the slightest degree informed of this melancholy passage in her life. She, why, I know not, changed her name from that of Duquesne to the one she now bore--Jaubert; and for the last two or three years had supported a precarious existence by plausible begging-letters addressed to persons of credulous benevolence; for which offence she had frequently visited the police-courts at the instance of the secretary of the Mendicity Society, and it was there I had consequently made her acquaintance. "Madame Jaubert!" I exclaimed with unfeigned surprise, "why, what on earth can you be waiting here for on such a night as this?" "To see you!" was her curt reply. "To see me! Depend upon it, then, you are knocking at the wrong door for not the first time in your life. The very little faith I ever had in professional widows, with twelve small children, all down in the measles, has long since vanished, and"---- "Nay," she interrupted--she spoke English, by the way, like a native--"I'm not such a fool as to be trying the whimpering dodge upon you. It is a matter of business. You want to find Jem Martin?" "Ay, truly; but what can _you_ know of him? Surely you are not _yet_ fallen so low as to be the associate or accomplice of burglars?" "Neither yet, nor likely to be so," replied the woman; "still I could tell you where to place your hand on James Martin, if I were but sure of the reward." "There can be no doubt about that," I answered. "Then follow me, and before ten minutes are past you will have secured your man." I did so--cautiously, suspiciously; for my adventure three evenings before had rendered me unusually circumspect and watchful. She led the way to the most crowded quarter of St. Giles's, and when she had reached the entrance of a dark blind alley, called Hine's Court, turned into it, and beckoned me to follow. "Nay, nay, Madame Jaubert," I exclaimed, "that wont do. You mean fairly, I dare say; but I don't enter that respectable alley alone at this time of night." She stopped, silent and embarrassed. Presently she said with a sneer, "You are afraid, I suppose?" "Yes I am." "What is to be done then?" she added after a few moments' consideration. "He is alone, I assure you." "That is possible; still I do not enter that _cul-de-sac_ to-night unaccompanied save by you." "You suspect me of some evil design, Mr. Waters?" said the woman with an accent of reproach. "I thought you might, and yet nothing can be further from the truth. My sole object is to obtain the reward, and escape from this life of misery and degradation to my own country, and if possible begin the world respectably again. Why should you doubt me?" "How came you acquainted with this robber's haunts?" "The explanation is easy, but this is not the time for it. Stay; can't you get assistance?" "Easily--in less than ten minutes; and if you are here when I return, and your information proves correct, I will ask pardon for my suspicions."