ed and banged with every foot that came and went; while the windows
were defended by strong iron railings, as if anything inside them could
possibly demand such means of protection.

I followed Mr. Basset as he led the way up these apparently interminable
stairs, till at length the decreasing head room betokened that we were
near the slates. Mumbling a half apology for the locale, he introduced
me into a long, low attic, where a settle bed of the humblest
pretensions and a single rush-bottomed chair supporting a basin were
the only articles of furniture. Something like the drop curtain of a
strolling theatre closed up the distance; but this I could only perceive
imperfectly by the dim twilight of a dip candle, and in my state of
fatigue and weariness, I had little inclination to explore further.
Wishing me a good night, and promising that I should be called betimes
next morning, Mr. Basset took his leave; while I, overcome by a long day
of care and anxiety, threw myself on the bed, and slept far more soundly
than I could have believed it were possible for me to do under the roof
of Anthony Basset.

The sun was streaming in a rich flood of yellow light through a small
skylight, and playing its merry gambols on the floor, when I awoke. The
birds, too, were singing; and the hum of the street noises, mellowed by
distance, broke not unpleasantly on the ear. It did not take me long to
remember where I was, and why. The conversation of the evening before
recurred at once to my mind; and hope, stronger than ever before I felt
it, filled my heart. It was clear Basset could place little value on
such services as mine; and if I could only contrive to make it his
interest to part with me, he would not hesitate about it. I resolved
that, whatever price he put upon my freedom, if in my power I should
pay it. My next plan was to find out, through some of the persons in
correspondence with France, the means of reaching that country, in whose
military service I longed to enroll myself. Had I but the papers of my
poor friend Charles de Meudon, there had been little difficulty in this;
but unfortunately they were seized by Major Barton on the day of his
death, and I had never seen them since.

While I revolved these thoughts within myself I heard the merry notes of
a girl's voice, singing apparently in the very room with me. I started
up and looked about me, and now perceived that what seemed so like a
drop curtain' the night before was