e, cast another glance towards the chambers of
Mlle. Rigolette, remembering with deep interest all he had heard of her
being the favourite companion of the poor Goualeuse, and recalling also
the information she was said to possess touching the residence of the
Schoolmaster's son, when the sound of some person quitting the
apartments of the quack doctor below attracted his attention, and he
could distinctly hear the light step of a female, with the rustling of a
silk dress. Rodolph paused till the sounds had died away, and then
descended the stairs. Something white had fallen about half-way down; it
had evidently been dropped by the person who had just quitted Polidori.
Rodolph picked it up, and carried it to one of the narrow windows which
lighted the staircase. It was a pocket-handkerchief, of the finest
cambric, trimmed with costly lace, and bearing in one corner the
initials "L. N." beautifully embroidered, and surmounted with a ducal
coronet. The handkerchief was literally soaked in tears.

Rodolph's first impulse was to follow the person from whose hand this
mute evidence of deep woe had fallen, with the view of restoring it,
but, reflecting that such a step might be mistaken for impertinent
curiosity, he determined to preserve it carefully, as the first link in
an adventure he found himself almost involuntarily engaged in, and from
which he augured a painful and melancholy termination. As he returned to
the porteress, he inquired whether a female had not just come
down-stairs.

"A female! No indeed, sir,--it was a fine, tall, slender-looking lady,
not a female, and covered over with a thick black veil. She has come
from M. Bradamanti. Little Tortillard fetched a coach for her, and she
has just driven away in it. What struck me was the impudence of that
little beggar to seat himself behind the coach. I dare say, though, it
was to see where the lady went to, for he is as mischievous as a magpie,
and as prying as a ferret, for all his club-foot."

"So, then," thought Rodolph, "the name and address of this unhappy lady
will soon be known to this imposter, since it is, doubtless, by his
directions she is followed and watched by this imp of an emissary."

"Well, sir, and what do you think of the apartment? Will it suit you?"
inquired Madame Pipelet.

"Nothing could have suited me better. I have taken it, and to-morrow I
shall send in my furniture."

"Well, then, thank God for a good lodger! I am sure it was a luck