and yielding, and honourable. More women would be happy if there were more men in the world like you. See how happy you have made me--see what you have brought me to!" She sank upon a chair, and covered her face with her hands, and I saw tears stealing between her fingers--but I saw, also, that she was watching my face all the while to note the effect her words had upon me. I did not interrupt her in her speech. I stood quietly observing her, and wondering within myself whether there were many women like her, and whether other men were suffering as I was suffering. All the while she was talking she was arranging her hair, and displaying it to the best advantage. Heaven knows how old she is, but as she stood before me, turning occasionally, looking at me through the masses of fair hair which fell around her face, she did not appear to be more than eighteen. Her beauty, her appeals, the tender modulations of her voice, produced no other effect upon me than that of wonder and disgust. I did not allow this feeling to be seen; the stake at issue was too momentous for me, by a sign, to jeopardise the end I was working for. Presently she rose, and completed the arrangements of her hair, which she had purposely prolonged. Then, before putting on her hat and cloak, she asked me for a glass of wine. I had none, and I gave her a glass of water; she tasted it, and threw the rest away, saying: "My dear, you should drink wine. It is good for old men; it is nourishing." Still I did not speak, and as if to compel me, she asked, "Do they not know your name in this house?" "They do not," I replied. "Do you intend them to know it?" "I intend them not to know it. You can, of course, frustrate my intention if you will." "I do not wish. I thought you desired to keep it secret, and therefore, when I knocked at the door and it was opened, I did not ask for you by name, I simply asked if a gentleman was in who had taken a lodging here yesterday. The servant answered that he was, and directed me to your room. She did not even see my face. You see how I am endeavouring to fall in with all your wishes--anticipating them, even. But I love a mystery dearly. Good day, my dear. Till Saturday. I will be here, punctually at twelve. Shall I kiss baby for you? No? You are incorrigible." And with nods and pleasant smiles she left me, pulling her veil close over her face. [Decoration] CHAPTER XLIII. MR. HOLDFAST'S DIARY.