"I have come after you," said he, as soon as he entered the room. "I'm sent to take you prisoner; and bring you before two ladies, whom you should have called upon long ago. You cannot escape--so come along immediately!" "It is impossible for me to go with you, Captain Nowell," protested I, "I start for Liverpool by the next train; and I shall have scant time to get to the station." "I tell you," said the Captain, "that I can take no refusal. Why--do you know what I have just learnt? My wife, and her daughter, are old acquaintances of yours. Don't you remember Mrs Hyland, and little Lenore? I happened to mention the name of Rowland Stone this morning-- on reading your note of last night--and there was a row in the house instantly. My wife sent me off to bring you, as fast as a cab can carry us. Unless you go with me, we shall have a fight. I daren't go back, without you." "Stop a minute!" I cried, or rather stammered out the words. "Let me ask you one question! What did you say about your wife?" "I said that my wife, and her daughter, were old acquaintances of yours. I married the widow of Captain Hyland." "Great heaven!" I exclaimed, "did you not marry his daughter?" "No. What the devil makes you ask that? Marry Lenore Hyland! Why, Stone, I'm old enough to be the young lady's father; and I am that: since I married her mother." "Come on!" I exclaimed, rushing towards the door. "Come on! I must see her immediately." I hurried bare-headed into the street--followed by Captain Nowell, who brought my hat in his hand, and placed it on my head. We hailed a cab; and ordered the driver to take us to Number --, Denbigh Street, Pimlico. I thought that a horse had never moved so slow. I said everything I could, to induce cabby to drive faster. I did more than talk to him: I bribed him. I threatened, and cursed him--though the man seemed to make every endeavour to satisfy my impatience. The horse appeared to crawl. I thought of jumping out of the cab--in the belief that I could go faster afoot; but my companion prevented me. We did reach Denbigh Street at last; but after a drive that seemed to me as long as any voyage I had ever made across the Atlantic Ocean. I could not wait for the Captain to ring his own bell; but rang it myself. On the instant that a servant girl answered the summons, I put the question: "Where is Lenore?" The girl's face assumed an expression of surprise; but, seeing me in the company of her master, she opened the door of a drawing-room; and I walked in. Lenore Hyland was before me--more beautiful, if possible, than ever! I was, no doubt, taking a great liberty, in the ardent demonstrations I at that moment made towards her; but my consciousness of this could not restrain me from doing as I did--though I may have acted like a madman. "Lenore," I exclaimed, clasping her in my arms, "are you free? Is it true, that I have not lived and toiled in vain?"