to let
him supply her reasons for so saying. "I hope your trouble is over,
dear."

"Thank you," said he. "I am sure that after a few hours in my rooms, I
shall be quite refreshed. Will you please put me down at the Bellevale
House? I shall beg the privilege of calling soon."

"Why!" She looked swiftly at him, looked at the horse, and again at
him. "Soon?" she went on, as if astonished. "I shall be alone this
evening--if you care about it!"

"Oh, yes!" said he confusedly, "this evening, yes! I meant sooner--in
a few minutes, you know!"

"No," said she, in that tone which surely denotes the raising of the
drawbridge of pique; "you must rest until this evening. Who is the old
gentleman who has been waiting two or three days to see you?"

"Judge Blodgett, an old friend," said he, relieved to find some matter
with reference to which he could tell the truth.

"And the queer-looking lady--do you know her?"

"Oh, yes!" said Amidon; "she is a good friend, too."

"Ah!" the girl answered, in a tone which said almost anything, but was
not by any means without significance. "And who is she?"

"Her professional name is Madame le Claire; in private life, she is
Miss Blatherwick."

"I didn't see the rest of the troupe," said Miss Waldron icily; "or
perhaps she's an elocutionist."

"No," said Amidon, "she's an occultist--a sort of--well, a hypnotist."

There was a long pause here, during which they drew near to the big
brick building on the side of which Amidon saw the sign of the
Bellevale House.

"Also an old friend?" inquired Miss Waldron.

"Oh, no!" said Florian; "I met her only a week or two ago."

"She must be very charming," said Elizabeth, "to have inspired so much
friendship in so short a time. Here we are at the hotel. Do you
really think you'll call this evening? _Au revoir_, then."

Even the unsophisticated Amidon could perceive, now, that the
drawbridge was up, the portcullis down, and all the bars and shutters
of the castle in place. Moreover, in the outer darkness in which he
moved, he imagined there roamed lions and wolves and ravening
beasts--and he with no guide but Judge Blodgett, who stands there in
the lobby, so wildly beckoning to him.

X

THE WRONG HOUSE

When Adam strayed
In Eden's bow'rs,
One little maid
Amused his hours.
He fell! But, friend,
I leave to you
Where he'd have dropped
Had there been two!
--_Paradise Rehypotheca