Butaglanceathisgood-humoredfaceandkindlingeyesremovedthatsuspicion。Nevertheless，hefeltsomewhatembarrassedandimpatient，andperhapscouldnotentirelyconcealit。Heforgotthattherudestnaturesaresometimesthemostdelicatelysensitivetoslights，andthestrangerhadnoticedhismannerandbeganapologetically。
\"IallowedI\'djustdropinanywaytotellyethatthesetharpillsyougiv\'medidmeaheapo\'goodsofar——thoughmebbeit\'sonlyfairtogivetheothersashowtoo，whichI\'mreckoningtodo。\"Hepaused，andtheninasubmissiveconfidencewenton：\"ButfirstI
wantedtohevyouexcusemeforhavin\'askedallthemquestionsaboutthathigh-tonedladylastnight，whenitwarn\'tnoneofmybusiness。Iamadarnedfool。\"
Mr。Kaneinstantlysawthatitwasnousetokeepuphisattitudeofsecrecy，orimposeupontheignorant，simpleman，andsaidhurriedly：\"Ohno。Theladyisverywellknown。Sheistheproprietressofarestaurantdownthestreet——ahouseopentoeverybody。HernameisMadameleBlanc；youmayhaveheardofherbefore？\"
Tohissurprisethemanexhibitednodiminutionofinterestnorchangeofsentimentatthisintelligence。\"Then，\"hesaidslowly，\"IreckonImightgettoseeheragain。Yesee，Mr。Kane，Irathertookafancytohergeneralstyleandgait——arterseein\'herinthatfixlastnight。Itwasratherlikethemplaypicturesonthestage。Yedon\'tthinkshe\'dmakeanyfusstoseein\'aroughold\'forty-niner\'likeme？\"