"I am wide awake, and full of curiosity; but how did you find your little daughter?" "Drooping a little, but persisting that she was not ill nor tired, and delighted with the flowers." "Then you did not forget the bouquet?" "No, I never like to disappoint Lenore." Locking the door behind us, we again descended to the deserted street. CHAPTER IX. THE SPIDER AND THE FLY. "Come," said my cicerone, "we are already very late." A rapid walk of a few minutes brought us to the entrance of a handsome house, having the appearance of a private residence, and standing on a fashionable street. "Why," said I, inclined to draw back, as he ascended the steps, "you surely would not think of disturbing the people here at this hour of the night? There is not a light to be seen, even in the chambers." Mr. Burton's low laugh made me blush at my own "greenness." His ring at the bell was followed by a knock, which I was quick-witted enough, in spite of my verdancy, to perceive had something significant about it. The door immediately swung a little open, my friend said a few words which had the effect to unclose the mysterious portals still wider, and we entered a modest hall, which a single gas-burner, half-turned off, dimly illuminated. The man-servant who admitted us was sable as ebony, muscular, much above the medium size, dressed in a plain livery, and with manners as polished as his own shining skin--an African leopard, barring the spots, smooth and powerful. "Is Bagley still here?" asked my companion. "Yes, sir. In de library, jus' where you lef' him." "Very well. You need not disturb him. I've brought my young friend in to introduce him to the house, in view of further acquaintance." The ebony man smiled respectfully, bowing for us to pass into the parlor. I thought I saw in that quiet smile a lurking ray of satisfaction--a gloating, as it were, over my prospective intimacy at this respectable house. He had probably been usher to the maelstrom long enough to know that those whose feet were once caught in the slow, delightful waltz of the circling waters never withdrew them, after the circle grew narrow and swift, and the rush of the whirlpool sounded up from the bottomless pit.