shouldfindyouinthisplace，towhichhegavemeinstructionsnotveryclear。But，nowIamhere，Icravepermissiontoremainalittletime，inorderthatImayholdsomecommunionwithyou。’
’Well，’saidI，’sinceyouarecome，youarewelcome；pleasetostepthisway。’
ThereuponIconductedthemaninblacktothefireplace，whereBellewasstanding，whohadrisenfromherstoolonmyspringinguptogoinquestofthestranger。Themaninblacklookedatherwithevidentcuriosity，thenmakingherratheragracefulbow，’Lovelyvirgin，’saidhe，stretchingouthishand，’allowmetosaluteyourfingers。’
’Iamnotinthehabitofshakinghandswithstrangers，’saidBelle。
’Ididnotpresumetorequesttoshakehandswithyou，’saidthemaninblack，’Imerelywishedtobepermittedtosalutewithmylipstheextremityofyourtwoforefingers。’