nct the man who disliked
her--and she waited deliberately for Stone to reply.

"We have been here some time," he said, "and we shall be obliged, ma'am,
if you will let us have our bill."

Mrs. Pounce lifted her eyebrows with an expression of innocent surprise.

"Has the captain got well, and must you go on board to-night?" she
asked.

"Nothing of the sort!" Cosway interposed. "We have no news of the
captain, and we are going to the theater to-night."

"But," persisted Stone, "we want, if you please, to have the bill."

"Certainly, sir," said Mrs. Pounce, with a sudden assumption of respect.
"But we are very busy downstairs, and we hope you will not press us for
it to-night?"

"Of course not!" cried Cosway.

Mrs. Pounce instantly left the room, without waiting for any further
remark from Cosway's friend.

"I wish we had gone to some other house," said Stone. "You mark my
words--that woman means to cheat us."

Cosway expressed his dissent from this opinion in the most amiable
manner. He filled his friend's glass, and begged him not to say
ill-natured things of Mrs. Pounce.

But Stone's usually smooth temper seemed to be ruffled; he insisted on
his own view. "She's impudent and inquisitive, if she is not downright
dishonest," he said. "What right had she to ask you where we lived when
we were at home; and what our Christian names were; and which of us was
oldest, you or I? Oh, yes--it's all very well to say she only showed a
flattering interest in us! I suppose she showed a flattering interest in
my affairs, when I awoke a little earlier than usual, and caught her in
my bedroom with my pocketbook in her hand. Do you believe she was going
to lock it up for safety's sake? She knows how much money we have got
as well as we know it ourselves. Every half-penny we have will be in her
pocket tomorrow. And a good thing, too--we shall be obliged to leave the
house."

Even this cogent reasoning failed in provoking Cosway to reply. He took
Stone's hat, and handed it with the utmost politeness to his foreboding
friend. "There's only one remedy for such a state of mind as yours," he
said. "Come to the theater."

At ten o'clock the next morning Cosway found himself alone at the
breakfast-table. He was informed that Mr. Stone had gone out for a
little walk, and would be back directly. Seating himself at the table,
he perceived an envelope on his plate, which evidently inclosed the
bill. He took up the envelope, conside