"Now, a saint—a positive saint could not resist the desire of wishing to ascertain whether I should come each cold winter night to take up my station at the garden gate; if I did, the secret involved thereby must certainly be one of first-rate importance—certainly something as momentous as the life or death of a man must be at stake. Now, do you believe there ever was a saint, at least, a female one, who could have heard that a man's life was in danger without immediately wishing to know all about it—all the whys and whereabouts?"
"Ah, Madame Grassot, I crave pardon and yield to your superior judgment. You are, indeed, a first-rate tactician; and I bow, in all deference, to your skill. Your last stroke was a master-piece of politic wisdom!"
"I think so, indeed!"
"Pray, go on."
"Next day, about four o'clock, I took a hackney-coach, with a bottle of hot water, to keep my feet warm, as my duty might be a long one; then, wrapping myself up warm, I said to the coachman, 'Drive to the Quai d'Anjou, and stop at the last little gate on the right hand!' I was quite persuaded my tawny friend would not make her appearance. Well, there I stopped until nine o'clock, almost frozen to death. Nothing or nobody came near me."
"And the next day?"
"There you are again, M. Charles! so impatient, can't wait to have things related in proper order! Well, the same thing went on the next day. I went again in a coach, stopped before the little gate, the lamps of which shewed a light bright as day. About seven o'clock in the evening, the gate near which I had taken my station was suddenly opened, and as quickly shut; however, that was so much in my favour, as it shewed that the curiosity of the mulatto was at work, and would, finally, bring her to the point I desired. Still, to my extreme surprise, the day following produced nothing. There I sat in my coach, till I was nearly frozen; but, after waiting till half-past ten o'clock, I returned home almost disheartened. However, yesterday evening made up for all my former disappointments."
"Quick, then, tell me what occurred; for I, too, have need of being recompensed for all the tedious particulars you have made me listen to."
"So, you are unpatient, are you, M. Charles? Ah! I don't believe there ever was your equal for an unpatient gentleman. Well, come, I'll not play with your feelings. So, then, last night, when I stopped at the same spot, I found I was waited for; for, scarcely had I drawn up to my usual place, when the small side gate opened, and the blackamoor, wrapped up in a large cloak, came out as far as the threshold of the door. I let down the window of the coach, and she immediately approached and inquired whether the lace-dealer were there? Poor innocent lamb! 'Yes, my pretty dear,' answered I, ''tis the person you expect, and no other; but, if you would just step into the coach a minute, we could converse much more at our ease.' 'Oh, no, indeed I dare not do such a thing,' answered the poor frightened young creature. However, after an infinite number of yeses and noes, hesitation and refusal, which I will excuse you from being troubled with, she, at last, consented to come into the coach. I bade the coachman walk quite gently round the Isle; and we set forth, the poor girl trembling so excessively, that I had all the trouble in the world to tranquillise her. I am a famous good judge of such articles, and I declare I consider the mulatto as one of the most timid, yet proud-minded, and sensitive young contrivers that ever took part in a plot."
"Well, well, and when you had her within side the carriage, what then?"