"Did you suppose, my dear, that your father would know you by instinct?" "Well, perhaps I did, Clara; if I thought about it at all. I am sure I should know him so." At this moment, two heavy knocks, like a postman’s, but not so quick, sounded through the house. I knew what they meant, one was Balaam, the other was Balak. Isola clung to me, and turned pale; she thought it was some one pursuing her. I told her hastily whom I expected, and sent her to Mrs. Shelfer’s room. My heart beat high, when with many a scrape and bow, the worthy but not ornamental pair sidled heavily into the room. To my greetings they answered me never a word; but Balaam stood solemnly at the end of the little table, and beckoned to his partner to fasten the door. This being done with some pantomime, which meant "By your leave, if you please, Miss," the two men, who looked none the leaner for their arduous exertions, stood side by side before me. Tired of this nonsense I exclaimed impatiently, "Be quick, if you please; what is it you have found out?" Balaam winked at Balak, and receiving a ponderous nod, began to digest it leisurely. "Have you brought me to London for nothing? What do you mean by all this mummery? I shall ring the bell in a moment, and have you both shown out." Balaam’s tongue revolved in his mouth, but burst not the bonds of speech, and he tried to look straight at both windows,--till my hand was on the bell-pull. "Balak, I told you so. Lor, how much better it be for you to take my advice, than for me to take yourn! Balak said, Miss, as we come along, the young lady would be sure to know what was right, and turn up handsome afore she asked us nothing. Now, says I, that ain’t the carakter of my experience, the women most always wants--" "Here, quick, how much do you want, before I know what you have to tell?" Here a long interchange of signals took place, and even whispering behind a hat. "Well, Miss, I say ten, and that quite enough till you has time to judge. But Balak say nothing under twenty, considering all the beer, and some of it country brewers’--" "Your advice is better than Balak’s; I agree with you on that point; and I will take it in preference. Here are ten pounds." He looked rather taken aback, but could not well get out of it. Balak smiled grimly at him. "If what you tell me proves really valuable, I will give you a cheque for another ninety ere long, and the residue hereafter: but not another farthing, if you keep me in this suspense. Do I look likely to cheat people of your class?" "No, Miss, we hopes not; nor of any other class, I dare say. Still there be so many rogues in the world--" "You have taken my money; speak on."