in the Black Raven' Waiter,
I say! fly to this exalted woman!"

Balby rushed out to seek the hostess and have himself announced.

Madame Blaken received him in her boudoir, to which she had withdrawn
to rest a little after the labors of the day. These labors were ever
a victory and added to her fame. There was no better table prepared in
Holland than that of the Black Raven. She was in full toilet, having
just left the dinner table where she had presided at the table d'hote as
lady of the house, and received with dignity the praise of her guests.
These encomiums still resounded in her ears, and she reclined upon the
divan and listened to their pleasing echo. The door opened and the head
waiter announced Mr. Zoller. The countenance of Madame Blaken was dark,
and she was upon the point of declining to receive him, but it was too
late; the daring Zoller had had the boldness to enter just behind the
waiter, and he was now making his most reverential bow to the lady.
Madame Blaken returned this greeting with a slight nod of the head, and
she regarded the stranger in his cheap and simple toilet with a rather
contemptuous smile. She thought to herself that this ordinary man had
surely made a mistake in entering her hotel. Neither his rank, fortune,
nor celebrity could justify his lodging at the Black Raven. She was
resolved to reprove her head waiter for allowing such plain and poor
people to enter the best hotel in Amsterdam.

"Sir," said she, in a cold and cutting tone, "you come without doubt to
excuse your brother and yourself for not having appeared to-day at
my table d'hote. You certainly know that politeness requires that you
should dine in the hotel where you lodge. Do not distress yourself,
however, sir. I do not feel offended now that I have seen you. I
understand fully why you did not dine with me, but sought your modest
meal elsewhere. The table d'hote in the Black Raven is the most
expensive in Amsterdam, and only wealthy people put their feet under my
table and enjoy my dishes."

While she thus spoke, her glance wandered searchingly over Balby, who
did not seem to remark it, or to comprehend her significant words.

"Madame," said he, "allow me to remark that we have not dined. My
brother, whose will is always mine, prefers taking his dinner in his
own apartment, where he has more quiet comfort and can better enjoy your
rare viands. He never dines at a table d'hote. In every direction he has
heard of your won