"Yes, madam," he answered, looking at her through his spectacles. "Well, sir, it is my desire to rent one of the rooms." "You, madam!" he replied, evidently surprised at her question. "Yes, sir," she replied; "I am a refugee from New Orleans, having been driven from there by General Butler. My husband is now a prisoner of war in the hands of the enemy, and my means being limited, I am compelled to live economically." "Ahem, ahem," said Mr. Elder, clearing his throat; "indeed, madam, I sympathise with you. This war has cast many people homeless and in need throughout the country. I sympathize with you, _indeed_ I do," and he looked on her in the most benevolent manner possible. "Well, sir, what is the price charged for the rent of one of your rooms?" asked Mrs. Wentworth after a few moments' silence. "Well, ah--well, ah--you see, my dear madam, the price of everything has gone up immensely," he replied. "And what do you charge for the room?" she asked. "Well, ah, I think sixteen dollars per month as cheap as I could possible rent it," he answered finally. "I will take it, then, by the month," she answered, rising, "and will go into possession to-day." "Well, ah, my dear madam, it is a rule I have always made, only to rent my houses for the money, paid in advance--not that I have the _least_ apprehension of your inability to pay me, but you see it never does any good to deviate from fixed rules." "I am perfectly filling to pay you in advance," she replied, taking her port-moniae from her pocket and handing him the advance pay for one month's rent. Calling a clerk, Mr. Elder handed him the money, and ordered a receipt to be made out; then turning to Mrs. Wentworth, he said: "There is another thing, I desire to have you understand, madam, and agree to. The fall of New Orleans has occasioned the inflation of all kinds of real estate in price, and this, added to the rapid manner in which Confederate notes are depreciating in value, may compel me to raise the price of rent. I would, therefore, like you to agree, that in no way am I bound for any time longer than the month you have paid for, to take the present price; and another thing I desire is, that you agree not to take advantage of the stay law, in the event of non-payment, or refusal to pay any additional price I may charge. In making these conditions, madam," he continued, "I must not be understood to say that the contingencies mentioned are at all likely to occur, as I trust and hope they will not; but at the same time, I only desire to avoid all deviation from my usual course of doing business." "Any terms you may desire I will agree to," she replied in an absent manner, "as I wish to remove from the hotel, the charges there being above my means." "Very well, madam, very well," he responded.