Yes:--he had indeed become the cynosure of attraction on the part of the old woman and her daughter,--the former devouring him with her eyes, in order to read his character and disposition in his countenance, and assure herself from that physiognomical perusal that he was fitted for her purpose,--and the latter embracing with a look of ardent, wanton scrutiny every feature of his fine face and every proportion of his symmetrical form. He passed on:--and for a few minutes the mother and daughter preserved a deep silence, each occupied with her own thoughts. “That young man may be rendered pliant and docile according to our will,” said the old woman at length. “He is beyond all doubt the one whom the gipsy alluded to in such glowing colours,” observed Perdita, with a voluptuous languor in the eyes, a flushing of the cheeks, and a slow but deep heaving of the bosom. “And he has something on his mind--that is clear!” added the old woman. “Which we will soon make him divulge to us,” said Perdita. “But how do you intend to proceed in order to form his acquaintance?” “Oh! nothing is more easy!” returned her mother. “In the first place we must take handsome lodgings. I know of a nice, quiet, retired street in the neighbourhood. Come along, Perdita--we must not waste valuable time.” The two women repaired direct to Suffolk Street, Pall Mall East; and in the window of a house of handsome appearance they saw a card announcing furnished apartments to be let. The lodgings were speedily inspected and hired, the prepayment of a month’s rent immediately ensuring the good opinion of the landlady and rendering references unnecessary. Back to the coffee-house in the vicinity of Covent Garden did the wanderers hasten; and in a few minutes all their packages and new purchases were transported to a hackney coach, which was fetched from the nearest stand. The coffee-house keeper was liberally rewarded, and a handsome fee was bestowed upon the driver of the vehicle to induce him to state, in case of being questioned in Suffolk Street, that he had brought the ladies from some respectable hotel. All these matters being arranged, the mother and daughter proceeded in the hackney-coach to their new lodgings, where they at once took up their quarters under the imposing name of Mrs. and Miss Fitzhardinge.