On reaching the house, the woman rang the bell, and they were admitted. She asked him to wait a moment in the parlor. The room was flashy, and the appearance of the men and women, who were grouped about in it, was far from being respectable, though there was nothing improper in their conduct. The minister's suspicions were aroused at once by the general appearance of things, and were increased as he saw the whispered conversation going on between the other occupants of the room, and of which he was evidently the subject. In a few minutes his companion returned, and asking him to follow her, led the way up to her room. He went with her, still thinking that his suspicions might have been misplaced. Several women passed him on the stairway each of whom greeted him with an impudent laugh. Upon reaching the room, the minister found that he had been deceived. There was no sick woman present, and he was alone with his infamous companion. As she closed the door, she came up to him, and put her arm around him. He threw her off sternly. "What does this mean," he asked. "I wanted to have the pleasure of your society," said the woman, laughing. "Now that you are here, you had better stay." Without a word, the clergyman turned towards the door, but the woman sprang before him. "You don't leave me in this way," she said. "I want money, and I must have it." "I have none for you," said the minister. "Let me pass." "Listen to me," said the woman: "I want two hundred dollars. Pay the money, and I will never tell of your visit here. If you refuse me, I'll tell the story all over town." "Do so," was the reply. "I will tell how I was led here, how I was deceived, and I will have you arrested." "My tale's the best," said the woman, defiantly. "I can prove your presence in the parlor by every girl in the house, and those who saw you in the hall will swear you came to my room with me. They will swear to no lie, either, and nine people out of ten will believe my story against yours. To say the least," she added, "it will fasten such a suspicion on you as will ruin you with your congregation; so you'd better pay me my money." The minister was silent for a moment. He felt that his presence in that place would give rise to a terrible suspicion, and he knew that a man in his position could not afford to be suspected. However innocent he might be, the faintest breath of scandal would injure him greatly. He thought over the matter rapidly, and at last said: "The sum you name is a very large one to me, and I could not pay you to-night, were I inclined to do so. Give me until to-morrow to think of it." The woman's eyes sparkled, for she thought her victim would surely yield. "Where can I see you to-morrow?" she asked. "At my residence, No.--W----street, at twelve o'clock," he said. "Send in your name as Mrs. White, and I will see you at once." "You had better do so," said the woman, emphatically. "Now you can go."