'I know the subject he wishes to speak upon--but I was not aware of it when I first came out with him to-night.' 'Is it such a subject as ought to be spoken of in confidence between us?' He totally ignored me, as if my opinion on the point were of the smallest possible value. 'I think so,' replied Turk, 'if it be spoken of at all.' 'You have your doubts as to the judiciousness of the communication our young friend is about to make?' 'I have; and I have told him so.' 'Oh, you have told him so.' He appeared to me to debate within himself whether, under such circumstances, he should listen any further; but his curiosity overcame his evident wish to baulk me. 'You may go on,' he said to me, with a condescending wave of his hand. 'It is understood, then,' I said, somewhat more boldly, 'that what we say to each other is quite private and will not be repeated?' He stared at me very haughtily, and bent his head, and stood before me, with his fingers to his lips, waiting for me to speak. A singular fancy occurred to me at this moment as I gazed at him--a fancy which need not here be mentioned; it lingered in my mind then and afterwards, although I strove to dismiss it on this occasion as being utterly wild and out of all reason. But, in conjunction with another circumstance, which came to light in the course of time, it led to a strange discovery. 'I have not come to make any communication,' I said; 'I have only come to ask a question. I can speak more freely now, as you are a gentleman, and as what I say will not reach her ears.' (His lips repeated 'Her ears,' but he did not repeat the words aloud.) 'It is about Miss Trim'---- 'About Jessie,' he said, in a lighter tone. 'Yes; what about her?' 'Do you know where she is?' His looks were disturbed now, although he strove to be cool. 'Do I know where she is?' he repeated, with a contraction of his eyes. 'That is what I have come to ask.' 'Oh, that is what you have come to ask.' 'There is no need for me to repeat the question, I suppose,' I said, controlling my desire to strike at him, for his manner was in the last degree contemptuous, notwithstanding that the interest he took in the conversation was evidently strengthened. 'No; I understand the English language, and _you_ will be kind enough to understand that I am not in the habit of being questioned. There is no need for you to repeat the question, but there is a need for my asking why it is put to me.' 'Then you do not know?' He would not give me the satisfaction of a simple answer. 'Let me see,' he said, in a musing tone, 'to-day is her birthday.' 'You do know that.' 'She told me herself; these things are not guessed at.' 'You have not answered my question,' I said, trembling from passion and from a sense of helplessness. 'You have not answered mine,' he replied. 'I ask you why you put it to me?' Turk motioned to me that I ought to tell him, but I could not speak.