" said the policeman.

"I don't know that I can just tell you," said Johnny, searching in
his pocket-book for half a sovereign which he tendered to the man.
"There was a little difficulty, and I'm obliged to you for waiting."

"There ain't nothing wrong?" said the man suspiciously, hesitating
for a moment before he accepted the coin.

"Nothing on earth. I'll wait with you, while you have the house
opened and inquire, if you wish it. The truth is somebody inside
refused to have the door opened, and I didn't want to stay there all
night."

"They're a rummy couple, if what I hear is true."

"They are a rummy couple," said Johnny.

"I suppose it's all right," said the policeman, taking the money. And
then John walked off home by himself, turning in his mind all the
circumstances of his connection with Miss Demolines. Taking his own
conduct as a whole, he was rather proud of it; but he acknowledged to
himself that it would be well that he should keep himself free from
the society of Madalinas for the future.

CHAPTER LXXXI

Barchester Cloisters

On the morning of the Sunday after the dean's return Mr. Harding was
lying in his bed, and Posy was sitting on the bed besid