"At a quarter past eleven," pursued the lady, "leave the house.

Merely cry for the door to be opened, and be sure you fall into no

talk with the porter, as that might ruin everything. Go straight

to the corner where the Luxembourg Gardens join the Boulevard;

there you will find me waiting you. I trust you to follow my

advice from point to point: and remember, if you fail me in only

one particular, you will bring the sharpest trouble on a woman

whose only fault is to have seen and loved you."

"I cannot see the use of all these instructions," said Silas.

"I believe you are already beginning to treat me as a master," she

cried, tapping him with her fan upon the arm. "Patience, patience!

that should come in time. A woman loves to be obeyed at first,

although afterwards she finds her pleasure in obeying. Do as I ask

you, for Heaven's sake, or I will answer for nothing. Indeed, now

I think of it," she added, with the manner of one who has just seen

further into a difficulty, "I find a better plan of keeping

importunate visitors away. Tell the porter to admit no one for

you, except a person who may come that night to claim a debt; and

speak with some feeling, as though you feared the interview, so

that he may take your words in earnest."

"I think you may trust me to protect myself against intruders," he

said, not without a little pique.

"That is how I should prefer the thing arranged," she answered

coldly. "I know you men; you think nothing of a woman's

reputation."

Silas blushed and somewhat hung his head; for the scheme he had in

view had involved a little vain-glorying before his acquaintances.

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