“Not you! You’ve been away from England so long, don’t you know!” and she laughed sarcastically. “Well, I’m Bella-Bella, the Flying Swallow. There isn’t one to touch me on the trapeze, they say; and I believe they’re right. I’m making quite a pile, I am; but I’ll take my allowance all the same, thank you, Mr. Bradstone! Lord, how frightened you look still!” and she stared and laughed at him. “I dare say you wish I was dead.” He started, and glanced at her under his brows. “I’m sure I’ve wished the same many and many a time. But I’m alive still, you see, and kicking,” and she folded her legs and stuck out her ankles. “Very much alive. I fancy I shall outlive you, my dear, though I do risk my neck every night. Drop in at the Palace of Amusement when you’re in London next, and have a look at me.” “I--I will,” he said. “And so you’re staying in this dead-and-alive hole, are you?” she said, eying him curiously. “I wonder what you’re up to; some sly game or other, I’ll be bound. You always were up to a lay of some kind, weren’t you? What is it now, eh?” “I don’t understand you,” he said, with affected carelessness. “I’m just staying on here----” “Do you know many of the people of the place?” she asked, interrupting him contemptuously. “A few, yes,” he replied. “Tell me their names--the swells, I mean.” “What do you want to know for?” he asked. She stared at him. “What’s that to you?” He bit his lip. “You are no more civil than you used to be, Bella,” he said, meekly. She laughed. “No; I was never very civil to you, was I? I knew how to treat you, don’t you know. You’re the sort that must be beaten like a spaniel--you are, Mr. Bradstone. But answer my question, will you? Who are the swells in this forsaken hole?” He pretended to consider for a moment. “There is Lord Carfield, and a baronet named Penstone, and Lord Granville----” “The Cherub; I’ve heard of him, and seen him,” and she nodded. “He’s almost too good to be a swell. Well, who else?” “There’s the squire here--Mr. Vanley--and that’s all.” “That’s all, is it?” she added, reflecting. “Oh!” She was silent for a moment, as if pondering over the names, then she looked up. “And I suppose you are a swell, too, eh? You’re cutting a dash down here with your money, ain’t you? It’s like you. You always liked to be thought a gentleman, didn’t you?” and she laughed. The color flushed his face, then left it pale again. “I wonder what your game is,” she said, after a moment or two. “But I don’t care. I shan’t interfere. Where are you staying? At the inn where I’ve put up? You may as well come and have some supper with me. We can have a chat over old times,” and she showed her white teeth in a grin. “I’m--I’m staying with a friend here,” he said, “and I’m going there now.” He pulled out his watch. She stretched out her hand and took it as calmly as if it had belonged to her.