y a span of
thorough-paced horses, whose black coats shone in the moonlight like
jet, while they champed their silver bits, and blew the white froth
with the breath of their proud nostrils out like spray over the rich
trappings of their harness, rolled with a rapid, but almost noiseless
motion, through one of the broad streets of a fashionable quarter of
the city. The light which flickered down from the silver coach-lamps
revealed magnificent hangings of brocade and velvet, looped back with
twisted cords of silk and silver thread. The driver and footman were
clad in livery which corresponded with the elegant style of the
equipage. They turned in a broad, aristocratic-looking square, and
drew up in front of a handsome and spacious mansion. The officious
footman sprung to the pavement, swung back the carriage-door, and held
out his gloved hand to assist a lady, who was within to get out.

"No need, sirrah," she said, haughtily, as she stepped lightly out, and
ran up the broad marble steps of the mansion, where, heedless of her
stainless and delicate gloves, she seized the bell-knob, and rung
violently. During the few moments she waited for admission, her foot,
clad in white satin, beat the threshold with a light, but restless
motion. Her brocade-robe about which costly laces hung in gossamer
clouds, rustled down in rich folds to the marble floor of the
vestibule, while with every pulsation of her heart, and movement of her
body, gems flashed out in the moonlight. Long, shining curls, slightly
tossed by the night breeze, floated down over her cheeks and bosom,
half concealing the rare beauty of her face. It was Helen! The door
was at length opened, and attended by her drowsy maid, she hurried up
to her chamber. It was a lofty, and beautifully proportioned room,
filled with every thing the most luxurious fancy could desire, and
arranged with fastidious taste and elegance. Flowers were heaped up in
Eastern vases, near the open window, and deep-cushioned chairs, and
softly pillowed lounges, covered with pale, saffron-colored silk, were
arranged here and there throughout the gorgeous room. The low, and
exquisitely carved French bedstead was half hidden by a flowing drapery
of embroidered lace, which, depending from a small hoop of
mother-of-pearl in the ceiling, hung like a tent over it. The
toilette-table was elaborately furnished. Between its twisted rosewood
pillars, which were inlaid with pearl, in graceful d