so
well describes eyes such as these, which seem charged with a
meaning beyond that which their owner is able to express in
words, or is, perhaps, even conscious of. When seen in
children, they seem to contain a whole prophecy of their
future lives, and in Madelon they had probably a large share
in the powers of attraction which she undoubtedly possessed;
few could resist their mute appeal, which, child as she was,
went beyond her own thought, and touched deeper sympathies
than any she could yet have known.

There was a moment's silence after Madelon had spoken, and
then she once more turned from the window with a disappointed
air.

"Pardon, Monsieur," she said again, "but can you tell me what
time it is? Is it past eleven?"

"It is more than half-past," said Graham, looking at his
watch. "Have you been waiting here long?"

"Since ten o'clock," said Madelon, "papa said he would be in
by ten. I cannot think where he can be."

"He has probably found something to detain him," suggested
Graham.

"No," answered Madelon, rejecting this obvious proposition;
"for he had an appointment here; there is some one waiting for
him now."

"Then he has perhaps come in without your knowing it?"

"I do not think so," said Madelon, "he would have called me;
and besides, I should have seen him cross the courtyard. I saw
you come in just now, Monsieur."

Nevertheless she left her station by the window, and moved
slowly along the passage to their apartment; it was just
opposite Graham's, and as she went in, leaving the door open,
Horace, who had followed her without any very definite
purpose, looked in. It was a tolerably large room, with a door
to the left opening into a smaller apartment, Utrecht velvet
chairs and sofa, a mantelpiece also covered with velvet, on
which stood a clock, a tall looking-glass, and two lighted wax
candles; a table in the middle with some packs of cards, and a
liqueur bottle and glasses, and a bed on one side opposite the
fireplace. The window looked on to a side street, noisy with
the incessant rattling of vehicles, and so narrow that the
numerous lighted interiors of the houses opposite were visible
to the most casual observer. A smell of smoking pervaded the
room, explained by the presence of a young man, who held a
cigar in one hand, whilst he leaned half out of the window,
over the low iron balcony in front, shouting to some one in
the street below. He looked round as Madelon came in, and
sl