e took her up to the
reception-room and left her there, while he went to the office and
engaged apartments for himself and for her.

And then he came for her, attended by the porter, who loaded himself
with their traveling-bags, umbrellas, and so forth, and led the way up
two pairs of stairs to a little suite of apartments, consisting of two
small chambers, with a small parlor between them.

They entered the parlor first, where communicating doors on the right
and left led into opposite chambers.

The porter put down the luggage, received his fee, and retired.

"I hope you like these rooms, Mrs. Grey. The two chambers are exactly
alike; but if you have a preference, please take it," said Alden,
pleasantly.

"It does not matter the least. I will go in here," answered Mary Grey,
opening the right-hand door and disappearing through it, with her
traveling-bag in her hand.

She found every convenience for making a clean toilet there. And when
she had refreshed herself with a wash and a change of dress, she
re-entered the little parlor, where she found supper laid on the table
and an attentive waiter at hand.

"I ordered supper here, because I remembered your fastidiousness and
thought you would prefer this to the public dining-room," explained
Alden.

"Thanks! Oh, I do like it ever so much better! I can not endure the
public rooms," said Mary Grey, as she took the seat the obsequious
waiter placed for her.

"Anything more, if you please, sir?" inquired the man.

"N-n-no," answered Alden, hesitatingly; for in fact, if he could have
found a fair excuse, he would have preferred to have the waiter remain
in attendance.

The man bowed and left the room.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE SERPENT AT WORK.

One sole desire, one passion, now remains
To keep life's fever still within her veins.
For this alone she lives--like lightning's fire,
To speed one bolt of ruin--and expire.
--BYRON.

Alden sat down at the table and began to carve a roasted chicken.

While he was intent upon his task, Mary Grey drew from her watch-pocket
a little folded paper. With her eyes upon him, to be sure that he was
not observing her, she deftly poured a white powder from this paper into
one of the coffee-cups, and then quickly returned the empty paper to her
watch-pocket.

Meanwhile he had taken off the liver-wing from the roasted chicken and
placed it on a warm plate, which h