The man looked at her in surprise, unable to understand her. She pointed outside to where several hansoms were passing. "Oh! a cab you want, miss!" he cried, the fact suddenly dawning upon him; and as he touched the electric bell which calls cabs from the rank, she handed him the slip of paper she had that morning received. The porter read it, descended the steps with her, handed her into the cab, and, having shouted the address to the man, she was driven rapidly away to St James's Street, where she ascended to the second floor, and found upon a door a brass plate bearing Captain Tristram's name. She rang the bell, and in response the smart, soldier-servant Smayle appeared, and looked at her in surprise. "The Signor Capitano Tristram?" she inquired. "Yes, miss," the man answered; and she entered the hall, and glanced around her while he closed the door. At that moment Tristram's voice, from one of the rooms beyond, cried-- "Show the lady in, Smayle." She followed the servant into the cosy sitting-room redolent of cigars. She was gazing round the apartment, noting how comfortable it was, when suddenly the door reopened and Tristram entered. He had evidently been dining out, or to a theatre, and had now discarded his dress-coat for an easy velvet lounge-jacket. When he had closed the door, he stood for a moment regarding her in silence. "Well," he said at length in Italian. "So you have come, eh?" His welcome was certainly the reverse of cordial. "Yes," she faltered; "I have come. How did you know I was in London?" Certain furrows on Tristram's brow revealed profound thought. "A woman who is wanted by the police always has some difficulty in concealing her whereabouts," he answered meaningly. His countenance was hard and vengeful; his features expressed so much disdain and cruelty at that moment that one would scarcely believe they could ever be susceptible of any gentle emotion. "Why do you throw that in my face?" she asked angrily. "My dear signorina," he answered, crossing the room, "come here to this chair and sit down. I want to talk to you very seriously, if you'll allow me." She moved slowly across, and, sinking into the armchair near the fire, unbuttoned her long coat. "No," he said; "it's hot in this room: take it off, or you won't find the benefit of it when you leave. See how solicitous I am after your health;" and he laughed. In silence she rose and allowed him to help her divest herself of the heavy garment. "How charming you look!" he said. "I really don't wonder that you captivate the hearts of men--those who don't know you." "It seems that you've invited me here for the purpose of raking up all my past," she cried, darting at him a fierce look. "I have accepted your invitation because you and I are old friends, because our interests are identical." "How?" he asked, puzzled.