vily upon my hands; and I propose to rid myself of that
concern, and do you a very good turn into the bargain, by lending you
the mansion, with all its fittings, as it stands. The idea was sudden;
it appealed to me as humorous; and I am sure it will cause my relatives,
if they should ever hear of it, the keenest possible chagrin. Here,
then, is the key; and when you return at two to-morrow afternoon, you
will find neither me nor my cats to disturb you in your new possession."

So saying, the old lady arose, as if to dismiss her visitor; but
Somerset, looking somewhat blankly on the key, began to protest.

"Dear Mrs. Luxmore," said he, "this is a most unusual proposal. You know
nothing of me, beyond the fact that I displayed both impudence and
timidity. I may be the worst kind of scoundrel; I may sell your
furniture--"

"You may blow up the house with gunpowder, for what I care!" cried Mrs.
Luxmore. "It is in vain to reason. Such is the force of my character
that, when I have one idea clearly in my head, I do not care two straws
for any side consideration. It amuses me to do it, and let that suffice.
On your side, you may do what you please--let apartments, or keep a
private hotel; on mine, I promise you a full month's warning before I
return, and I never fail religiously to keep my promises."

The young man was about to renew his protest, when he observed a sudden
and significant change in the old lady's countenance.

"If I thought you capable of disrespect!" she cried.

"Madam," said Somerset, with the extreme fervour of asseveration,
"madam, I accept. I beg you to understand that I accept with joy and
gratitude."

"Ah, well," returned Mrs. Luxmore, "if I am mistaken, let it pass. And
now, since all is comfortably settled, I wish you a good-night."

Thereupon, as if to leave him no room for repentance, she hurried
Somerset out of the front door, and left him standing, key in hand, upon
the pavement.

The next day, about the hour appointed, the young man found his way to
the square, which I will here call Golden Square, though that was not
its name. What to expect, he knew not; for a man may live in dreams, and
yet be unprepared for their realisation. It was already with a certain
pang of surprise that he beheld the mansion, standing in the eye of day,
a solid among solids. The key, upon trial, readily opened the front
door; he entered that great house, a privileged burglar; and, escorted
by the echoes of dese