Page 78 (1/2)

"Ladies and gentleracefully to the

co ten thousand pardons for this unwarrantable intrusion,

and pro to assure

you that ether involuntary on my part, and

forced by circumstances over which I had no control; and I entreat you

will not , just as

you did before Should you feelto take my departure at any moment; and as

I before insinuated, will proain to take the liberty of tu

down on your heads"

This reference to the ceiling seemed to explain the whole mystery; and

everybody looked up at the corner whence he ca

that had been removed As to his speech, everybody had listened to it

with the greatest of attention; and sundry of the ladies, convinced

by this tihost, favored the

handsolances, not at all displeased

or unad him still

transfixed with her darkly-splendid eyes; and whether she admired or

otherwise, no one could tell fros--for such there could be no doubt he ere

involved in no such hter, as he recognized, upon a second look, his young friend of