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The　guide　now　struck　a　light。　　'Ah；'　said　he；　'this　will　
never　do。　　You　dare　not　go　upon　the　streets　in　such　a　figure。　　
Wait　quietly　here　and　I　will　bring　you　something　decent。'

With　that　the　man　was　gone；　and　Challoner；　his　attention　thus　
rudely　awakened；　began　ruefully　to　consider　the　havoc　that　
had　been　worked　in　his　attire。　　His　hat　was　gone；　his　
trousers　were　cruelly　ripped；　and　the　best　part　of　one　tail　
of　his　very　elegant　frockcoat　had　been　left　hanging　from　the　
iron　crockets　of　the　window。　　He　had　scarce　had　time　to　
measure　these　disasters　when　his　host　re…entered　the　
apartment　and　proceeded；　without　a　word；　to　envelop　the　
refined　and　urbane　Challoner　in　a　long　ulster　of　the　cheapest　
material；　and　of　a　pattern　so　gross　and　vulgar　that　his　
spirit　sickened　at　the　sight。　　This　calumnious　disguise　was　
crowned　and　completed　by　a　soft　felt　hat　of　the　Tyrolese　
design；　and　several　sizes　too　small。　　At　another　moment　
Challoner　would　simply　have　refused　to　issue　forth　upon　the　
world　thus　travestied；　but　the　desire　to　escape　from　Glasgow　
was　now　too　strongly　and　too　exclusively　impressed　upon　his　
mind。　　With　one　haggard　glance　at　the　spotted　tails　of　his　
new　coat；　he　inquired　what　was　to　pay　for　this　accoutrement。　　
The　man　assured　him　that　the　whole　expense　was　easily　met　
from　funds　in　his　possession；　and　begged　him；　instead　of　
wasting　time；　to　make　his　best　speed　out　of　the　
neighbourhood。

The　young　man　was　not　loath　to　take　the　hint。　　True　to　his　
usual　courtesy；　he　thanked　the　speaker　and　complimented　him　
upon　his　taste　in　greatcoats；　and　leaving　the　man　somewhat　
abashed　by　these　remarks　and　the　manner　of　their　delivery；　he　
hurried　forth　into　the　lamplit　city。　　The　last　train　was　gone　
ere；　after　many　deviations；　he　had　reached　the　terminus。　　
Attired　as　he　was　he　dared　not　present　himself　at　any　
reputable　inn；　and　he　felt　keenly　that　the　unassuming　dignity　
of　his　demeanour　would　serve　to　attract　attention；　perhaps　
mirth　and　possibly　suspicion；　in　any　humbler　hostelry。　　He　
was　thus　condemned　to　pass　the　solemn　and　uneventful　hours　of　
a　whole　night　in　pacing　the　streets　of　Glasgow；　supperless；　a　
figure　of　fun　for　all　beholders；　waiting　the　dawn；　with　hope　
indeed；　but　with　unconquerable　shrinkings；　and　above　all　
things；　filled　with　a　profound　sense　of　the　folly　and　
weakness　of　his　conduct。　　It　may　be　conceived　with　what　
curses　he　assailed　the　memory　of　the　fair　narrator　of　Hyde　
Park；　her　parting　laughter　rang　in　his　ears　all　night　with　
damning　mockery　and　iteration；　and　when　he　could　spare　a　
thought　from　this　chief　artificer　of　his　confusion；　it　was　to　
expend　his　wrath　on　Somerset　and　the　career　of　the　amateur　
detective。　　With　the　coming　of　day；　he　found　in　a　shy　milk…
shop　the　means　to　appease　his　hunger。　　There　were　still　many　
hours　to　wait　before　the　departure　of　the　South　express；　
these　he　passed　wandering　with　indescribable　fatigue　in　the　
obscurer　by…streets　of　the　city；　and　at　length　slipped　
quietly　into　the　station　and　took　his　place　in　the　darkest　
corner　of　a　third…class　carriage。　　Here；　all　day　long；　he　
jolted　on　the　bare　boards；　distressed　by　heat　and　continually　
reawakened　from　uneasy　slumbers。　　By　the　half　return　ticket　
in　his　purse；　he　was　entitled　to　make　the　journey　on　the　easy　
cushions　and　with　the　ample　space　of　the　first…class；　but　
alas！　in　his　absurd　attire；　he　durst　not；　for　decency；　
commingle　with　his　equals；　and　this　small　annoyance；　coming　
last　in　such　a　series　of　disasters；　cut　him　to　the　heart。

That　night；　when；　in　his　Putney　lodging；　he　reviewed　the　
expense；　anxiety；　and　weariness　of　his　adventure；　when　he　
beheld　the　ruins　of　his　last　good　trousers　and　his　last　
presentable　coat；　and　above　all；　when　his　eye　by　any　chance　
alighted　on　the　Tyrolese　hat　or　the　degrading　ulster；　his　
heart　would　overflow　with　bitterness；　and　it　was　only　by　a　
serious　call　on　his　philosophy　that　he　maintained　the　dignity　
of　his　demeanour。



SOMERSET'S　ADVENTURE：　　THE　SUPERFLUOUS　MANSION



MR。　PAUL　SOMERSET　was　a　young　gentleman　of　a　lively　and　fiery　
imagination；　with　very　small　capacity　for　action。　　He　was　one　
who　lived　exclusively　in　dreams　and　in　the　future：　　the　
creature　of　his　own　theories；　and　an　actor　in　his　own　
romances。　　From　the　cigar　divan　he　proceeded　to　parade　the　
streets；　still　heated　with　the　fire　of　his　eloquence；　and　
scouting　upon　every　side　for　the　offer　of　some　fortunate　
adventure。　　In　the　continual　stream　of　passers…by；　on　the　
sealed　fronts　of　houses；　on　the　posters　that　covered　the　
hoardings；　and　in　every　lineament　and　throb　of　the　great　
city；　he　saw　a　mysterious　and　hopeful　hieroglyph。　　But　
although　the　elements　of　adventure　were　streaming　by　him　as　
thick　as　drops　of　water　in　the　Thames；　it　was　in　vain　that；　
now　with　a　beseeching；　now　with　something　of　a　braggadocio　
air；　he　courted　and　provoked　the　notice　of　the　passengers；　in　
vain　that；　putting　fortune　to　the　touch；　he　even　thrust　
himself　into　the　way　and　came　into　direct　collision　with　
those　of　the　more　promising　demeanour。　　Persons　brimful　of　
secrets；　persons　pining　for　affection；　persons　perishing　for　
lack　of　help　or　counsel；　he　was　sure　he　could　perceive　on　
every　side；　but　by　some　contrariety　of　fortune；　each　passed　
upon　his　way　without　remarking　the　young　gentleman；　and　went　
farther　（surely　to　fare　worse！）　in　quest　of　the　confidant；　
the　friend；　or　the　adviser。　　To　thousands　he　must　have　turned　
an　appealing　countenance；　and　yet　not　one　regarded　him。

A　light　dinner；　eaten　to　the　accompaniment　of　his　impetuous　
aspirations；　broke　in　upon　the　series　of　his　attempts　on　
fortune；　and　when　he　returned　to　the　task；　the　lamps　were　
already　lighted；　and　the　nocturnal　crowd　was　dense　upon　the　
pavement。　　Before　a　certain　restaurant；　whose　name　will　
readily　occur　to　any　student　of　our　Babylon；　people　were　
already　packed　so　closely　that　passage　had　grown　difficult；　
and　Somerset；　standing　in　the　kennel；　watched；　with　a　hope　
that　was　beginning　to　grow　somewhat　weary；　the　faces　and　the　
manners　of　the　crowd。　　Suddenly　he　was　startled　by　a　gentle　
touch　upon　the　shoulder；　and　facing　about；　he　was　aware　of　a　
very　plain　and　elegant　brougham；　drawn　by　a　pair　of　powerful　
horses；　and　driven　by　a　man　in　sober　livery。　　There　were　no　
arms　upon　the　panel；　the　window　was　open；　but　the　interior　
was　obscure；　the　driver　yawned　behind　his　palm；　and　the　young　
man　was　already　beginning　to　suppose　himself　the　dupe　of　his　
own　fancy；　when　a　hand；　no　larger　than　a　child's　and　smoothly　
gloved　in　white；　appeared　in　a　corner　of　the　window　and　
privily　beckoned　him　to　approach。　　He　did　so；　and　looked　in。　　
The　carriage　was　occupied　by　a　single　small　and　very　dainty　
figure；　swathed　head　and　shoulders　in　impenetrable　folds　of　
white　lace；　and　a　voice；　speaking　low　and　silvery；　addressed　
him　in　these　words　…

'Open　the　door　and　get　in。'

'It　must　be；'　thought　the　young　man　with　an　almost　unbearable　
thrill；　'it　must　be　that　duchess　at　last！'　　Yet；　although　the　
moment　was　one　to　which　he　had　long　looked　forward；　it　was　
with　a　certain　share　of　alarm　that　he　opened　the　door；　and；　
mounting　into　the　brougham；　took　his　seat　beside　the　lady　of　
the　lace。　　Whether　or　no　she　had　touched　a　spring；　or　given　
some　other　signal；　the　young　man　had　hardly　closed　the　door　
before　the　carriage；　with　considerable　swiftness；　and　with　a　
very　luxurious　and　easy　movement　on　its　springs；　turned　and　
began　to　drive　towards　the　west。

Somerset；　as　I　have　written；　was　not　unprepared；　it　had　long　
been　his　particular　pleasure　to　rehearse　his　conduct　in　the　
most　unlikely　situations；　and　this；　among　others；　of　the　
patrician　ravisher；　was　one　he　had　familiarly　studied。　　
Strange　as　it　may　seem；　however；　he　could　find　no　apposite　
remark；　and　as　the　lady；　on　her　side；　vouchsafed　no　further　
sign；　they　continued　to　drive　in　silence　through　the　streets。　　
Except　for　alternate　flashes　from　the　passing　lamps；　the　
carriage　was　plunged　in　obscurity；　and　beyond　the　fact　that　
the　fittings　were　luxurious；　and　that　the　lady　was　singularly　
small　and　slender　in　person；　and；　all　but　one　gloved　hand；　
still　swathed　in　her　costly　veil；　the　young　man　could　
decipher　no　detail　of　an　inspiring　nature。　　The　suspense　
began　to　grow　unbearable。　　Twice　he　cleared　his　throat；　and　
twice　the　whole　resources　of　the　language　failed　him。　　In　
similar　scenes；　when　he　had　forecast　them　on　the　theatre　of　
fancy；　his　presence　of　mind　had　always　been　complete；　his　
eloquence　remarkable；　and　at　this　disparity　between　the　
rehearsal　and　the　performance；　he　began　to　be　seized　with　a　
panic　of　apprehension。　　Here；　on　the　very　threshold　of　
adventure；　suppose　him　ignominiously　to　fail；　suppose　that　
after　ten；　twenty；　or　sixty　seconds　of　still　uninterrupted　
silence；　the　lady　should　touch　the　check…string　and　re…
deposit　him；　weighed　and　found　wanting；　on　the　common　street！　　
Thousands　of　persons　of　no　mind　at　all；　he　reasoned；　would　be　
found　more　equal　to　the　part；　could；　that　very　instant；　by　
some　decisive　step；　prove　the　lady's　choice　to　have　been　well　
inspired；　and　put　a　stop　to　this　intolerable　silence。

His　eye；　at　this　point；　lighted　on　the　hand。　　It　was　better　
to　fall　by　desperate　councils　than　to　continue　as　he　was；　and　
with　one　tremulous　swoop　he　pounced　on　the　gloved　fingers　and　
drew　them　to　himself。　　One　overt　step；　it　had　appeared　to　
him；　would　dissolve　the　spell　of　his　embarrassment；　in　act；　
he　found　it　otherwise：　　he　found　himself　no　less　incapable　of　
speech　or　further　progress；　and　with　the　lady's　hand　in　his；　
sat　helpless。　　But　worse　was　in　store。　　A　peculiar　quivering　
began　to　agitate　the　form　of　his　companion；　the　hand　that　lay　
unresistingly　in　Somerset's　trembled　as　with　ague；　and　
presently　there　broke　forth；　in　the　shadow　of　the　carriage；　
the　bubbling　and　musical　sound　of　laughter；　resisted　but　
triumphant。　　The　young　man　dropped　his　prize；　had　it　been　
possible；　he　would　have　bounded　from　the　carriage。　　The　lady；　
meanwhile；　lying　back　upon　the　cushions；　passed　on　from　trill　
to　trill　of　the　most　heartfelt；　high…pitched；　clear　and　
fairy…sounding　me