father's face, but could read nothing there but a quiet devotion during the prayers, and an amiable condescension while listening to the sermon. Rustlings of papers as the little visitor slipt along the passage, revealed the fact that there were various documents required in their consultations; and on one particular occasion, after an interview of unusual duration, Mr Bullion accompanied his mysterious guest to the door, and was overheard, by the conclave who were assembled in the little parlour for supper, very warm in his protestations of obligation for the trouble he had taken, and concluding with these remarkable words--"Assure his Excellency of my highest consideration, and that I shall not lose a moment in throwing myself at the feet of the King." Louise looked at Cecil on hearing these words; and as Cecil would probably have been looking at Louise, whether he had heard these words or not, their eyes met with an expression of great bewilderment and surprise,--the said bewilderment being by no means diminished when his visitor replied--"His Excellency kisses your hands, and I leave your Lordship in the holy keeping of the saints." "Papa is rather flighty--don't you think so, Cecil?" said Louise. "Both mad," answered that gentleman with a shake of the head. "Mr Bullion is going to be Lord Mayor," said Miss Lucretia, with a vivid remembrance of the flirtations and grandeurs of the Mansion-house. Mr Cocker said nothing aloud, and was sorely puzzled for a long time, but ended with a confused notion, derived principally from the protection of the saints, that his patron was likely to be Pope. All, however, sank into a gaping silence of anticipation, when Mr Bullion, after shutting the door, as soon as his visitor had departed, began to whistle Malbrook, and came into the supper-room. CHAPTER II. "Enjoy yourselves, _mes enfants_," said the old gentleman; "I have not kept you waiting, I hope. Miss Smith, I kiss your hand--_ma fille, embrassemoi_." "What's the matter with you, papa?" replied the young lady, and not complying with the request; "you speak as if you were a foreigner. Have you forgotten your mother-tongue?" And certainly it was not difficult to perceive that there was an unusual tone assumed by Mr Bullion, with the slightest possible broken English admitted into his language. "My mother-tongue?" said the senior. "Bah! 'tis not the time yet--I have not forgot it--not quite--but kiss me, Louise." "Well, since you speak like a Christian, I won't refuse; but do be a good, kind, communicative old man, and tell us what has kept you so long. Do tell us who that hideous man is." "Hideous, my dear!--'tis plain you never saw him." "He's like the bravo of Venice," said Louise; "isn't he, Cecil?" "He's more like Guy Faux," said the gentleman appealed to. "He's like a gipsy fortune-teller," continued Miss Smith. "Uncommon like a 'ousebreaker," chimed in Mr Cocker: "I never see such a rascally-looking countenance."