,
and never have we suffered from physical want. Therefore, he may not
object now. He may feel that he has enriched himself sufficiently to
let us go free, and if I must give my oath to let the past go without
explanation, why I am ready, my dear; nothing can undo it now, and I am
grown too old to want money except for her." "I cannot," I murmured, "I
cannot find courage to present the subject to him so. I do not know my
husband's mind. It is a fathomless abyss to me. Let me think of some
other way. Oh, madam! if you were out of the house, and could then
come----" Suddenly a thought struck me. "I can do it; I see the way to
do it--a way that will place you in a triumphant position, and yet save
him from suspicion. He is weary of this care. He wants to be relieved of
the dreadful secret which anchors him to this house, and makes a hell of
the very spot in which he has fixed his love. Shall we undertake to
do his for him? Can you trust me if I promise to take an immediate
impression of this key, and have one made for myself, which shall insure
my return here?"

"My dear," she said, taking my head between her two trembling hands, "I
have never looked upon a sweeter face than my daughter's till I looked
upon yours to-day. If you bid me hope, I will hope, and if you bid
me trust, I will trust. The remembrance of this kiss will not let you
forget." And she embraced me in a warm and tender manner.

"I will write you," I murmured. "Some day look for a billet under the
door. It will tell you what to do; now I must go back to my husband."

And, with a sudden access of fear, caused by my dread of meeting his
eyes with this hidden knowledge between us, I hastened out and locked
the door behind me.

When I reached the office, I was in a fainting condition, but all my
hopes revived again when I saw the vest still hanging where I had left
it, and heard my husband's voice singing cheerfully in the adjoining
room.

CHAPTER VI. WHILE OTHERS DANCED.

I CANNOT enter into the feelings of this dreadful time. I do not know
if I loved or hated the man I had undertaken to save. I only know I was
determined to bring light out of darkness in a way that would compromise
nobody, possibly not even myself. But to do this I must dazzle him
into giving me a great pleasure. A crowd in the ------ Street house was
necessary to the quiet escape of Mrs. Ran-some and her daughter; so a
crowd we must have, and how have a crowd without giving a gr