“I mean to, too, you bet!” said Hannah. “I ain’t--I mean, I haven’t--married an old man for nothing! I’ve got something to set against his age, eh, Doctor? And if you’ll stand my friend, and introduce me to some of the big people at your séances, you see if my ‘wonderful gift’ (as you call it) won’t land me some day in unexpected places.” “By Jove! I believe you’re sharp enough for anything,” exclaimed Von Steinberg, “and if I can help you, I will! But it must be with Ricardo’s consent.” “Didn’t you hear him give it? He’d sell me to the Devil, if it would bring his Leonora to him! He doesn’t care a hang about me! He only cares for her!” “You mustn’t say that!” replied Von Steinberg, though he believed it to be true. “And I’ll tell you a secret, Doctor! I don’t believe that Leonora will come to him much longer, either! She’s pretty well sick of being prayed and slobbered over, and called an angel! She wasn’t an angel--not by no manner of means--and it wearies her! She liked life, did Leonora--domestic happiness wasn’t in her line at all.” “I believe you are correct there,” replied the Doctor. “And can’t you see how sitting by himself, night after night, is drawing all the strength out of the Markiss. It doesn’t signify about _my_ strength--he has never thought about that--so long as he can see Leonora--but it’ll chaw him up before long, if he don’t look out. It’ll be for his good to take me away a bit--mark my words!” “By Jove! you’re right again,” replied her companion, “and it is wonderful I did not perceive the danger to him before! You’ve done Ricardo a great benefit by your astuteness, my dear, and I shall not fail to tell him so! But you are sure you have not hurt yourself! You do not feel at all weak, or ill--not as if a tonic, or stimulant of any kind, would do you good?” “O! no! Doctor, I’m all right, thank you,” said Hannah, smiling at the anxiety depicted in his face; “only you get me to your fine house and it’ll do me all the good in the world!” “I am delighted to think that you are coming,” said Von Steinberg, “and, Hannah, at this or any time, remember that anything I may have, or can procure, is at your service! I can never sufficiently thank you for the grand insight you have given me, through your mediumship, to the truth of Immortality, and anything I could do for you in return I should esteem a great favour! “And now one word of advice, my dear girl, which I know you are too sensible to resent. Try to correct the few errors of grammar which you still retain, and the sooner will you gain admittance into the houses you aspire to be invited to, on an equal footing with their owners.” Hannah stood, for a moment, as if dumbfoundered. “I don’t get on as fast as I should, do I?” she said at length. “It seems queer, but there’s something in my tongue as won’t sound some words. I s’pose it’s all habit, and I haven’t much opportunity for improving myself now!” “How’s that?”