Having delivered this piece of intelligence, he nodded, and slowly went to the hall, and closed the door carefully as he left the room. She followed to the door and listened. There was plainly a little fuss going on in the hall. She heard feet in motion, and low talking. She was curious and would have peeped, but the door was secured on the outside. The twilight had deepened, and for the first time she saw that a ray of candle-light came through the key-hole from the inner room. She opened the door softly, and saw a gentleman writing at the table. He was quite alone. He turned, and rose: a tall, slight gentleman, with a singular countenance that startled her. "You are Phœbe Chiffinch," said a deep, clear voice, sternly, as the gentleman pointed towards her with the plume end of the pen he held in his fingers. "I am Mr. Longcluse. It is I who have sent you two pounds each day by Levi. I hear you have got it all right." The girl curtseyed, and said "Yes, Sir," at the second effort, for she was startled. He had taken out and opened his pocket-book. "Here are _ten_ pounds," and he handed her a rustling new note by the corner. "I'll treat you liberally, but you must speak truth, and do exactly as you are ordered by Levi." She curtseyed again. There was something in that gentleman that frightened her awfully. "If you do so, I mean to give you a hundred pounds when this business is over. I have paid you as my servant, and if you deceive me I'll punish you; and there are two or three little things they complain of at the 'Guy of Warwick,' and" (he swore a hard oath) "you shall hear of them if you do." She curtseyed, and felt, not angry, as she would if any one else had said it, but frightened, for Mr. Longcluse's was a name of power at Mortlake. "You gave Miss Arden a letter last night. You know what was in it?" "Yes, Sir." "What was it?" "An offer of marriage from you, Sir." "Yes: how do you know that?" "She told me, please, Sir." "How did she take it? Come, don't be afraid." "I'd say it pleased her well, Sir." He looked at her in much surprise, and was silent for a time. He repeated his question, and receiving a similar answer, reflected on it. "Yes; it _is_ the best way out of her troubles; she begins to see that," he said, with a strange smile. He walked to the chimney-piece, and leaned on it; and forgot the presence of Phœbe. She was too much in awe to make any sign. Turning he saw her, suddenly. "You will receive some directions from Mr. Levi; take care you understand and execute them." He touched the bell, and Levi opened the door; and she and that person walked together to the foot of the stair, where in a low tone they talked. CHAPTER LXXXV. THE CRISIS.