"Enough," answered Pauline, "now listen to me. I tell you a new road has opened to my ambitious hopes. I shall win wealth and station, without sacrificing you or your lover. Nay, more, I promise you that the day that sees the fulfillment of my wishes, shall also see you the bride of Paul Lisimon." "Pauline, what do you mean?" "Seek to know nothing--only trust me. There are dark obscurities in the pathway of guilt, which I would not have you to penetrate. I have promised to befriend you in all things. What if the foul plot, which, as I believe, has been hatched by that villainous attorney, Silas Craig, were brought to light by my agency? Would you thank me for that, Camillia?" "Thank you, Pauline? Oh, if you could but clear him I love from the vile accusations brought against him, I would be your grateful slave to the end of life." "I do not ask that--I only ask patience and confidence. I hold a power over Silas Craig, which none other possesses, and on the day which crowns my hopes, he shall be made to confess his infamy, and withdraw the charge against Paul Lisimon." "Pauline, Pauline," exclaimed Camillia; "my benefactress, my preserver." "Hush!" said the Frenchwoman, laying her finger on her lips, "Remember, patience and caution." As she spoke, Pepita, Camillia's old nurse, entered the room. "Oh, missy," said the faithful mulattress, "there is a sailorman below, who has fine silks and laces to show you, if you'll only look at his merchandise. Such bargains, he says, missy." "But I don't want to see them," replied Camillia, indifferently; "tell the man to take his goods somewhere else, Pepita." "Stay," interrupted Pauline; "we may as well look at these bargains." "Ay, do, ma'moselle," said Pepita; "it will amuse poor missy. Poor missy very ill lately." "Why do you wish to see this man?" asked Camillia, when the mulattress had left the apartment. "Because I have an idea that we should do wrong in refusing to admit him. We shall see whether I am right or not." Pepita ushered the sailor into her mistress's presence. He was a black-eyed, dark-haired fellow, with a complexion that had grown copper-colored by exposure to the wind and sun. He opened a bale of silks and spread its contents at the feet of the Spanish girl. Camillia glanced at them with listless indifference. "They are handsome," she said; "but I have no occasion for them." "But you will not refuse to buy something of a poor sailor, kind lady?" said the man, in an insinuating tone; "even if you do not wish for a silk dress, there may be something else among my stores that may tempt you to bid for it; see here!" he added, feeling in one of the pockets of his loose trousers, "I've something here that perhaps you may take a fancy to." He produced a red morocco case, large enough to contain a chain or bracelet.