‘Ah,’ exclaimed Blodget, stopping as if to think. ‘I have heard something of this. I think I understand something of it. You must know that Maria received her education at a convent in Santiago, about a hundred miles from Valparaiso, an old-fashioned city where religion flourishes. This is a _religieuse_ who came to the house enveloped in the costume of that city; and I think I have learned that Maria was the bosom friend of a young lady of fine promise, and very devout habits, before she _took to the road_.’ ‘The road?’ ‘Yes that broad road that we read of.’ ‘These are singular girls,’ said Monteagle. ‘Instead of mere hacknied mercenaries they seem to be women of sentiment and feeling.’ ‘Well, I can show you a few such—’ A heavy sigh breathed by some person near them caused Monteagle to turn around. The lady incognito was near them, and the sigh must have come from her; but whether it had any relation to their conversation or not they were unable to determine. She did not look towards them, as she passed. Perhaps that the sigh had some connection with the unfortunate Maria. Still as her dark form receded from view, Monteagle could not but remember that it was immediately after Blodget’s proposition to show him other females, when this sigh was breathed. -------------- CHAPTER VI The Ruined Wife—The Banker’s Marriage. They walked forward amid the darkness till they came to a house in Sacramento street, where instead of the sound of merry voices which they had expected, their ears were saluted by the most violent oaths and denunciations. ‘How is this?’ said Monteagle, ‘is it a ring fight to which you are conveying me?’ ‘You may well ask that,’ replied Blodget, stopping to listen; ‘these are unusual sounds to proceed from this house. Here seems to be more of Mars than Venus.’ As they came to the door it was violently thrown open, and several females ran screaming into the street. ‘Go in there!’ cried one of the girls, recognizing Blodget; ‘for God’s sake go in, or there will be murder done.’ Blodget and Monteagle hastened to the apartment from which the noise proceeded, and there they beheld a table overturned and China ware scattered about the floor, while a stout, middle-aged man, with every appearance of a gentleman, lay on the floor, and another, equally respectable in appearance, was kneeling on his breast, with a revolver in his hand, and aimed at the throat of the prostrate man. ‘What! gentlemen!’ exclaimed Monteagle, ‘forbear!’ and he was proceeding to the relief of the fallen man when Blodget caught him by the arm, and whispered, ‘Let them alone. It is all right. I know them both!’ ‘You know them?’ cried Monteagle, struggling to throw off his friend’s firm grasp, ‘but is that any reason that they should murder each other?’ ‘That fellow seduced his wife!’ cried Blodget.