And till he turns up we shall 'ave to stay.'

'The gentleman's here? but no one has come;

And no one can come—it is much too late.

Mr. Vane is out—he will soon be home;

But I really must ask you not to wait.'

The man laid a finger against his nose;

With a horrible slyness look'd at me:

'We understands all that 'ere, I suppose;

But you'd better come to terms,' said he.

I stared at the man with my vacant eyes,