The carriage was there. How I wished it at Jericho. The old lady again repeated her thanks in the warmest manner, and I assisted her and her charming niece into the equipage. The young lady waved her hand and smiled, the powdered footman closed the door, and they drove off, leaving me spell-bound, rooted to the door-sill of the shop. "Who are those ladies?" asked the apothecary, looking complacently down upon the sovereign the elder lady had slipped into his hand. "I was just going to ask that question of you," said I. "How! not know them--and let them go away without inquiring their names! Arn't you a simple young fellow? If it had been me now, I should have done my best to improve such a golden opportunity. Gratitude you know begets love, and I'll be sworn that the pretty young woman has a good fortune, by the anxiety the old one felt in her behalf." I was in the maddest heroics of love. "What do I care about her property," said I disdainfully. "Such a beautiful, elegant creature is a fortune in herself." "Yes--to those who have enough of their own. But my dear young sir, beauty won't boil the pot." To joke me at the expense of the beautiful unknown was sacrilege, and casting upon my tormentor, a look of unmitigated contempt, I left the shop with a lofty step, and an air of offended dignity. As I passed into the street, I fancied that the term "ridiculous puppy!" was hissed after me. I strode back into the shop. The apothecary was waiting upon a new customer. "Was that insult intended for me?" I demanded, in a haughty tone. "What did I say, Sir?" "You called me a ridiculous puppy," said I. "You are mistaken, young man. I am not in the habit of speaking my thoughts aloud." I deserved this cut for my folly, and felt keenly that I had placed myself in an absurd position. "My uncle is right," said I, to myself, as I retraced my steps to Hatton Garden. "I am a babe in my knowledge of the world. I must go more into society, or I shall for ever be getting into such ridiculous scrapes." At dinner my uncle met me with a serious face. "What kept you from the office, Geoffrey, this morning?" I, willing to act openly with him, narrated to him the adventure I had met with. "I think I know the lady," said he. "She is not very tall--is fair complexioned, with blue eyes and light brown hair. _Rather_ pretty than otherwise." "_Rather_ pretty. She is _beautiful_, Sir." "Phew!" said Mr. Moncton. "_We_ see with other eyes. Young men are always blind. The girl is well enough--and better still, she is very rich. Did she tell you her name?" "I did not ask her." "Where was your curiosity?" "I wished very much to put the question, for I was anxious to know; but really, uncle, I had not the face to do it. But you can tell me." "If she did not tell you herself, I am not going to betray her secret. What use would the knowledge be to you?" "It would be pleasant to know her name."