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pavement； here and there were young fellows returning drunk；
or ruffians of the lowest class lurking in the mouths of
alleys； but of any one to whom I might appeal in my distress；
I began almost to despair。
At last； at the corner of a street； I ran into the arms of
one who was evidently a gentleman； and who； in all his
appointments； from his furred great…coat to the fine cigar
which he was smoking； comfortably breathed of wealth。 Much
as my face has changed from its original beauty； I still
retain （or so I tell myself） some traces of the youthful
lightness of my figure。 Even veiled as I then was； I could
perceive the gentleman was struck by my appearance： and this
emboldened me for my adventure。
'Sir；' said I； with a quickly beating heart； 'sir； are you
one in whom a lady can confide？'
'Why； my dear；' said he； removing his cigar； 'that depends on
circumstances。 If you will raise your veil … '
'Sir；' I interrupted； 'let there be no mistake。 I ask you；
as a gentleman； to serve me； but I offer no reward。'
'That is frank；' said he； 'but hardly tempting。 And what；
may I inquire； is the nature of the service？'
But I knew well enough it was not my interest to tell him on
so short an interview。 'If you will accompany me；' said I；
'to a house not far from here； you can see for yourself。'
He looked at me awhile with hesitating eyes； and then；
tossing away his cigar； which was not yet a quarter smoked；
'Here goes！' said he； and with perfect politeness offered me
his arm。 I was wise enough to take it； to prolong our walk
as far as possible； by more than one excursion from the
shortest line； and to beguile the way with that sort of
conversation which should prove to him indubitably from what
station in society I sprang。 By the time we reached the door
of my lodging； I felt sure I had confirmed his interest； and
might venture； before I turned the pass…key； to beseech him
to moderate his voice and to tread softly。 He promised to
obey me： and I admitted him into the passage and thence into
my sitting…room； which was fortunately next the door。
'And now；' said he； when with trembling fingers I had lighted
a candle； 'what is the meaning of all this？'
'I wish you；' said I； speaking with great difficulty； 'to
help me out with these boxes … and I wish nobody to know。'
He took up the candle。 'And I wish to see your face；' said
he。
I turned back my veil without a word； and looked at him with
every appearance of resolve that I could summon up。 For some
time he gazed into my face； still holding up the candle。
'Well；' said he at last； 'and where do you wish them taken？'
I knew that I had gained my point； and it was with a tremor
in my voice that I replied。 'I had thought we might carry
them between us to the corner of Euston Road；' said I；
'where； even at this late hour； we may still find a cab。'
'Very good；' was his reply； and he immediately hoisted the
heavier of my trunks upon his shoulder； and taking one handle
of the second； signed to me to help him at the other end。 In
this order we made good our retreat from the house； and
without the least adventure； drew pretty near to the corner
of Euston Road。 Before a house； where there was a light
still burning； my companion paused。 'Let us here；' said he；
'set down our boxes； while we go forward to the end of the
street in quest of a cab。 By doing so； we can still keep an
eye upon their safety； and we avoid the very extraordinary
figure we should otherwise present … a young man； a young
lady； and a mass of baggage； standing castaway at midnight on
the streets of London。' So it was done； and the event proved
him to be wise； for long before there was any word of a cab；
a policeman appeared upon the scene； turned upon us the full
glare of his lantern； and hung suspiciously behind us in a
doorway。
'There seem to be no cabs about； policeman；' said my
champion； with affected cheerfulness。 But the constable's
answer was ungracious； and as for the offer of a cigar； with
which this rebuff was most unwisely followed up； he refused
it point…blank； and without the least civility。 The young
gentleman looked at me with a warning grimace； and there we
continued to stand； on the edge of the pavement； in the
beating rain； and with the policeman still silently watching
our movements from the doorway。
At last； and after a delay that seemed interminable； a four…
wheeler appeared lumbering along in the mud； and was
instantly hailed by my companion。 'Just pull up here； will
you？' he cried。 'We have some baggage up the street。'
And now came the hitch of our adventure； for when the
policeman； still closely following us； beheld my two boxes
lying in the rain； he arose from mere suspicion to a kind of
certitude of something evil。 The light in the house had been
extinguished； the whole frontage of the street was dark；
there was nothing to explain the presence of these unguarded
trunks； and no two innocent people were ever； I believe；
detected in such questionable circumstances。
'Where have these things come from？' asked the policeman；
flashing his light full into my champion's face。
'Why； from that house； of course；' replied the young
gentleman； hastily shouldering a trunk。
The policeman whistled and turned to look at the dark
windows； he then took a step towards the door； as though to
knock； a course which had infallibly proved our ruin； but
seeing us already hurrying down the street under our double
burthen； thought better or worse of it； and followed in our
wake。
'For God's sake；' whispered my companion； 'tell me where to
drive to。'
'Anywhere；' I replied with anguish。 'I have no idea。
Anywhere you like。'
Thus it befell that； when the boxes had been stowed； and I
had already entered the cab； my deliverer called out in clear
tones the address of the house in which we are now seated。
The policeman； I could see； was staggered。 This
neighbourhood； so retired； so aristocratic； was far from what
he had expected。 For all that； he took the number of the
cab； and spoke for a few seconds and with a decided manner in
the cabman's ear。
'What can he have said？' I gasped； as soon as the cab had
rolled away。
'I can very well imagine；' replied my champion； 'and I can
assure you that you are now condemned to go where I have
said； for； should we attempt to change our destination by the
way； the jarvey will drive us straight to a police…office。
Let me compliment you on your nerves；' he added。 'I have
had； I believe； the most horrible fright of my existence。'
But my nerves； which he so much misjudged； were in so strange
a disarray that speech was now become impossible； and we made
the drive thenceforward in unbroken silence。 When we arrived
before the door of our destination； the young gentleman
alighted； opened it with a pass…key like one who was at home；
bade the driver carry the trunks into the hall； and dismissed
him with a handsome fee。 He then led me into this dining…
room； looking nearly as you behold it； but with certain marks
of bachelor oc