\"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。