"No. You have never known what it is to struggle between inclination and duty," said Lena. "That will do. I am satisfied with that answer!" cried Alfred Van Hoosen. "Be true to yourself, sis, and trust to my inventive faculties to make you happy." He kissed his sister affectionately, and she sought the privacy of her own chamber. In a little while she grew tired of being alone, and threw aside a book which she had endeavored to read. Ringing her bell, she summoned her maid whom she had brought from Paris with her; this was a bright little brunette named Fifine. "Did ma'm'selle ring?" she asked. "Yes, tell me what to do with myself. I am _distraite_." "Is it that ma'm'selle will go to the theater?" asked Fifine. "But no, she can not go alone. _Tiens_! Why not have your fortune told?" "Where?" said Lena, struck with this novel suggestion. "There is one clairvoyant in this street, who always tells true. She is called Vesta Levine." "Have you been there?" "_Oui_, ma'm'selle, and she tell me I shall some day marry a prince, with so much money he can not spend it." "That is encouraging," said Miss Van Hoosen with a smile. "Give me my hat; we will go to your fortune-teller, for I should like to know whom I am likely to marry." "In France," exclaimed Fifine, "women never marry; it is the men who marry them. What is the difference? marriage is a lottery." Lena was quickly attired. With her face hidden by a thick vail, and accompanied by her maid she went to visit the clairvoyant who was spoken of so highly. She had no faith in the art of fortune-telling, and believed astrology to be all nonsense, but in every woman's breast there is a slight undercurrent of superstition. Consequently she fancied, in spite of her reason, that there might be something in it. The madame's house was not far from that in which she resided, and five minutes walking brought her to it. Fifine rung the bell, and they were ushered by the domestic, into a room dimly lighted. Here they waited fully ten minutes, when a curtain was thrown aside, the gas was turned up as if by magic; and the madame, without speaking, beckoned them into an inner room. They obeyed the silent summons, the curtain fell behind them, and an undefinable feeling of dread came over Lena. Madame Levine was a well-preserved woman of forty, with a pale, delicate, classic face, and large dreamy eyes. She was simply attired in black silk and wore no jewelry. The inner apartment in which they found themselves was plainly furnished. Reclining on a couch was a young girl who appeared to be asleep. This was Adéle Bellefontaine, the poor insane victim of Lord Maltravers's deceit, who had been placed with the clairvoyant for care and protection. Madame Levine was not long in discovering that the girl possessed remarkable mediumistic properties, and she soon tested her powers; the result being so encouraging that she kept her in a trance half the time.