“Will you permit me to ask of what country you are?” Hugh thought he made the request only for the sake of covering his rudeness; and so merely answered: “Why, an Englishman, of course.” “Ah! yes; it is not necessary to be told that. But it seems to me, from your accent, that you are a Scotchman.” “So I am.” “A Highlander?” “I was born in the Highlands. But if you are very anxious to know my pedigree, I have no reason for concealing the fact that I am, by birth, half a Scotchman and half a Welchman.” The foreigner riveted his gaze, though but for the briefest moment sufficient to justify its being called a gaze, once more upon Hugh; and then, with a slight bow, as of acquiescence, turned towards the lecturer. When the lecture was over, and Hugh was walking away in the midst of the withdrawing audience, the stranger touched him on the shoulder. “You said that you would like to know more of this science: will you come to my lodging?” said he. “With pleasure,” Hugh answered; though the look with which he accompanied the words, must have been one rather of surprise. “You are astonished that a stranger should invite you so. Ah! you English always demand an introduction. There is mine.” He handed Hugh a card: Herr von Funkelstein. Hugh happened to be provided with one in exchange. The two walked out of the inn, along the old High Street, full of gables and all the delightful irregularities of an old country-town, till they came to a court, down which Herr von Funkelstein led the way. He let himself in with a pass-key at a low door, and then conducted Hugh, by a stair whose narrowness was equalled by its steepness, to a room, which, though not many yards above the level of the court, was yet next to the roof of the low house. Hugh could see nothing till his conductor lighted a candle. Then he found himself in a rather large room with a shaky floor and a low roof. A chintz-curtained bed in one corner had the skin of a tiger thrown over it; and a table in another had a pair of foils lying upon it. The German—for such he seemed to Hugh—offered him a chair in the politest manner; and Hugh sat down. “I am only in lodgings here,” said the host; “so you will forgive the poverty of my establishment.” “There is no occasion for forgiveness, I assure you,” answered Hugh. “You wished to know something of the subject with which that lecturer was befooling himself and the audience at the same time.” “I shall be grateful for any enlightenment.”