MeanwhiletheagentoftheTenhadyieldedhisplacetoasharp-
featuredshabby-lookingfellowinblack，dressedsomewhatlikealawyer\'sclerk，wholaidagrimyhandonTony\'sarm，andwithmanyapologeticgesturessteeredhimthroughthecrowdtothedoorsofthechurch。TheCountheldhimbytheotherarm，andinthisfashiontheyemergedonthesquare，whichnowlayindarknesssaveforthemanylightstwinklingunderthearcadeandinthewindowsofthegaming-roomsaboveit。
Tonybythistimehadregainedvoiceenoughtodeclarethathewouldgowheretheypleased，butthathemustfirstsayawordtothemateoftheHepzibah，whohadnowbeenawaitinghimsometwohoursormoreatthelanding-place。
TheCountrepeatedthistoTony\'scustodian，butthelattershookhisheadandrattledoffasharpdenial。
“Impossible，sir，“saidtheCount。“Ientreatyounottoinsist。