"Yes，sir；aboutlikeFanny's。"
Mr。Grycespreadhishandoverhisbreastinawaythatassuredmeofhissatisfaction，andallowedthegirltogo。
"Wewillnowproceedtotheyard，"saidhe。Butatthatmomentthedoorofthefrontroomopenedandagentlemansteppedleisurelyintothehall，whomatfirstglanceIrecognizedasthemasterofthehouse。Hewasdressedforthestreetandhadhishatinhishand。Atthesightweallstoodsilent，Mrs。Danielsflushinguptotherootsofhergrayhair。
Mr。Blakeisanelegant-lookingmanasyouperhapsknow；proud，reserved，andatriflesombre。Asheturnedtocometowardsus，thelightshiningthroughthewindowsatourright，fellfulluponhisface，revealingsuchaself-absorbedandmelancholyexpression，I
involuntarilydrewbackasifIhadunwittinglyintrudeduponagreatman'sprivacy。Mr。Gryceonthecontrarysteppedforward。
"Mr。Blake，Ibelieve，"saidhe，bowinginthatdeferentialwayheknowssowellhowtoassume。
Thegentleman，startledasitevidentlyseemedfromareverie，lookedhastilyup。MeetingMr。Gryce'sblandsmile，hereturnedthebow，buthaughtily，andasitappearedinanabstractedway。
"Allowmetointroducemyself，"proceededmysuperior。"IamMr。Grycefromthedetectivebureau。Wewerenotifiedthismorningthatagirlinyouremployhaddisappearedfromyourhouselastnightinasomewhatstrangeandunusualway，andIjuststeppedoverwithmymanhere，toseeifthematterisofsufficientimportancetoinquireinto。Withmanyapoligiesfortheintrusion，Istandobedienttoyourorders。"
Withafrownexpressiveofannoyance，Mr。BlakeglancedaroundanddetectingMrs。Daniels，said:"Didyouconsidertheaffairsoseriousasthat?"
Shenodded，seemingtofinditdifficulttospeak。
Heremainedlookingatherwithanexpressionofsomedoubt。"Icanhardlythink，"saidhe，"suchextrememeasureswerenecessary；thegirlwilldoubtlesscomeback，orifnot——"Hisshouldersgaveaslightshrugandhetookouthisgloves。
"Thedifficultyseemstobe，"quothMr。Gryceeyeingthosegloveswithhismostintentandconcentratedlook，"thatthegirldidnotgoalone，butwashelpedaway，orforcedaway，bypartieswhohadpreviouslybrokenintoyourhouse。"
"Thatisastrangecircumstance，"remarkedMr。Blake，butstillwithoutanyappearanceofinterest，"andifyouaresureofwhatyousay，demands，perhaps，someinquiry。Iwouldnotwishtoputanythinginthewayofjusticesuccoringtheinjured。But——"againhegavethatslightshrugoftheshoulders，indicativeofdoubt，ifnotindifference。
Mrs。Danielstrembled，andtookastepforward。Ithoughtshewasgoingtospeak，butinsteadofthatshedrewbackagaininherstrangehesitatingway。
Mr。Grycedidnotseemtonotice。
"Perhapssir，"saidhe，"ifyouwillstepupstairswithmetotheroomoccupiedbythisgirl，Imaybeabletoshowyoucertainevidenceswhichwillconvinceyouthatourerrandhereisnotoneofpresumption。"
"Iamreadytoconcedethatwithouttroublingmyselfwithproof，"
observedthemasterofthehousewiththefaintestshowofasperity。
"Yetifthereisanythingtoseeofastartlingnature，perhapsIhadbestyieldtoyourwishes。Whereaboutsinthehouseisthisgirl'sroom，Mrs。Daniels?"
"Itis——Igaveherthethirdstoryback，Mr。Blake；"repliedthatwoman，nervouslyeyeinghisface。"Itwaslargeandlightforsewing，andshewassonice——"
Heimpatientlywavedhishandonwhichhehadbythistimefittedhisglovetoanicety，asifthesedetailswereanunnecessaryboretohim，andmotionedhertoshowtheway。Instantlyanewfeelingappearedtoseizeher，thatofalarm。
"IhardlythinkyouneedtroubleMr。Blaketogoup-stairs，"shemurmured，turningtowardsMr。Gryce。"IamsurewhenyoutellhimtheCurtainsweretorn，andthechairupset，thewindowopenand——"
ButMr。GrycewasalreadyonthestairswithMr。Blake，whomthissmalloppositionseemedtohaveatoncedetermined。
"OmyGod!"shemurmuredtoherself，"whocouldhaveforeseenthis。"
Andignoringmypresencewithalltheegotismofextremeagitation，shehurriedpastmetotheroomabove，whereIspeedilyjoinedher。
CHAPTERIII
THECONTENTSOFABUREAUDRAWER
Mr。BlakewasstandinginthecentreoftheroomwhenIentered，carelesslyfollowingwithhiseyesthemotionofMr。Gryce'sfingerasthatgentlemanpointedwithunwearyingassiduitytothevariouslittledetailsthathadstruckus。Hishatwasstillinhishand，andhepresentedaveryformidableandimposingappearance，orsoMrs。Danielsappearedtothinkasshestoodwatchinghimfromthecorner，whithershehadwithdrawnherself。
"Aforcibledepartureyousee，"exclaimedMr。Gryce；"shehadnoteventimetogatherupherclothes；"andwithasuddenmovementhestoopedandpulledoutoneofthebureaudrawersbeforetheeyesofhisnonchalantlistener。
Immediatelyasmotheredexclamationstruckourears，andMrs。Danielsstartedforward。
"Ipray，gentlemen，"sheentreated，advancinginsuchawayastoplaceherselfagainstthefrontofthebureauinamannertoprecludetheopeningofanymoredrawers，"thatyouwillrememberthatamodestwomansuchasthisgirlwas，wouldhardlyliketohaveherclothingdisplayedbeforetheeyesofstrangers。"
Mr。Gryceinstantlyclosedthedrawer。
"Youareright，"saidhe；"pardontheroughwaysofasomewhathardenedofficerofthelaw。"
Shedrewupclosertothebureau，stillprotectingitwithhermeagrebutenergeticformwhilehereyesrestedwithalmostasavageexpressionuponthemasterofthehouseasifhe，andnotthedetective，hadbeentheaggressorwhoseadvancesshefeared。
Mr。Blakedidnotreturnthelook。
"Ifthatisallyoucanshowme，IthinkIwillproceedtomyappointment，"saidhe。"ThematterdoesseemtobemoreseriousthanIthought，andifyoujudgeitnecessarytotakeanyactivemeasures，why，letnoconsiderationofmygreatandinherentdisliketonotorietyofanykind，interferewithwhatyouconsideryourduty。Asforthehouse，itisatyourcommand，underMrs。Daniels'direction。
Goodmorning。"Andreturningourbowswithonesingularlyimpressiveforallitselegantcarelessness，heatoncewithdrew。
Mrs。Danielstookonelongdeepbreathandcamefromthebureau。
InstantlyMr。Grycestoopedandpulledoutthedrawershehadsovisiblyprotected。Awhitetowelmetoureyes，spreadneatlyoutatitsfulllength。Liftingit，welookedbeneath。Acarefullyfoldeddressofdarkbluesilk，toallappearanceelegantlymade，confrontedourrathereagereyes。Besideit，acollarofexquisitelace——Iknowenoughofsuchmatterstobeajudge——prickedthroughbyagoldbreast-pinofastrangeanduniquepattern。Awitheredbunchofwhatappearedtohavebeenabouquetofredroses，surmountedthewhole，givingtotheotherwisecommonplacecollectiontheappearanceofarelicfromthetomb。
Webothdrewbackinsomeamazement，involuntarilyglancingupatMrs。
Daniels。
"Ihavenoexplanationtogive，"saidthatwoman，withacalmnessstrangelyincontrasttotheagitationshehaddisplayedwhileMr。
Blakehadremainedintheroom。"Thatthosethingsrichastheyare，reallybelongedtothegirl，Ihavenodoubt。Shebroughtthemwhenshecame，andtheyonlyconfirmwhatIhavebeforeintimated:thatshewasnoordinarysewinggirl，butawomanwhohadseenbetterdays。"
Withalow"humph!"andanotherglanceatthedarkbluedressanddelicatecollar，Mr。Grycecarefullyreplacedtheclothhehadtakenfromthem，andsoftlyclosedthedrawerwithouteitherofushavinglaidafingeruponasinglearticle。Fiveminuteslaterhedisappearedfromtheroom。
Ididnotseehimagaintilloccasiontookmebelow，whenIbeheldhimsoftlyissuefromMr。Blake'sprivateapartment。Meetingme，hesmiled，andIsawthatwhetherhewasconsciousofbetrayingitornot，hehadcomeuponsomeclueorattheleastfashionedforhimselfsometheorywithwhichhewasmoreorlesssatisfied。
"Anelegantapartment，that，"whisperedhe，noddingsidewaystowardtheroomhehadjustleft，"pityyouhaven'ttimetoexamineit。"
"AreyousurethatIhaven't?"returnedI，drawingastepnearertoescapetheeyesofMrs。Danielswhohaddescendedafterme。
"Quitesure；"andwehasteneddowntogetherintotheyard。
Butmycuriosityoncearousedinthiswaywouldnotletmerest。
TakinganopportunitywhenMr。Grycewasengagedinbanterwiththegirlsbelow，andinthiswaylearningmoreinaminuteofwhathewantedtoknowthansomemenwouldgatherinanhourbythatoranyothermethod，Istolelightlybackandenteredthisroom。
Ialmoststartedinmysurprise。InsteadoftheluxuriousapartmentI
hadpreparedmyselftobehold，aplain，scantily-furnishedroomopenedbeforeme，ofanaturebetweenalibraryandastudio。Therewasnotevenacarpetonthepolishedfloor，onlyarug，whichstrangetosaywasnotplacedinthecentreoftheroomorevenbeforethefireplace，butononeside，anddirectlyinfrontofapicturethatalmostatfirstblushhadattractedmyattentionasbeingtheonlyarticleintheroomworthlookingat。Itwastheportraitofawoman，handsome，haughtyandalluring；amodernbeauty，witheyesoffireburningbeneathhighpiledlocksofjettyblackness，thatwereonlyrelievedfrombeingtoointensebythescarlethoodofanoperacloak，thatwasdrawnoverthem。"Asister，"Ithoughttomyself，"itistoomodernforhismother，"andItookastepnearertoseeifI
couldtraceanylikenessinthechiselledfeaturesofthisdisdainfulbrunette，tothemorecharacteristiconesofthecarelessgentlemanwhohadstoodbutafewmomentsbeforeinmypresence。AsIdidso，I
wasstruckwiththedistancewithwhichthepicturestoodoutfromthewall，andthoughttomyselfthattheawkwardnessoftheframingcamenearmarringthebeautyofthisotherwiselovelyworkofart。AsforthelikenessIwasinsearchof，IfounditorthoughtIdid，intheexpressionoftheeyeswhichwereofthesamecolorasMr。Blake'sbutmorefullandpassionate；andsatisfiedthatIhadexhaustedallthepicturecouldtellme，IturnedtomakewhatotherobservationsI
could，whenIwasstartledbyconfrontingtheagitatedcountenanceofMrs。Danielswhohadenteredbehindme。
"ThisisMr。Blake'sroom，"saidshewithdignity；"nooneeverintrudesherebutmyself，noteventheservants。"
"Ibegpardon，"saidI，glancingaroundinvainforthesomethingwhichhadawakenedthatlookofsatisfactioninMr。Gryce'seyes。"I
wasattractedbythebeautyofthispicturevisiblethroughthehalfopendoorandsteppedintofavormyselfwithanearerview。Itisverylovely。AsisterofMr。Blake?"
"No，hiscousin；"andsheclosedthedoorafteruswithanemphasisthatproclaimedshewasanythingbutpleased。
Itwasmylastefforttoobtaininformationonmyownaccount。InafewmomentslaterMr。Gryceappearedfrombelow，andaconversationensuedwithMrs。Danielsthatabsorbedmywholeattention。
"Youareveryanxious，mymanheretellsme，thatthisgirlshouldbefound?"remarkedMr。Gryce；"somuchsothatyouarewillingtodefrayalltheexpensesofasearch?"
Shebowed。"AsfarasIamablesir；Ihaveafewhundredsinthebank，youarewelcometothem。IwouldnotkeepadollarbackifI
hadthousands，butIampoor，andcanonlypromiseyouwhatImyselfpossess；though——"andhercheeksgrewflushedandhotwithanunnaturalagitation——"Ibelievethatthousandswouldnotbelackingiftheywerefoundnecessary。I——Icouldalmostswearyoushallhaveanythinginreasonwhichyourequire；onlythegirlmustbefoundandsoon。"
"Haveyouthought，"proceededMr。Gryce，uterlyignoringthewildnessofthesestatements，"thatthegirlmaycomebackherselfifletalone?"
"Shewillcomebackifshecan，"quothMrs。Daniels。
"Didsheseemsowellsatisfiedwithherhomeastowarrantyouinsayingthat?"
"Shelikedherhome，butshelovedme，"returnedthewomansteadily。
"Shelovedmesowellshewouldneverhavegoneasshedidwithoutbeingforced。Yes，"saidshe，"thoughshemadenooutcryandstoppedtoputonherbonnetandshawl。Shewasnotagirltomakeafuss。Iftheyhadkilledheroutright，shewouldneverhaveutteredacry。"
"Whydoyousaythey?"
"BecauseIamconfidentIheardmorethanoneman'svoiceinherroom。"
"Humph!Wouldyouknowthosevoicesifyouheardthemagain?"
"No。"
TherewasasurpriseinthislastnegativewhichMr。Gryceevidentlynoticed。
"Iask，"saidhe，"becauseIhavebeentoldthatMr。Blakelatelykeptabodyservantwhohasbeenseentolookatthisgirlmorethanonce，whenshehaspassedhimonthestairs。"
Mrs。Daniels'faceturnedscarletwithrageandshehastilyrosefromthechair。"Idon'tbelieveit，"saidshe；"Henrywasamanwhoknewhisplace，and——Iwon'thearsuchthings，"shesuddenlyexclaimed；
"Emilywas——wasalady，and——"
"Well，well，"interposedMr。Grycesoothingly，"thoughthecatlooksattheking，itisnosignthekinglooksatthecat。Wehavetothinkofeverythingyouknow。"
"Youmustneverthinkofanythinglikethat。"
Mr。Grycesoftlyranhisthumbaroundthebrimofthehatheheldinhishand。"Mrs。Daniels，"observedhe，"itwouldgreatlyfacilitatemattersifyouwouldkindlytelluswhyyoutakesuchaninterestinthisgirl。Oneglimpseatherrealhistorywoulddomoretowadssettingusontherighttrackthananythingelseyoucouldoffer"
Herfaceassumedanunmistakablefrown。"HaveInottoldyou，"saidshe，"whatisknownofit?Thatshecametomeabouttwoyearsagoforwork；thatIlikedher，andsohiredher；thatshehasbeenwithuseversinceand——"
"Thenyouwillnottellus?"exclaimedMr。Gryce。
Herfacefellandalookofhesitationcrossedit。
"Idoubtifwecandoanythingunlessyoudo，"continuedhe。
Hercountenancesettledagainintoaresolvedexpression。
"Youaremistaken，"saidshe；"ifthegirlhadasecret——asnearlyallgirlshave，broughtlowasshehasevidentlybeen——ithadnothingtodowithherdisappearance，norwouldaknowledgeofithelpyouinanyway。Iamconfidentofthisandsoshallholdmypeace。"
Shewasnotawomantobefrightenedorcajoledintomakingrevelationsshedidnotthinknecessary，andseeingit，Mr。Grycerefrainedfromurgingherfurther。
"However，youwillatleasttellmethis，"saidhe，"whatweretheknick-knacksshetookawaywithherfromherbureaudrawer?"
"No，"saidshe，"fortheyhavenothingtodowithherabduction。Theywerearticlesofpositivevaluetoher，thoughIassureyouoflittleimportancetoanyoneelse。Allthatisshownbytheirdisappearanceisthefactthatshehadamoment'stimeallowedherinwhichtocollectwhatshemostwanted。"
Mr。Grycearose。"Well，"saidhe，"youhavegivenusahardsumtoworkout，butIamnotthemantorecoilfromanythinghard。IfIcandiscoverthewhereaboutsofthisgirlIwillcertainlydoit，butyoumusthelpme。"
"I，how?"
"ByinsertingapersonalintheHerald。Yousayshelovesyou；andwouldcomebackifshecould。Nowwhetheryoubelieveitornotthisisopentodoubt；thereforeIwouldadvisethatyoutakesomesuchmeansasthattoinformheroftheanxietyofherfriendsandtheirdesiretocommunicatewithher。"
"Impossible，"shecriedvehemently。"Ishouldbeafraid——"
"Well?"
"ImightputitthatMrs。D——，anxiousaboutEmily，desiresinformationofherwhereabouts——"
"Putitanywayyoulike。"
"Youhadbetteradd，"saidI，speakingforthefirsttime，"thatyouwouldbewillingtopayforinformation。"
Yes，"saidMrGryce，"addthat。"
Mrs。Danielsfrowned，butmadenoobjection，andaftergettingasminuteadescriptionaspossibleoftheclothingwornbythegirlthenightbefore，weleftthehouse。
CHAPTERIV
THOMPSON'SSTORY
"Anaffairofsomemystery，"remarkedMr。Gryce，aswehaltedatthecornertotakeafinallookatthehouseanditsenvirons。"Whyagirlshouldchoosesuchamethodofdescentasthat，"——andhepointedtotheladderdownwhichwebelievedhertohavecome——"toleaveahouseofwhichshehadbeenaninmateforayear，bafflesme，Icantellyou。Ifitwerenotforthosemarksofbloodwhichbetrayhertrack，Iwouldbedisinclinedtobelieveanysuchhare-brainedadventurewaseverperpetratedbyawoman。Asitis，whatwould'ntI
giveforherphotograph。Blackhair，blackeyes，whitefaceandthinfigure!whatadescriptionwherebytofindagirlinthisgreatcityofNewYork。Ah!"saidhewithsuddengratification，"hereisMr。
Blakeagain；hisappointmentmusthavebeenafailure。Letusseeifhisdescriptionwillbeanymoredefinite。"Andhurryingtowardstheadvancingfigureofthatgentleman，heputsomequestionstohim。
InstantlyMr。Blakestopped，lookedathimblanklyforamoment，thenrepliedinatonesufficientlyloudformetohear:
"Iamsorry，sir，ifmydescriptioncouldhavedoneyouanygood，butIhavenottheremotestideahowthegirllooked。Ididnotknowtillthismorningeven，thattherewassuchapersoninmyhouseasasewing-woman。IleaveallsuchdomesticconcernsentirelywithMrs。
Daniels。"
Mr。Gryceagainbowedlowandventuredanotherquestion。Theanswercameasbefore，distinctlytomyears。
"O，Imayhaveseenher，Icannotsayaboutthat；Iveryoftenrunacrosstheservantsinthehall；butwhethersheistallorshort，lightordark，prettyorugly，Iknownomorethanyoudo，sir。"ThenwithadignifiednodcalculatedtoabashamaninMr。Gryce'sposition，inquired，"Isthatall?"
Itdidnotseemtobe，Mr。Gryceputanotherquestion。
Mr。Blakegivehimasurprisedstarebeforereplying，thencourteouslyremarked，"Idonotconcernmyselfwithservantsaftertheyhaveleftme。Henrywasanexcellentvalet，butatrifledomineering，somethingwhichI
neverallowinanyonewhoapproachesme。Idismissedhimandthatwastheendofit，Iknownothingofwhathasbecomeofhim。"
Mr。Grycebowedanddrewback，andMr。Blake，withthehaughtysteppeculiartohim，passedbyhimandreenteredhishouse。
"Ishouldnotliketogetintothatman'sclutches，"saidI，asmysuperiorrejoinedme；"hehasawayofmakingoneappearsosmall。"
Mr。Gryceshotanaskancelookathisshadowgloomilyfollowinghimalongthepavement。"Yetitmayhappenthatyouwillhavetoruntheriskofthatveryexperience。"
Iglancedtowardshiminamazement。
"Ifthegirldoesnotturnupofherownaccord，orifwedonotsucceedingettingsometraceofhermovements，Ishallbetemptedtoplaceyouwhereyoucanstudyintothewaysofthisgentleman'shousehold。Iftheaffairisamystery，ithasitscentreinthathouse。"
IstaredatMr。Grycegoodandroundly。"YouhavecomeacrosssomethingwhichIhavemissed，"observedI，"oryoucouldnotspeaksopositively。"
"Ihavecomeacrossnothingthatwasnotinplainsightofanybodywhohadeyestoseeit，"hereturnedshortly。
Ishookmyheadslightlymortified。
"Youhaditallbeforeyou，"continuedhe，"andifyouwerenotabletopickupsufficientfactsonwhichtobaseaconclusion，youmustn'tblamemeforit。"
MorenettledthanIwouldbewillingtoconfess，Iwalkedbackwithhimtothestation，sayingnothingthen，butinwardlydeterminedtoreestablishmyreputationwithMr。Grycebeforetheaffairwasover。
Accordinglyhuntingupthemanwhohadpatroledthedistrictthenightbefore，IinquiredifhehadseenanyonegoinoroutofthesidegateofMr。Blake'shouseon——street，betweenthehoursofelevenandone。
"No，"saidhe，"butIheardThompsontellacuriousstorythismorningaboutsomeonehehadseen。"
"Whatwasit?"
"Hesaidhewaspassingthatwaylastnightabouttwelveo'clockwhenheremarkedstandingunderthelamponthecornerofSecondAvenue，agroupconsistingoftwomenandawoman，whonosoonerbeheldhimthantheyseparated，themendrawingbackintoSecondAvenueandthewomancominghastilytowardshim。Notunderstandingthemove，hestoodwaitingherapproach，wheninsteadofadvancingtowherehewas，shepausedatthegateofMr。Blake'shouseandliftedherhandasiftoopenit，whenwithawildandterrifiedgestureshestartedback，coveringherfacewithherhands，andbeforeheknewit，hadactuallyfledinthedirectionfromwhichshehadcome。Alittlestartled，Thompsonadvancedandlookedthroughthegatebeforehimtoseeifpossiblewhathadalarmedher，whentohisgreatsurprise，hebeheldthepalefaceofthemasterofthehouse，Mr。Blakehimself，lookingthroughthebarsfromtheothersideofthegate。Heinhisturnstartedbackandbeforehecouldrecoverhimself，Mr。Blakehaddisappeared。Hesayshetriedthegateafterthat，butfounditlocked。"
"Thompsontellsyouthisstory，doeshe?"
"Yes。"
"Well，"saidI，"it'saprettywildkindofatale，andallIhavegottosayis，thatneitheryounorThompsonhadbettergoblabbingitaroundtoomuch。MumisthewordwheresuchmenasMr。Blakeareconcerned。"AndIdepartedtohuntupThompson。
Buthehadnothingtoaddtohisstatement，exceptthatthegirlappearedtobetallandthin，andwascloselywrappedaboutinashawl。MynextmovewastomakesuchinquiriesasIcouldwithsafetyintotheprivateconcernsofMr。Blakeandhisfamily，anddiscovered——well，suchfactsasthese:
ThatMr。Blakewasamanwhoifhepaidbutlittleattentiontodomesticaffairswasyetrarelyseenoutofhisownhouse，exceptuponoccasionsofgreatpoliticalimportance，whenhewasalwaystobefoundontheplatformatmeetingsofhisconstituents。Thoughtotheordinaryobserveramaneminentlycalculated，fromhisgoodlooks，fineposition，andsolidwealthtoenjoysociety，henotonlymanifestedadistasteforit，butevenwentsofarastorefusetoparticipateinthesocialdinnersofhismostintimatefriends；theonlytabletowhichhewouldsitdownbeingthatofsomepubliccaterer，wherehewassureoffindingnonebuthispoliticalassociatesassembled。
Toallappearancehewishedtoavoidtheladies，atheoryborneoutbythefactthatnever，eveninchurch，onthestreet，oratanyplaceofamusement，washeobservedwithoneathisside。Thisfactinaman，young——hewasnotfarfromthirty-fiveatthattime——rich，andmarriageable，would，however，havebeenmorenoteworthythanitwasifhehadnotbeenknowntobelongtoafamilyeminentfortheireccentricities。Notamanofallhisracebuthadpossessedsomemarkedpeculiarity。Hisfather，bibliomaniacthoughhewas，wouldnevertreatamanorawomanwithdecency，whomentionedShakspearetohim，norwouldheacknowledgetohisdyingdayanyexcellenceinthatdivinepoetbeyondahappywayofputtingwordstogether。Mr。
Blake'sunclehatedallmembersofthelegalprofession，andasforhisgrandfather——butyouhaveheardwhatamaniaofdislikehehadagainstthatsimplearticleofdiet，fish；nowhisfriendswereobligedtoomititfromtheirbillsoffarewhenevertheyexpectedhimtodinner。IfthenMr。Blakechosetohaveanypetantipathy——asforwomenforinstance——hesurelyhadprecedentenoughinhisownfamilytobackhim。However，itwaswhisperedinmyearbyonegentleman，aformerpoliticalcolleagueofhiswhohadbeenwithhiminWashington，thathewasknownatonetimetoshowconsiderableattentiontoMissEvelynBlake，thatcousinofhiswhohassincemadesuchabrilliantthingofitbymarrying，andstraightwaylosingbydeath，awealthyoldscapegraceofaFrenchnoble，theCountDeMirac。Butthatwasnotamattertobetalkedabout，MadametheCountessbeingfreeatpresentandinNewYork，thoughtoallappearanceuponanythingbutpleasanttermswithherquondamadmirer。
RememberingthepictureIhadseeninMr。Blake'sprivateapartment，I
askedifthisladywasabrunette，andbeingtoldshewas，andofthemostpronouncedtype，feltforthemomentIhadstumbleduponsomethingintheshapeofaclue；butuponresortingtoMr。Grycewithmyinformation，heshookhisheadwithashortlaughandtoldmeI
wouldhavetodivedeeperthanthatifIwantedtofishupthetruthlyingatthebottomofthiswell。
CHAPTERV
ANEWYORKBELLE
Meanwhilealloureffortstoobtaininformationinregardtothefateorwhereaboutsofthemissinggirl，hadsofarprovedutterlyfutile。
EventheadvertisementsinsertedbyMrs。Danielshadproducednoeffect；andfrustratedinmyschemeIbegantodespair，whentheaccountsofthatsameMrs。Daniel'sstrangeandunaccountablebehaviorduringthesedaysofsuspense，whichcametomethroughFanny，theprettyhousemaidatMr。Blake's，whoseacquaintanceIhadlatelytakentocultivating，arousedoncemoremydormantenergiesandledmetoaskmyselfiftheaffairwasquiteashopelessasitseemed。
"Ifshewasaghost，"washerfinalexpressiononthesubject，"shecould'ntgoperamberlatingthishousemorethanshedoes。Itseemsasifshecould'ntkeepstillaminute。Upstairsanddown，upstairsanddown，tillwe'remostwild。Andsowhiteassheisandsotrembling!Whyherhandsshakesoallthetimesheneverdaresliftadishoffthetable。AndthenthewayshehangsaboutMr。Blake'sdoorwhenhe'sathome!Shenevergoesin，thatstheoddestpartofit，butwalksupanddownbeforeit，wringingherhandsandtalkingtoherselfjustlikeamadwoman。Why，Ihaveseenheralmostputherhandontheknobtwiceinanafternoonperhaps，thendrawbackasifshewasafraiditwouldburnher；andifbyanychancethedooropenedandMr。Blakecameout，yououghttohaveseenhowsherun。
WhatitallmeansIdon'tknow，butIhavemyimaginings，andifsheis'ntcrazy，why——"etc。，etc。
InfaceoffactsliketheseIfeltitwouldbepureinsanitytodespair。Lettherebebutamystery，thoughitinvolvedamanofthepositionofMr。BlakeandIwassafe。Myonlyapprehensionhadbeenthatthewholeaffairwoulddissolveitselfintoanordinaryelopementorsomesuchcommon-placematter。
Where，therefore，afewminuteslater，FannyannouncedthatMr。BlakehadorderedacarriagetotakehimtotheCharityBallthatevening，Ideterminedtofollowhimandlearnifpossiblewhatchangehadtakenplaceinhimselforhiscircumstances，toleadhimintosuchaninnovationuponhisusualhabits。ThoughthehourwaslateIhadbutlittledifficultyincarryingoutmyplan，arrivingattheAcademysomethinglessthananhouraftertheopeningdance。
ThecrowdwasgreatandIcirculatedthefloorthreetimesbeforeI
cameuponhim。WhenIdid，IownIwasslightlydisappointed；forinsteadoffindinghimasIanticipated，thecentreofanadmiringcircleofladiesandgentlemen，IespiedhimwithdrawnintoacornerwithablandoldpoliticianoftheFifteenthWard，discussing，asI
presentlyoverheard，themeritsanddemeritsofacertainSmithwhoatthattimewasmakingsomedisturbanceintheparty。
"Ifthatisallhehascomefor，"thoughtI，"IhadbetterhavestayedathomeandmadelovetotheprettyFanny。"Andsomewhatchagrined，Itookupmystandnearby，andbeganscrutinizingtheladies。
SuddenlyIfeltmyheartstandstill，thenoiseofvoicesceasingthesameinstantbehindme。Aladywaspassingonthearmofaforeign-lookinggentleman，whomitdidnotrequireasecondglancetoidentifywiththesubjectoftheportraitinMr。Blake'shouse。Olderbysomefewyearsthanwhenherpicturewaspainted，herbeautyhadassumedacertaindefiantexpressionthatsufficientlybetrayedthefactthattheyearshadnotbeensowhollyhappyasshehadprobablyanticipatedwhenshejiltedhandsomeHolmanBlakefortheoldFrenchCount。AtalleventssoIinterpretedthelookoflatentscornthatburnedinherdarkeyes，assheslowlyturnedherrichlybejeweledheadtowardsthecornerwherethatgentlemanstood，andmeetinghiseyesnodoubt，bowedwithasuddenlossofself-possessionthatnotallthehaughtycarriageofhernobleform，helddoublyerectforthenextfewmoments，couldquiteconcealormakeforgotten。
"Shestillloveshim，"Iinwardlycommentedandturnedtoseeifthesurprisehadawakenedanyexpressiononhisuncommunicativecountenance。