"`I am, by to-morrow's packet.' "`I shall put myself under your protection, for I am also going to London.' "`I shall be most delighted.' "`_Au revoir_.' "About an hour afterwards a message was brought to me by the _garcon_, that the lady would be happy to receive me at Number 19. I ascended to the second floor, knocked, and was told to come in. "She was now without a veil; and what do you think was her reason for the concealment of her person?" "By the beard of Mokhanna, how can I tell?" "Well, then, she had two of the most beautiful eyes in the world; her eyebrows were finely arched; her forehead was splendid; her mouth was tempting,--in short, she was as pretty as you could wish a woman to be, only she had _broken her nose_,--a thousand pities, for it must once have been a very handsome one. Well, to continue, I made my bow. "`You perceive now, sir,' said she, `why I wore my veil down.' "`No, indeed,' replied I. "`You are very polite, or very blind,' rejoined she; `the _latter_ I believe not to be the fact. I did not choose to submit to the impertinence of my own countrymen in the diligence; they would have asked me a hundred questions upon my accident. But you are an Englishman, and have respect for a female who has been unfortunate.' "`I trust I deserve your good opinion, madam; and if I can be in any way useful to you--' "`You can. I shall be a stranger in England. I know that in London there is a great man, one Monsieur Lis-tong, who is very clever.' "`Very true, madam. If your nose instead of having been slightly injured as it is, had been left behind you in Africa, Mr Liston would have found you another.' "`If he will only repair the old one, I ask no more. You give me hopes. But the bones are crushed completely, as you must see.' "`That is of no consequence. Mr Liston has put a new eye in, to my knowledge. The party was short-sighted, and saw better with the one put in by Mr Liston than with the one which had been left him.' "`_Est-il possible? Mais, quel homme extraordinaire_! Perhaps you will do me the favour to sit with me, monsieur; and, if I mistake not, you have a request to make of me--_n'est-ce pas_?' "`I felt such interest about you, madam, that I acknowledge, if it would not be too painful to you, I should like to ask a question.' "`Which is, How did I break my nose? Of course you want to know. And as it is the only return I can make for past or future obligations to you, you shall most certainly be gratified. I will not detain you now. I shall expect you to supper. Adieu, monsieur.' "I did not, of course, fail in my appointment; and after supper she commenced:--