\"Imustbecontentwitheveryotherday。\"
Vizardsaidhewouldarrangeitso，andwasleavingher；butshebeggedhimtostayamoment。
\"Shewouldbesaferhere，\"saidshe，verygravely。
Vizardwastakenabackbythesuddennessofthisreturntoatopichewassimpleenoughtothinkshehadabandoned。However，hesaid，\"Sheissafeenough。Ihavetakencareofthat，youmaybesure。\"
\"Youhavedonewell，sir，\"saidIna，verygravely。
Shesaidnomoretohim；butjustbeforedinnerFannycamein，andMissGalewentforawalkinthegarden。InapinnedFannydirectly。\"WhereisMissVizard?\"saidshe，quietly。
Fannycoloredup；butseeinginamomentthatfibswouldbedangerous，said，mightycarelessly，\"SheisatAuntMaitland\'s。\"
\"Wheredoes_she_live，dear?\"
\"Inapokylittleplacecalled\'SomervilleVilla。\'\"
\"Farfromthis?\"
\"Notvery。Itisfortymilesbytherailway，butnotthirtybytheroad；
andZoewentinthebarouchealltheway。\"
MademoiselleKloskingthoughtalittle，andthentakingFannyDover\'shand，saidtoher，verysweetly，\"Ibegyoutohonormewithyourconfidence，andtellmesomething。Believeme，itisfornoselfishmotiveIaskyou；butIthinkMissVizardisindanger。Sheistoofarfromherbrother，andtoofarfromme。Mr。Vizardsayssheissafe。Now，canyoutellmewhathemeans?Howcanshebesafe?Isherheartturnedtostone，likemine?\"
\"No，indeed，\"saidFanny。\"Yes，Iwillbefrankwithyou；forIbelieveyouarewiserthananyoneofus。Zoeisnotsafe，lefttoherself。Herheartisanythingbutstone；andHeavenknowswhatwild，madthingshemightbeledinto。ButIknowperfectlywellwhatVizardmeans:no，I
don\'tliketotellityouall；itwillgiveyoupain。\"
\"Thereislittlehopeofthat。Iampastpain。\"
\"Well，then——MissGalewillscoldme。\"
\"No，sheshallnot。\"
\"Oh，Iknowyouhavegottheupperhandevenofher；soifyoupromiseI
shallnotbescolded，I\'lltellyou。Yousee，Ihadmymisgivingsaboutthisverything；andassoonasVizardcamehome——itwashewhotookhertoAuntMaitland——Iaskedhimwhatprecautionshehadtakentohinderthatmanfromgettingholdofheragain。Well，then——oh，IoughttohavebegunbytellingyouMr。SeverneforgedbillstogetmoneyoutofHarrington。\"
\"GoodHeavens!\"
\"Oh，Harringtonwillneverpunishhim，ifhekeepshisdistance；buthehasadvertisedinallthepapers，warninghimthatifhesetsfootinBarfordshirehewillbearrestedandsenttoprison。\"
InaKloskingshookherhead。\"Whenamanisinlovewithsuchawomanasthat，dangerscouldhardlydeterhim。\"
\"Thatdependsupontheman，Ithink。ButHarringtonhasdonebetterthanthat。Hehasprovidedherwithawatch-dog——thebestofallwatch-dogs——anotherlover。LordUxmoorlivesnearAuntMaitland，andheadoresZoe；soHarringtonhascommissionedhimtowatchher，andcureher，andall。Iwishhe\'dcure_me_——anearl\'scoronetandtwentythousandayear!\"
\"Yourelievemymind，\"saidIna。Thenafterapause——\"Butletmeaskyouonequestionmore。WhydidyounottellmeMissVizardwasgone?\"
\"Idon\'tknow，\"saidFanny，coloringup。_\"She_toldmenot。\"
\"Who?\"
\"Why，theVixenincommand。Sheorderseverybody。\"
\"Andwhydidsheforbidyou?\"
\"Don\'tknow。\"
\"Yes，youdo。Kissme，dear。There，Iwilldistressyouwithnomorequestions。WhyshouldI?Ourinstinctsseldomdeceiveus。Well，sobeit:
Ihavesomethingmoretogetwellfor，andIwill。\"
Fannylookedupatherinquiringly。
\"Yes，\"saidshe；\"thedaughterofthishospitablehousewillneverreturntoitwhileIaminit。Poorgirl；shethinks_she_istheinjuredwoman。
Sobeit。Iwillgetwell——andleaveit。\"
FannycommunicatedthistoMissGale，andallshesaidwas，\"SheshallgonofurtherthanHillstokethen；forIloveherbetterthananymancanloveher。\"
FannydidnottellVizard；andhewasdownrighthappy，seeingthewomanhelovedrecover，byslowdegrees，herhealth，herstrength，hercolor，hervoice。Partingwasnotthreatened。Hedidnotrealizethattheyshouldeverpartatall。Hehadvaguehopesthat，whileshewasunderhisroof，opportunitymightstandhisfriend，andshemightrequitehisaffection。Allthiswouldnotbearlookingintoveryclosely:forthatveryreasonhetookparticularcarenottolookintoitveryclosely；buthopedallthings，andwashappy。Inthisconditionhereceivedalittleshock。
Aone-horseflywasdrivenuptothedoor，andacardbroughtin——
\"MR。JOSEPHASHMEAD。\"
VizardwasalwaysathomeatVizardCourt，excepttoconvictedBores。Mr。
Ashmeadwasshownintohisstudy。
Vizardknewhimataglance。Thevelveteencoathadyieldedtotweed；butanotherloudtiehadsucceededtotheone\"thatfiredtheairatHomburg。\"There，too，wasthewash-leatherface，andothertraitsVizardprofessedtoknowanactress\'sloverby。Yes，itwastheverymanatsightofwhomhehadfoughtdownhisadmirationofLaKlosking，anddeclinedanintroductiontoher。Vizardknewtheladybetternow。Butstillhewasalittlejealousevenofheracquaintances，andthoughtthisoneunworthyofher；sohereceivedhimwithstiffbutguardedpoliteness，leavinghimtoopenhisbusiness。
Ashmead，overawedbytheavenue，thedozengables，four-scorechimneys，etc。，addressedhimratherobsequiously，butwithacertainhonesttrouble，thatsoonsoftenedthebadimpressioncausedbyhisappearance。
\"Sir，\"saidhe，\"prayexcusethisintrusionofastranger，butIamingreatanxiety。Itisnotformyself，butforalady，averydistinguishedlady，whoseinterestsIamchargedwith。ItisMademoiselleKlosking，thefamoussinger。\"
Vizardmaintainedagrimsilence。
\"Youmayhaveheardofher。\"
\"Ihave。\"
\"Ialmostfancyyouonceheardhersing——atHomburg。\"
\"Idid。\"
\"ThenIamsureyoumusthaveadmiredher，beingagentlemanoftaste。
Well，sir，itisnearafortnightsinceIheardfromher。\"
\"Well，sir?\"
\"Youwillsaywhatisthattoyou?Butthetruthis，sheleftme，inLondon，todocertainbusinessforher，andshewentdowntothisveryplace。Iofferedtocomewithher，butshedeclined。Tobesure，itwasadelicatematter，andnotatallinmyway。Shewastowritetomeandreportprogress，andgivemeheraddress，thatImightwritetoher；butnearlyafortnighthaspassed。Ihavenotreceivedasingleletter。Iaminrealdistressandanxiety。AgreatcareerawaitsherinEngland，sir；
butthissilenceissomysterious，soalarming，thatIbeginactuallytohopeshehasplayedthefool，andthrownitallup，andgoneabroadwiththatblackguard。\"
\"Whatblackguard，sir?\"
Josephdrewinhishorns。\"Ispoketooquick，sir，\"saidhe；\"itisnobusinessofmine。Butthesebrilliantwomenareasmadastherestinthrowingawaytheiraffections。Theypreferablackguardtoagoodman。
Itistherule。Excusemyplainspeaking。\"
\"Mr。Ashmead，\"saidVizard，\"Imaybeabletoansweryourquestionsaboutthislady；but，beforeIdoso，itisrightIshouldknowhowfaryoupossessherconfidence。Tospeakplainly，haveyouanyobjectiontotellmewhatisthepreciserelationbetweenyouandher?\"
\"Certainlynot，sir。Iamhertheatricalagent。\"
\"Isthatall?\"
\"Notquite。Ihavebeenagooddealaboutherlately，andhaveseenherindeepdistress。IthinkImayalmostsayIamherfriend，thoughaveryhumbleone。\"
VizarddidnotyetquiterealizethetruththatthisBohemianhadinhisheartoneholyspot——hispuredevotionandunsexualfriendshipforthatgreatartist。Still，hisprejudicesweredisarmed，andhesaid，\"Well，Mr。Ashmead，excusemycross-questioningyou。Iwillnowgivemyselfthepleasureofsettingyouranxietiesatrest。MademoiselleKloskingisinthishouse。\"
Ashmeadstaredathim，andthenbrokeout，\"Inthishouse!OLord!Howcanthatbe?\"
\"Ithappenedinawayverydistressingtousall，thoughtheresultisnowsodelightful。MademoiselleKloskingcalledhereonabusinesswithwhich，perhaps，youareacquainted。\"
\"Iam，sir。\"
\"Unfortunatelyshemetwithanaccidentinmyveryhall，anaccidentthatendangeredherlife，sir；andofcoursewetookchargeofher。Shehashadazealousphysicianandgoodnurses，andsheisrecoveringslowly。
Sheisquiteoutofdanger，butstillweak。Ihavenodoubtshewillbedelightedtoseeyou。Only，asweareallundertheordersofherphysician，andthatphysicianisawoman，andabitofavixen，youmustallowmetogoandconsultherfirst。\"Vizardretired，leavingJosephhappy，butmystified。
Hewasnotlongalone。Inlessthanaminutehehadforcompanionssomewell-butteredsandwichesmadewithsmokedham，andabottleofoldMadeira。Thesolidsmeltedinhismouth，theliquidranthroughhisveinslikeoilchargedwithelectricityand_elixirvitoe。_
By-and-byafemaleservantcameforhim，andusheredhimintoInaKlosking\'sroom。
Shereceivedhimwithundisguisedaffection，andhehadmuchadotokeepfromcrying。Shemadehimsitdownnearherinthevastembrasureofthewindow，andgavehimalettertoreadshehadjustwrittentohim。
Theycomparednotesveryrapidly；buttheirdiscoursewillnotbegivenhere，becausesomuchofitwouldberepetition。
Theywereleftalonetotalk，andtheydidtalkformorethananhour。
Thefirstinterruption，indeed，wasarecitativowithchords，followedbyaversefromtheleadingtreble。
Mr。Ashmeadlookedpuzzled；theKloskingeyedhimdemurely。
Beforetheanthemconcluded，Vizardtapped，andwasadmittedfromthemusic-room。Inasmiled，andwavedhimtoachair。Boththemensaw，byhermanner，theywerenottoutterasoundwhilethemusicwasgoingon。
Whenitceased，shesaid，\"Doyouapprovethat，myfriend?\"
\"Ifitpleasesyou，madam，\"repliedthewaryAshmead。
\"Itdoesmorethanpleaseme；itdoesmegood。\"
\"Thatreconcilesmetoitatonce。\"
\"Oh，thenyoudonotadmireitforitself。\"
\"Not——very——much。\"
\"Pray，speakplainly。Iamnotatyrant，toimposemytastes。\"
\"Wellthen，madam，Ifeelverygratefultoanythingthatdoesyougood:
otherwise，Ishouldsaythemusicwas——ratherdreary；andthesinging——veryinsipid。\"
TheopenstrugglebetweenJoseph\'shonestyandhisaweoftheKloskingtickledVizardsothatheleanedbackinhischairandlaughedheartily。
TheKloskingsmiledsuperior。\"Hemeans，\"saidshe，\"thatthemusicisnotoperatic，andtheboysdonotclasptheirhands，andshaketheirshoulders，andsingpassionately，aswomendoinatheater。Heavenforbidtheyshould!Ifthisworldisallpassion，thereisanotherwhichisallpeace；andtheseboys\'sweet，artlesstonesarethenearestthingweshallgetinthisworldtotheunimpassionedvoicesoftheangels。Theyarefitinstrumentsforpiouswordssetbycomposers，who，howeverobscuretheymaybe，weremeninspired，andhavewrittenimmortalstrains，which，asIhearthem，seemhardlyofthisworld——theyaresofreefromallmortaldross。\"
Vizardassentedwarmly。Ashmeadaskedpermissiontohearanother。Theysungthe\"Magnificat\"byKing，inF。
\"Uponmyword，\"saidAshmead，\"thereisadealof\'go\'inthat。\"
Thentheysungthe\"NunoDimittis。\"Hesaid，alittledryly，therewasplentyofreposeinthat。
\"Myfriend，\"saidshe，\"thereis——tothehonorofthecomposer:the\'Magnificat\'isthebrightandloftyexultationofayoungwomanwhohasbornetheMessiah，anddoesnotforeseeHissufferings，onlytheboontotheworldandtheglorytoherself。Butthe\'Dimittis\'istheveryopposite。Itisagentlejoy，andtheworldcontentedlyresignedbyagoodoldman，fatigued，whohasrunhisrace，andlongstosleepafterlife\'sfever。Whennextyouhavethegoodfortunetohearthatsong，thinkyouseethesundescendingredandcalmafteradayofstorms，andanagedChristiansaying，\'Good-night，\'andyouwillhonorpoordeadKingasIdo。Themusicthattrulyreflectsgreatwordswasneveryetsmallmusic，writeitwhomay。\"
\"Youareright，madam。\"saidAshmead。\"WhenIdoubteditsbeinggoodmusic，IsupposeImeantsalable。\"
\"Ah，_voil\'a!\"_saidtheKlosking。Then，turningtoVizardforsympathy，\"Whatthisfaithfulfriendunderstandsbygoodmusicismusicthatcanbesoldforagooddealofmoney。\"
\"Thatisso，\"saidAshmead，stoutly。\"Iamatheatricalagent。Youcan\'tmakeasilkpurseoutofasow\'sear。Youhavetrieditmorethanonce，youknow，butitwouldnotwork。\"
AshmeadamusedVizard，andhetookhimintohisstudy，andhadsomemoreconversationwithhim。Heevenaskedhimtostayinthehouse；butAshmeadwasshy，andtherewasatheateratTaddington。Sohesaidhehadagooddealofbusinesstodo；hehadbettermakethe\"Swan\"hisheadquarters。\"Ishallbeatyourserviceallthesame，sir，orMademoiselleKlosking\'s。\"
\"HaveaglassofMadeira，Mr。Ashmead。\"
\"Well，sir，totellthetruth，Ihavehadoneortwo。\"
\"Thenitknowstheroad。\"
\"Youareverygood，sir。WhatMadeira!Isthisthewinethedoctorsrandownafewyearsago?Theycouldn\'thavetastedit。\"
\"Well，itislikeourselves，improvedbytraveling。ThathasbeentwicetoIndia。\"
\"Itwillnevergoagainpastme，\"saidAshmead，gayly。\"Mymouthisacapeitwillneverweather。\"
Hewenttohisinn。
Beforehehadbeentheretenminutes，uprattledasmartservantinasmartdogcart。
\"Hamper——forJosephAshmead，Esquire。\"
\"Anythingtopay?\"
\"Whatfor?——it\'sfromVizardCourt。\"
Andthedog-cartrattledaway。
Josephwasinthehall，andwitnessedthisphenomenon。Hesaidtohimself，\"IwishIhadavastacquaintance——ALLCOUNTRYGENTLEMEN。\"
ThatafternoonInaKloskinginsistedonwalkingupanddowntheroom，supportedbyMesdemoisellesGaleandDover。Theresultwasfatigueandsleep；thatisall。
\"To-morrow，\"saidshe，\"Iwillhavebutonelivecrutch。Imustandwillrecovermystrength。\"
IntheeveningsheinsistedonbothladiesdiningwithMr。Vizard。Here，too，shehadherway。
Vizardwasinverygoodspirits，and，whentheservantsweregone，complimentedMissGaleonherskill。
_\"Our_skill，youmean，\"saidshe。\"Itwasyouwhoprescribedthisnewmedicineofthemind，thepsalmsandhymnsandspiritualsongs；anditwasyouwhoadministeredtheAshmead，andhemadeherlaugh，ornearly——andthat_we_haveneverbeenabletodo。ShemusttakeafewgrainsofAshmeadeveryday。Theworstofitis，Iamafraidweshallcurehertooquickly；andthenweshallloseher。Butthatwastobeexpected。Iamveryunfortunateinmyattachments；Ialwayswas。IfI
fallinlovewithawoman，sheissuretohateme，orelsedie，orelseflyaway。Ilovethisonetodistraction，sosheissuretodesertme，becauseshecouldn\'tmisbehave，andIwon\'t_let_herdie。\"
\"Well，\"saidVizard，\"youknowwhattodo——retardthecure。Thatisoneoftheartsofyourprofession。\"
\"Andsoitis；buthowcanI，whenIloveher?No，wemusthaverecoursetoourbenevolenttyrantagain。HemustgetMissVizardbackhere，beforemygoddessiswellenoughtospreadherwingsandfly。\"
Vizardlookedpuzzled。\"This，\"saidhe\"soundslikeariddle，orfemalelogic。\"
\"Itisboth，\"saidRhoda。\"MissDover，givehimthe_motd\'e\'nigme。_I\'moff——tothepatientIadore。\"
Shevanishedswiftly，andVizardlookedtoFannyforasolution。ButFannyseemedrathervexedwithMissGale，andsaidnothing。Thenhepressedhertoexplain。
Sheansweredhim，withacertainreluctance，\"MademoiselleKloskinghastakenintoherheadthatZoewillneverreturntothishousewhilesheisinit。\"
\"Whoputthatintoherhead，now?\"saidVizard，bitterly。
\"Nobody，uponmyhonor。Awoman\'sinstinct。\"
\"Well?\"
\"Sheishorrifiedattheideaofkeepingyoursisteroutofherownhouse，sosheisgettingwelltogo；andthestrengthofherwillissuchthatshe_will_getwell。\"
\"Allthebetter；butZoewillsoongettiredofSomervilleVilla。A
littlepersuasionwillbringherhome，especiallyifyouweretooffertotakeherplace。\"
\"Oh，Iwoulddothat，toobligeyou，Harrington，ifIsawanygoodattheendofit。Butpleasethinktwice。HowcanZoeandthatladyeverstayunderthesameroof?Howcantheymeetatyourtable，andspeaktoeachother?Theyarerivals。\"
\"Theyarebothgettingcured，andneitherwilleverseethevillainagain。\"
\"Ihopenot；butwhocantell?Well，nevermind_them。_Iftheireyesarenotopenedbythistime，theywillgetnopityfromme。ItisyouIthinkofnow。\"Then，inahesitatingway，andhercheeksmantlinghigherandhigherwithhonestblushes——\"Youhavesufferedenoughalreadyfromwomen。
Iknowitisnotmybusiness，butitdoesgrievemetoseeyougoingintotroubleagain。Whatgoodcancomeofit?Herconnectionwiththatman，sorecent，andso——strange。Theworld_will_interpretitsownway。Yourpositioninthecounty——everyeyeuponyou。Iseethewayin——nodoubtitisstrewedwithflowers；butIseenowayout。Bebraveintime，Harrington。Itwillnotbethefirsttime。Shemustbeagoodwoman，somehow，orfaces，eyesandvoices，andways，areallalie。Butifsheisgood，sheisveryunfortunate；andshewillgiveyouasoreheartforlife，ifyoudon\'tmind。I\'dclinchmyteethandshutmyeyes，andlethergointime。\"
Vizardgroanedaloud，andatthatatearortworolleddownFanny\'sburningcheeks。
\"Youareagoodlittlegirl，\"saidVizard，affectionately；\"butI
_cannot。\"_
Hehunghisheaddespondentlyandmuttered，\"Iseenowayouteither。ButIyieldtofate。Ifearedher，andfledfromher。Shehasfollowedme。I
canresistnomore。Idrift。Somemenneverknowhappiness。Ishallhavehadahappyfortnight，atallevents。Ithankyou，andrespectyouforyouradvice；butIcan\'ttakeit。SonowIsupposeyouwillbetoomuchoffendedtoobligeme。\"
\"Ohdear，no。\"
\"WouldyoumindwritingtoAuntMaitland，andsayingyouwouldliketotakeZoe\'splace?\"
\"Iwilldoitwithpleasuretoobligeyou。Besides，itwillbeafib，anditissolongsinceIhavetoldagoodfib。WhenshallIwrite?\"
\"Oh，abouttheendoftheweek。\"
\"Yes，thatwillbetimeenough。MissGalewon\'t_let_hergotillnextweek。Ah，afterall，howniceandnaturalitistobenaughty!Fibsandflirtation，welcomehome!Thisisthebeautyofbeinggood——andIshallrecommendittoallmyfriendsonthisveryaccount——youcanalwaysleaveitoffatamoment\'snotice，withoutanytrouble。Now，naughtinessstickstoyoulikeaburr。\"
So，withnomoreado，thisnewMentorbecameVizard\'saccomplice，andtheyagreedtogetZoebackbeforetheKloskingcouldgetstrongenoughtomovewithherphysician\'sconsent。
AsthehamperofMadeirawaslandedinthehallofthe\"Swan\"inn，agenialvoicecried，\"Youareinluck。\"Ashmeadturned，andtherewasPoikiluspeeringathimfromthedoorwayofthecommercialroom。
\"Whatisthegamenow?\"thoughtAshmead。Butwhathesaidwas，\"Why，I
knowthatface。Ideclare，itisthegentthattreatedmeatHomburg。
Bringinthehamper，Dick。\"ThentoPoikilus，\"Haveyedinedyet?\"
\"No。Goingtodineinhalfanhour。Roastgosling。Justenoughfortwo。\"
\"We\'lldivideit，ifyoulike，andI\'llstandabottleofoldMadeira。Myoldfriend，SquireVizard，hasjustsentitme。I\'lljusthaveasplash；
dinnerwillbereadybythen。\"Hebustledoutoftheroom，butsaid，ashewent，\"Isay，oldman，openthehamper，andputtwobottlesjustwithinthesmileofthefire。\"
Hethenwentupstairs，andplungedhisheadincoldwater，toclearhisfacultiesfortheencounter。
Thefriendssatdowntodinner，andafterwardtotheMadeira，bothgayandgenialoutside，butwithinfullofdesign——theirobjectbeingtopumponeanother。
IntheencounteratHomburg，Ashmeadhadanadvantage；PoikilusthoughthimselfunknowntoAshmead。Butthistimetherewasachange。PoikilusknewbythistimethatLaKloskinghadgonetoVizardCourt。HowshehadknownSevernewastherepuzzledhimagooddeal；buthehadendedbysuspectingAshmead，inavagueway。
Theparties，therefore，metoneventerms。AshmeadresolvedtolearnwhathecouldaboutSeverne，andPoikilustolearnwhathecouldaboutZoeVizardandMademoiselleKlosking。
Ashmeadopenedtheball:\"Beenlonghere?\"
\"Justcome。\"
\"Business?\"
\"Yes。Wanttoseeifthere\'sanychanceofmygettingpaidforthatjob。\"
\"Whatjob?\"
\"Why，theHomburgjob。Lookhere——Idon\'tknowwhyIshouldhaveanysecretsfromagoodfellowlikeyou；onlyyoumustnottellanybodyelse。\"
\"Oh，honorbright!\"
\"Well，then，Iamadetective。\"
\"Yedon\'tmeanthat?\"
\"I\'mPoikilus。\"
\"Goodheavens!Well，Idon\'tcare。Ihaven\'tmurderedanybody。Here\'syourhealth，Poikilus。Isay，youcouldtellataleortwo。\"
\"ThatIcould。ButI\'moutofluckthistime。Thegentlemanthatemployedmehasmizzled，andhepromisedmefiftypounds。Icamedownhereinhopesoffindinghim。Sawhimonceinthisneighborhood。\"
\"Well，youwon\'tfindhimhere，Idon\'tthink。Youmustexcuseme，butyouremployerisavillain。Hehasknockedaladydown，andnearlykilledher。\"
\"Youdon\'tsaythat?\"
\"Yes；thatbeautifullady，thesinger，yousawinHomburg。\"
\"What!theladythatsaidheshouldhavehismoney?\"
\"Thesame。\"
\"Why，hemustbemad。\"
\"No。Ascoundrel。_Thatisall。\"_
\"Thenshewon\'tgivehimhismoneyafterthat。\"
\"NotifIcanhelpit。Butifshelikestopayyouyourcommission，I
shallnotobjecttothat。\"
\"Youareagoodfellow。\"
\"Whatismore，Ishallseeherto-morrow，andIwillputthequestiontoherforyou。\"
Poikiluswasprofuseinhisthanks，andsaidhebegantothinkitwashisonlychance。Thenhehadamisgiving。\"Ihavenoclaimonthelady，\"saidhe；\"andIamafraidIhavebeenabadfriendtoher。Ididnotmeanit，though，andthewholeaffairisdarktome。\"
\"Youarenotverysharp，then，foradetective，\"saidAshmead。\"Well，shutyourmouthandopenyoureyes。YourMr。Severnewasthelady\'slover，andpreyeduponher。Helefther；shewasfoolenoughtolovehimstill，andpinedforhim。Heisagambler，andwasgamblingbymysidewhenMademoiselleKloskingcamein；sohecuthislucky，andleftmefiftypoundstoplayforhim，andsheputthepoton，andbrokethebank。
Ididn\'tknowwhohewas，butwefounditoutbyhisphotograph。Thenyoucamesmellingafterthemoney，andwesoldyounicely，myfinedetective。
Wemadeitourbusinesstoknowwhereyouwroteto——VizardCourt。Shewentdownthere，andfoundhimjustgoingtobemarriedtoabeautifulyounglady。Shecollaredhim。Heflungherdown，andcuthertempleopen——nearlykilledher。Sheliesillinthehouse，andtheotheryoungladyisgoneawaybroken-hearted。\"
\"Whereto?\"
\"HowshouldIknow?Whatisthattoyou?\"
\"Whydon\'tyousee?Whereversheis，hewon\'tbefaroff。Helikesherbest，don\'the?\"
\"Itdon\'tfollowthatshelikeshim，nowshehasfoundhimout。Hehadbetternotgoafterher，orhe\'llgetaskinfulofbrokenbones。Myfriend，SquireVizard，isthemantomakeshortworkwithhim，ifhecaughttheblackguardspooningafterhissister。\"
\"Andservehimright。Still，IwishIknewwherethatyoungladyis。\"
\"IdaresayIcouldlearnifImadeitmybusiness。\"
Havingbroughtthemattertothatpoint，Poikilusleftit，andsimplymadehimselfagreeable。HetoldAshmeadhisexperiences；andastheywere，manyofthem，strangeanddramatic，hekepthimadelightedlistenertillmidnight。
ThenextdayAshmeadvisitedMademoiselleKlosking，andfoundherwalkingupanddowntheroom，withherhandonMissGale\'sshoulder。
Shewithdrewintotheembrasure，andhadsomeconfidentialtalkwithhim。
Asamatterofcourse，hetoldheraboutPoikilus，andthathewashuntingdownSeverneforhismoney。
\"Indeed!\"saidtheKlosking。\"Pleasetellmeeverywordthatpassedbetweenyou。\"
Hedidso，asnearlyashecouldremember。
MademoiselleKloskingleanedherbrowuponherhandaconsiderabletimeinthought。ThensheturnedonAshmead，andsaid，quietly，\"ThatPoikilusisstillactingfor_him，_andtheonethingtheydesiretolearniswheretofindMissVizard，anddeludehertoherruin。\"
\"No，no，\"criedAshmeadviolently；butthenextmomenthiscountenancefell。\"YouarewiserthanIam，\"saidhe；\"itmaybe。Confoundthesneak!
I\'llgiveithimnexttimeIseehim!Why，hemustlovevillainyforitsownsake。Iasgoodassaidyouwouldpayhimhisfiftypounds。\"
\"Whatfiftypounds?Hisfiftypoundsisafalsehood，likehimself。Now，myfriend，pleasetakemyinstructions，mypositiveinstructions。\"
\"Yes，madam。\"
\"Youwillnotchangeyourfriendlymanner:shownosuspicionnoranger。
Iftheyarecunning，wemustbewise；andthewisealwayskeeptheirtemper。YouwillsayMissVizardhasgonetoIreland，buttowhatpartisonlyknowntoherbrother。Tellhimthis，andbeveryfreeandcommunicativeonallothersubjects；forthisalonehasanyimportancenow。Asforme，IcaneasilylearnwhereSomervilleVillais，andinadayortwoshallsendyoutolookafterher。Onethingisclear——Ihadbetterlosenotimeinrecoveringmystrength。Well，mywillisstrong。I
willlosenotime——yourarm，monsieur；\"andsheresumedherpromenade。
Ashmead，instructedasabove，dinedagainwiththedetective；butoutofrevengegavehimbutonebottleofMadeira。Astheysippedit，hedeliveredagreatmanywords；andinthemiddleofthemsaid，\"Oh，by-the-by，Iaskedafterthatpooryounglady。GonetoIreland，buttheydidn\'tknowwhatpart。\"
AfterdinnerAshmeadwenttothetheater。WhenhecamebackPoikiluswasgone。
SodidWisdombaffleCunningthattime。
ButCunningdidnotreallyleavethefield:thatveryeveninganagedman，ingreenspectacles，wasinquiringaboutthepostalarrangementstoVizardCourt；andnextdayhemighthavebeenseen，inabackstreetofTaddington，talkingtothevillagepostman，andafterwarddrinkingwithhim。ItwasPoikilusgropinghisway。
CHAPTERXXIII。
AFEWwordsavailtodescribethesluggishwatersoftheDeadSea，butwhatpencanportraytheIndianOceanlashedandtormentedbyacyclone?
EvensoafewwordshavesufficedtoshowthatInaKlosking\'sheartwasallbenumbedanddeadened；and，withthehelpofinsult，treachery，lossofblood，brain-fever，andself-esteemrebellingagainstvillainy，hadoutliveditspowerofsufferingpoignanttorture。
ButIcannotsketchinafewwords，norpaintinmany，thetempestofpassioninZoeVizard。Yetitismydutytotryandgivethereadersomelittleinsightintotheagony，thechanges，thefury，thegrief，thetempestofpassion，inavirginheart；insuchanature，thegreatpassionsofthemindoftenrageasfiercely，orevenmoreso，thaninolderandexperiencedwomen。
Literally，ZoeVizardlovedEdwardSeverneoneminuteandhatedhimthenext；gavehimupforatraitor，andthenvowedtobelievenothinguntilshehadheardhisexplanation；burnedwithireathissilence，sickenedwithdismayathissilence。Then，forawhile，loveandfaithwouldgettheupperhand，andshewouldbequitecalm。Whyshouldshetormentherself?Anoldsweetheart，abandonedlongago，hadcomebetweenthem；hehad，unfortunately，donethewomananinjury，inhiswildendeavortogetawayfromher。Well，whatbusinesshadshetouseforce?Nodoubthewasashamed，afflictedatwhathehaddone，beingaman；orwasindespair，seeingthatladyinstalledinherbrother\'shouse，and_her_story，probablyaparceloffalsehoods，listenedto。
Thenshewouldhaveagleamofjoy；forsheknewhehadnotwrittentoInaKlosking。ButsoonDespondencycamedownlikeadarkcloud；forshesaidtoherself，\"Hehasleftusboth。Heseesthewomanhedoesnotlovewillnotlethimhavetheonehedoeslove；andsohehaslostheart，andwillhavenomoretosaytoeither。\"
Whenherthoughtstookthisturnshewouldcrypiteously；butnotforlong。Shewoulddryhereyes，andburnwithwrathallround；shewouldstillhateherrival，butcallherloveracoward——acontemptiblecoward。
Afterherdayofraging，andgrieving，anddoubting，andfearing，andhoping，anddespairing，nightovertookherwithanexhaustedbody，ableedingheart，andweepingeyes。Shehadbeensohappy——ontheverybrinkofparadise；andnowshewasdeserted。Herpillowwasweteverynight。Shecriedinherverysleep；andwhenshewokeinthemorningherbodywasalwaysquivering；andintheveryactofwakingcameahorror，andaninstinctivereluctancetofacethelightthatwastobringanotherdayofmisery。