CHAPTER XLVI. THE APPOINTMENT KEPT

ldbebroughttobearuponhim,thathecouldneverevenguess.” “Ihavebeenaliar,andamongliarsfromalittlechild,”saidthegirlafteranotherintervalofsilence,“butIwilltakeyourwords.” Afterreceivinganassurancefromboth,thatshemightsafelydoso,sheproceededinavoicesolowthatitwasoftendifficultforthelistenertodiscovereventhepurportofwhatshesaid,todescribe,bynameandsituation,thepublic-housewhenceshehadbeenfollowedthatnight.Fromthemannerinwhichsheoccasionallypaused,itappearedasifthegentlemanweremakingsomehastynotesoftheinformationshecommunicated.Whenshehadthoroughlyexplainedthelocalitiesoftheplace,thebestpositionfromwhichtowatchitwithoutexcitingobservation,andthenightandhouronwhichMonkswasmostinthehabitoffrequentingit,sheseemedtoconsiderforafewmoments,forthepurposeofrecallinghisfeaturesandappearancesmoreforciblytoherrecollection. “Heistall,”saidthegirl,“andastronglymademan,butnotstouthehasalurkingwalkandashewalks,constantlylooksoverhisshoulder,firstononeside,andthenontheother.Don’tforgetthat,forhiseyesaresunkinhisheadsomuchdeeperthananyotherman’s,thatyoumightalmosttellhimbythatalone.Hisfaceisdark,likehishairandeyesand,althoughhecan’tbemorethansixoreightandtwenty,witheredandhaggard.Hislipsareoftendiscolouredanddisfiguredwiththemarksofteethforhehasdesperatefits,andsometimesevenbiteshishandsandcoversthemwithwounds—whydidyoustart?”saidthegirl,stoppingsuddenly. Thegentlemanreplied,inahurriedmanner,thathewasnotconsciousofhavingdoneso,andbeggedhertoproceed. “Partofthis,”saidthegirl,“IhavedrawnoutfromotherpeopleatthehouseItellyouof,forIhaveonlyseenhimtwice,andbothtimeshewascoveredupinalargecloak.Ithinkthat’sallIcangiveyoutoknowhimby.Staythough,”sheadded.“Uponhisthroat:sohighthatyoucanseeapartofitbelowhisneckerchiefwhenheturnshisface:thereis—” “Abroadredmark,likeaburnorscald?”criedthegentleman. “How’sthis?”saidthegirl.“Youknowhim!” Theyoungladyutteredacryofsurprise,andforafewmomentstheyweresostillthatthelistenercoulddistinctlyhearthembreathe. “IthinkIdo,”saidthegentleman,breakingsilence.“Ishouldbyyourdescription.Weshallsee.Manypeoplearesingularlylikeeachother.Itmaynotbethesame.” Asheexpressedhimselftothiseffect,withassumedcarelessness,hetookasteportwonearertheconcealedspy,asthelattercouldtellfromthedistinctnesswithwhichheheardhimmutter,“Itmustbehe!” “Now,”hesaid,returning:soitseemedbythesound:tothespotwherehehadstoodbefore,“youhavegivenusmostvaluableassistance,youngwoman,andIwishyoutobethebetterforit.WhatcanIdotoserveyou?” “Nothing,”repliedNancy. “Youwillnotpersistinsayingthat,”rejoinedthegentleman,withavoiceandemphasisofkindnessthatmighthavetouchedamuchharderandmoreobdurateheart.“Thinknow.Tellme.” “Nothing,sir,”rejoinedthegirl,weeping.“Youcandonothingtohelpme.Iampastallhope,indeed.” “Youputyourselfbeyonditspale,”saidthegentleman.“Thepasthasbeenadrearywastewithyou,ofyouthfulenergiesmis-spent,andsuchpricelesstreasureslavished,astheCreatorbestowsbutonceandnevergrantsagain,but,forthefuture,youmayhope.Idonotsaythatitisinourpowertoofferyoupeaceofheartandmind,forthatmustcomeasyouseekitbutaquietasylum,eitherinEngland,or,ifyoufeartoremainhere,insomeforeigncountry,itisnotonlywithinthecompassofourabilitybutourmostanxiouswishtosecureyou.Beforethedawnofmorning,beforethisriverwakestothefirstglimpseofday-light,you