metwithherattherailwaystation。Shewasbehindthecounterinarefreshment—room，poorinnocent，rinsingwine—glasses，andsingingoverherwork。GoodHeavens，suchsinging！Heruppernoteselectrifiedme。Isaidtomyself；’Hereisabornprimadonna——Iwillbringherout！’SheisthethirdIhavebroughtoutinmytime。IshalltakehertoItalywhenhereducationissufficientlyadvanced，andperfectheratMilan。Inthatunsophisticatedgirl，mydearlady，youseeoneofthefutureQueensofSong。Listen！Sheisbeginningherscales。Whatavoice！Brava！Brava！Bravissima！\"
ThehighsopranonotesofthefutureQueenofSongrangthroughthehouseashespoke。Oftheloudnessoftheyounglady’svoicetherecouldbenosortofdoubt。Thesweetnessandthepurityofitadmitted，inmyopinion，ofconsiderabledispute。
Havingsaidthepolitewordswhichtheoccasionrenderednecessary，IventuredtorecallMajorFitz—Davidtothesubjectindiscussionbetweenuswhenhisvisitorhadenteredtheroom。
TheMajorwasveryunwillingtoreturntotheperiloustopiconwhichwehadjusttouchedwhentheinterruptionoccurred。Hebeattimewithhisforefingertothesingingupstairs；heaskedmeabout_my_voice，andwhetherIsang；heremarkedthatlifewouldbeintolerabletohimwithoutLoveandArt。Amaninmyplacewouldhavelostallpatience，andwouldhavegivenupthestruggleindisgust。Beingawoman，andhavingmyendinview，myresolutionwasinvincible。IfairlyworeouttheMajor’sresistance，andcompelledhimtosurrenderatdiscretion。Itisonlyjusticetoaddthat，whenhedidmakeuphismindtospeaktomeagainofEustace，hespokefrankly，andspoketothepoint。
\"Ihaveknownyourhusband，\"hebegan，\"sincethetimewhenhewasaboy。Atacertainperiodofhispastlifeaterriblemisfortunefelluponhim。Thesecretofthatmisfortuneisknowntohisfriends，andisreligiouslykeptbyhisfriends。ItisthesecretthatheiskeepingfromYou。Hewillnevertellittoyouaslongashelives。Andhehasbound_me_nottotellit，underapromisegivenonmywordofhonor。Youwished，dearMrs。
Woodville，tobemadeacquaintedwithmypositiontowardEustace。
Thereitis！\"
\"YoupersistincallingmeMrs。Woodville，\"Isaid。
\"Yourhusbandwishesmetopersist，\"theMajoranswered。\"HeassumedthenameofWoodville，fearingtogivehisownname，whenhefirstcalledatyouruncle’shouse。Hewillnowacknowledgenoother。Remonstranceisuseless。Youmustdowhatwedo——youmustgivewaytoanunreasonableman。Thebestfellowintheworldinotherrespects：inthisonematterasobstinateandself—willedashecanbe。Ifyouaskmemyopinion，ItellyouhonestlythatIthinkhewaswrongincourtingandmarryingyouunderhisfalsename。Hetrustedhishonorandhishappinesstoyourkeepinginmakingyouhis——wife。Whyshouldhenottrustthestoryofhistroublestoyouaswell？Hismotherquitesharesmyopinioninthismatter。Youmustnotblameherforrefusingtoadmityouintoherconfidenceafteryourmarriage：itwasthentoolate。
Beforeyourmarriageshedidallshecoulddo——withoutbetrayingsecretswhich，asagoodmother，shewasboundtorespect——toinducehersontoactjustlytowardyou。IcommitnoindiscretionwhenItellyouthatsherefusedtosanctionyourmarriagemainlyforthereasonthatEustacerefusedtofollowheradvice，andtotellyouwhathispositionreallywas。OnmypartIdidallI
couldtosupportMrs。Macallaninthecoursethatshetook。WhenEustacewrotetotellmethathehadengagedhimselftomarryanieceofmygoodfriendDoctorStarkweather，andthathehadmentionedmeashisreference，IwrotebacktowarnhimthatI
wouldhavenothingtodowiththeaffairunlessherevealedthewholetruthabouthimselftohisfuturewife。Herefusedtolistentome，ashehadrefusedtolistentohismother；andheheldmeatthesametimetomypromisetokeephissecret。WhenStarkweatherwrotetome，IhadnochoicebuttoinvolvemyselfinadeceptionofwhichIthoroughlydisapproved，ortoanswerinatonesoguardedandsobriefastostopthecorrespondenceattheoutset。Ichosethelastalternative；andIfearIhaveoffendedmygoodoldfriend。YounowseethepainfulpositioninwhichIamplaced。Toaddtothedifficultiesofthatsituation，Eustacecameherethisverydaytowarnmetobeonmyguard，incaseofyouraddressingtometheveryrequestwhichyouhavejustmade！Hetoldmethatyouhadmetwithhismother，byanunluckyaccident，andthatyouhaddiscoveredthefamilyname。HedeclaredthathehadtraveledtoLondonfortheexpresspurposeofspeakingtomepersonallyonthisserioussubject。’Iknowyourweakness，’hesaid，’wherewomenareconcerned。Valeriaisawarethatyouaremyoldfriend。Shewillcertainlywritetoyou；shemayevenbeboldenoughtomakeherwayintoyourhouse。
Renewyourpromisetokeepthegreatcalamityofmylifeasecret，onyourhonorandonyouroath。’Thosewerehiswords，asnearlyasIcanrememberthem。Itriedtotreatthethinglightly；Iridiculedtheabsurdlytheatricalnotionof’renewingmypromise，’andalltherestofit。Quiteuseless！Herefusedtoleaveme；heremindedmeofhisunmeritedsufferings，poorfellow，inthepasttime。Itendedinhisburstingintotears。
Youlovehim，andsodoI。CanyouwonderthatIlethimhavehisway？TheresultisthatIamdoublyboundtotellyounothing，bythemostsacredpromisethatamancangive。Mydearlady，I
cordiallysidewithyouinthismatter；Ilongtorelieveyouranxieties。ButwhatcanIdo？\"
Hestopped，andwaited——gravelywaited——tohearmyreply。
Ihadlistenedfrombeginningtoendwithoutinterruptinghim。
Theextraordinarychangeinhismanner，andinhiswayofexpressinghimself，whilehewasspeakingofEustace，alarmedmeasnothinghadalarmedmeyet。Howterrible（Ithoughttomyself）
mustthisuntoldstorybe，ifthemereactofreferringtoitmakeslight—heartedMajorFitz—Davidspeakseriouslyandsadly，neversmiling，neverpayingmeacompliment，neverevennoticingthesingingupstairs！MyheartsankinmeasIdrewthatstartlingconclusion。ForthefirsttimesinceIhadenteredthehouseIwasattheendofmyresources；Iknewneitherwhattosaynorwhattodonext。
AndyetIkeptmyseat。Neverhadtheresolutiontodiscoverwhatmyhusbandwashidingfrommebeenmorefirmlyrootedinmymindthanitwasatthatmoment！Icannotaccountfortheextraordinaryinconsistencyinmycharacterwhichthisconfessionimplies。Icanonlydescribethefactsastheyreallywere。
Thesingingwentonupstairs。MajorFitz—DavidstillwaitedimpenetrablytohearwhatIhadtosay——toknowwhatIresolvedondoingnext。
BeforeIhaddecidedwhattosayorwhattodo，anotherdomesticincidenthappened。Inplainwords，anotherknockingannouncedanewvisitoratthehousedoor。Onthisoccasiontherewasnorustlingofawoman’sdressinthehall。Onthisoccasiononlytheoldservantenteredtheroom，carryingamagnificentnosegayinhishand。\"WithLadyClarinda’skindregards。ToremindMajorFitz—Davidofhisappointment。\"Anotherlady！Thistimealadywithatitle。Agreatladywhosentherflowersandhermessageswithoutcondescendingtoconcealment。TheMajor——firstapologizingtome——wroteafewlinesofacknowledgment，andsentthemouttothemessenger。Whenthedoorwasclosedagainhecarefullyselectedoneofthechoicestflowersinthenosegay。
\"MayIask，\"hesaid，presentingtheflowertomewithhisbestgrace，\"whetheryounowunderstandthedelicatepositioninwhichIamplacedbetweenyourhusbandandyourself？\"
Thelittleinterruptioncausedbytheappearanceofthenosegayhadgivenanewimpulsetomythoughts，andhadthushelped，insomedegree，torestoremetomyself。IwasableatlasttosatisfyMajorFitz—Davidthathisconsiderateandcourteousexplanationhadnotbeenthrownawayuponme。
\"Ithankyou，mostsincerely，Major，\"Isaid\"YouhaveconvincedmethatImustnotaskyoutoforget，onmyaccount，thepromisewhichyouhavegiventomyhusband。Itisasacredpromise，whichItooamboundtorespect——Iquiteunderstandthat。\"
TheMajordrewalongbreathofrelief，andpattedmeontheshoulderinhighapprovalofwhatIhadsaidtohim。
\"Admirablyexpressed！\"herejoined，recoveringhislight—heartedlooksandhislover—likewaysallinamoment。\"Mydearlady，youhavethegiftofsympathy；youseeexactlyhowIamsituated。Doyouknow，youremindmeofmycharmingLadyClarinda。_She_hasthegiftofsympathy，andseesexactlyhowIamsituated。I
shouldsoenjoyintroducingyoutoeachother，\"saidtheMajor，plunginghislongnoseecstaticallyintoLadyClarinda’sflowers。
Ihadmyendstilltogain；and，being（asyouwillhavediscoveredbythistime）themostobstinateoflivingwomen，I
stillkeptthatendinview。
\"IshallbedelightedtomeetLadyClarinda，\"Ireplied。\"Inthemeantime——\"
\"Iwillgetupalittledinner，\"proceededtheMajor，withaburstofenthusiasm。\"YouandIandLadyClarinda。Ouryoungprimadonnashallcomeintheevening，andsingtous。Supposewedrawoutthe_menu？_Mysweetfriend，whatisyourfavoriteautumnsoup？\"
\"Inthemeantime，\"Ipersisted，\"toreturntowhatwewerespeakingofjustnow——\"
TheMajor’ssmilevanished；theMajor’shanddroppedthependestinedtoimmortalizethenameofmyfavoriteautumnsoup。
\"_Must_wereturntothat？\"heasked，piteously。
\"Onlyforamoment，\"Isaid。
\"Youremindme，\"pursuedMajorFitz—David，shakinghisheadsadly，\"ofanothercharmingfriendofmine——aFrenchfriend——MadameMirliflore。Youareapersonofprodigioustenacityofpurpose。MadameMirlifloreisapersonofprodigioustenacityofpurpose。ShehappenstobeinLondon。Shallwehaveheratourlittledinner？\"TheMajorbrightenedattheidea，andtookupthepenagain。\"Dotellme，\"hesaid，\"what_is_yourfavoriteautumnsoup？\"
\"Pardonme，\"Ibegan，\"wewerespeakingjustnow——\"
\"Oh，dearme！\"criedMajorFitz—David。\"Isthistheothersubject？\"
\"Yes——thisistheothersubject。\"
TheMajorputdownhispenforthesecondtime，andregretfullydismissedfromhismindMadameMirlifloreandtheautumnsoup。
\"Yes？\"hesaid，withapatientbowandasubmissivesmile。\"Youweregoingtosay——\"
\"Iwasgoingtosay，\"Irejoined，\"thatyourpromiseonlypledgesyounottotellthesecretwhichmyhusbandiskeepingfromme。
YouhavegivennopromisenottoanswermeifIventuretoaskyouoneortwoquestions。\"
MajorFitz—Davidhelduphishandwarningly，andcastaslylookatmeoutofhisbrightlittlegrayeyes。
\"Stop！\"hesaid。\"Mysweetfriend，stopthere！Iknowwhereyourquestionswillleadme，andwhattheresultwillbeifIoncebegintoanswerthem。Whenyourhusbandwashereto—dayhetookoccasiontoremindmethatIwasasweakaswaterinthehandsofaprettywoman。Heisquiteright。I_am_asweakaswater；Icanrefusenothingtoaprettywoman。Dearandadmirablelady，don’tabuseyourinfluence！don’tmakeanoldsoldierfalsetohiswordofhonor！\"
Itriedtosaysomethinghereindefenseofmymotives。TheMajorclaspedhishandsentreatingly，andlookedatmewithapleadingsimplicitywonderfultosee。
\"Whypressit？\"heasked。\"Ioffernoresistance。Iamalamb——whysacrificeme？Iacknowledgeyourpower；Ithrowmyselfonyourmercy。Allthemisfortunesofmyyouthandmymanhoodhavecometomethroughwomen。Iamnotabitbetterinmyage——I
amjustasfondofthewomenandjustasreadytobemisledbythemasever，withonefootinthegrave。Shocking，isn’tit？Buthowtrue！Lookatthismark！\"Heliftedacurlofhisbeautifulbrownwig，andshowedmeaterriblescaratthesideofhishead。
\"Thatwound（supposedtobemortalatthetime）wasmadebyapistolbullet，\"heproceeded。\"Notreceivedintheserviceofmycountry——ohdear，no！Receivedintheserviceofamuch—injuredlady，atthehandsofherscoundrelofahusband，inaduelabroad。Well，shewasworthit。\"Hekissedhishandaffectionatelytothememoryofthedeadorabsentlady，andpointedtoawater—colordrawingofaprettycountry—househangingontheoppositewall。\"Thatfineestate，\"heproceeded，\"oncebelongedtome。Itwassoldyearsandyearssince。Andwhohadthemoney？Thewomen——Godblessthemall！——thewomen。Idon’tregretit。IfIhadanotherestate，Ihavenodoubtitwouldgothesameway。Youradorablesexhasmadeitsprettyplaythingsofmylife，mytime，andmymoney——andwelcome！TheonethingIhavekepttomyselfismyhonor。Andnow_that_isindanger。Yes，ifyouputyourcleverlittlequestions，withthoselovelyeyesandwiththatgentlevoice，Iknowwhatwillhappen。Youwilldeprivemeofthelastandbestofallmypossessions。HaveIdeservedtobetreatedinthatway，andbyyou，mycharmingfriend？——byyou，ofallpeopleintheworld？Oh，fie！fie！\"
Hepausedandlookedatmeasbefore——thepictureofartlessentreaty，withhisheadalittleononeside。Imadeanotherattempttospeakofthematterindisputebetweenus，frommyownpointofview。MajorFitz—Davidinstantlythrewhimselfprostrateonmymercymoreinnocentlythanever。
\"Askofmeanythingelseinthewideworld，\"hesaid；\"butdon’taskmetobefalsetomyfriend。Spareme_that_——andthereisnothingIwillnotdotosatisfyyou。ImeanwhatIsay，mind！\"
hewenton，bendingclosertome，andspeakingmoreseriouslythanhehadspokenyet\"Ithinkyouareveryhardlyused。Itismonstroustoexpectthatawoman，placedinyoursituation，willconsenttobeleftfortherestofherlifeinthedark。No！no！
ifIsawyou，atthismoment，onthepointoffindingoutforyourselfwhatEustacepersistsinhidingfromyou，Ishouldrememberthatmypromise，likeallotherpromises，hasitslimitsandreserves。Ishouldconsidermyselfboundinhonornottohelpyou——butIwouldnotliftafingertopreventyoufromdiscoveringthetruthforyourself。\"
Atlasthewasspeakingingoodearnest：helaidastrongemphasisonhisclosingwords。Ilaidastrongeremphasisonthemstillbysuddenlyleavingmychair。Theimpulsetospringtomyfeetwasirresistible。MajorFitz—Davidhadstartedanewideainmymind。
\"Nowweunderstandeachother！\"Isaid。\"Iwillacceptyourownterms，Major。Iwillasknothingofyoubutwhatyouhavejustofferedtomeofyourownaccord。\"
\"WhathaveIoffered？\"heinquired，lookingalittlealarmed。
\"Nothingthatyouneedrepentof，\"Ianswered；\"nothingwhichisnoteasyforyoutogrant。MayIaskaboldquestion？Supposethishousewasmineinsteadofyours？\"
\"Considerityours，\"criedthegallantoldgentleman。\"Fromthegarrettothekitchen，considerityours！\"
\"Athousandthanks，Major；Iwillconsideritmineforthemoment。Youknow——everybodyknows——thatoneofawoman’smanyweaknessesiscuriosity。Supposemycuriosityledmetoexamineeverythinginmynewhouse？\"
\"Yes？\"
\"SupposeIwentfromroomtoroom，andsearchedeverything，andpeepedineverywhere？Doyouthinktherewouldbeanychance——\"
Thequick—wittedMajoranticipatedthenatureofmyquestion。Hefollowedmyexample；hetoostartedtohisfeet，withanewideainhismind。
\"Wouldtherebeanychance，\"Iwenton，\"ofmyfindingmyownwaytomyhusband’ssecretinthishouse？Onewordofreply，MajorFitz—David！Onlyoneword——YesorNo？\"
\"Don’texciteyourself！\"criedtheMajor。
\"YesorNo？\"Irepeated，morevehementlythanever。
\"Yes，\"saidtheMajor，afteramoment’sconsideration。
ItwasthereplyIhadaskedfor；butitwasnotexplicitenough，nowIhadgotit，tosatisfyme。Ifeltthenecessityofleadinghim（ifpossible）intodetails。
\"Does’Yes’meanthatthereissomesortofclewtothemystery？\"
Iasked。\"Something，forinstance，whichmyeyesmightseeandmyhandsmighttouchifIcouldonlyfindit？\"
Heconsideredagain。IsawthatIhadsucceededininterestinghiminsomewayunknowntomyself；andIwaitedpatientlyuntilhewaspreparedtoanswerme。
\"Thethingyoumention，\"hesaid，\"theclew（asyoucallit），mightbeseenandmightbetouched——supposingyoucouldfindit。\"
\"Inthishouse？\"Iasked。
TheMajoradvancedastepnearertome，andanswered——
\"Inthisroom。\"
Myheadbegantoswim；myheartthrobbedviolently。Itriedtospeak；itwasinvain；theeffortalmostchokedme。InthesilenceIcouldhearthemusic—lessonstillgoingonintheroomabove。Thefutureprimadonnahaddonepracticingherscales，andwastryinghervoicenowinselectionsfromItalianoperas。AtthemomentwhenIfirstheardhershewassingingthebeautifulairfromthe_Somnambula，_\"Comepermesereno。\"Ineverhearthatdeliciousmelody，tothisday，withoutbeinginstantlytransportedinimaginationtothefatalback—roominVivianPlace。
TheMajor——stronglyaffectedhimselfbythistime——wasthefirsttobreakthesilence。
\"Sitdownagain，\"hesaid；\"andpraytaketheeasy—chair。Youareverymuchagitated；youwantrest。\"
Hewasright。Icouldstandnolonger；Idroppedintothechair。
MajorFitz—Davidrangthebell，andspokeafewwordstotheservantatthedoor。
\"Ihavebeenherealongtime，\"Isaid，faintly。\"TellmeifIamintheway。\"
\"Intheway？\"herepeated，withhisirresistiblesmile。\"Youforgetthatyouareinyourownhouse！\"
Theservantreturnedtous，bringingwithhimatinybottleofchampagneandaplatefulofdelicatelittlesugaredbiscuits。
\"Ihavehadthiswinebottledexpresslyfortheladies，\"saidtheMajor。\"ThebiscuitscametomedirectfromParis。Asafavorto_me，_youmusttakesomerefreshment。Andthen——\"Hestoppedandlookedatmeveryattentively。\"Andthen，\"heresumed，\"shallI
gotomyyoungprimadonnaupstairsandleaveyouherealone？\"
ItwasimpossibletohintmoredelicatelyattheonerequestwhichInowhaditinmymindtomaketohim。Itookhishandandpresseditgratefully。
\"Thetranquillityofmywholelifetocomeisatstake，\"Isaid。
\"WhenIamleftherebymyself，doesyourgeneroussympathypermitmetoexamineeverythingintheroom？\"
Hesignedtometodrinkthechampagneandeatabiscuitbeforehegavehisanswer。
\"Thisisserious，\"hesaid。\"Iwishyoutobeinperfectpossessionofyourself。Restoreyourstrength——andthenIwillspeaktoyou。\"
Ididashebademe。InaminutefromthetimewhenIdrankitthedelicioussparklingwinehadbeguntoreviveme。
\"Isityourexpresswish，\"heresumed，\"thatIshouldleaveyouherebyyourselftosearchtheroom？\"
\"Itismyexpresswish，\"Ianswered。
\"Itakeaheavyresponsibilityonmyselfingrantingyourrequest。ButIgrantitforallthat，becauseIsincerelybelieve——asyoubelieve——thatthetranquillityofyourlifetocomedependsonyourdiscoveringthetruth。\"Sayingthosewords，hetooktwokeysfromhispocket。\"Youwillnaturallyfeelasuspicion，\"hewenton，\"ofanylockeddoorsthatyoumayfindhere。Theonlylockedplacesintheroomarethedoorsofthecupboardsunderthelongbook—case，andthedooroftheItaliancabinetinthatcorner。Thesmallkeyopensthebook—casecupboards；thelongkeyopensthecabinetdoor。\"
Withthatexplanation，helaidthekeysbeforemeonthetable。
\"Thusfar，\"hesaid，\"IhaverigidlyrespectedthepromisewhichImadetoyourhusband。Ishallcontinuetobefaithfultomypromise，whatevermaybetheresultofyourexaminationoftheroom。Iamboundinhonornottoassistyoubywordordeed。Iamnotevenatlibertytoofferyoutheslightesthint。Isthatunderstood？\"
\"Certainly！\"
\"Verygood。Ihavenowalastwordofwarningtogiveyou——andthenIhavedone。Ifyoudobyanychancesucceedinlayingyourhandontheclew，rememberthis——_thediscoverywhichfollowswillbeaterribleone。_Ifyouhaveanydoubtaboutyourcapacitytosustainashockwhichwillstrikeyoutothesoul，forGod’ssakegiveuptheideaoffindingoutyourhusband’ssecretatonceandforever！\"
\"Ithankyouforyourwarning，Major。Imustfacetheconsequencesofmakingthediscovery，whatevertheymaybe。\"
\"Youarepositivelyresolved？\"
\"Positively。\"
\"Verywell。Takeanytimeyouplease。Thehouse，andeverypersoninit，areatyourdisposal。Ringthebellonceifyouwanttheman—servant。Ringtwiceifyouwishthehousemaidtowaitonyou。
FromtimetotimeIshalljustlookinmyselftoseehowyouaregoingon。Iamresponsibleforyourcomfortandsecurity，youknow，whileyouhonormebyremainingundermyroof。\"
Heliftedmyhandtohislips，andfixedalastattentivelookonme。
\"IhopeIamnotrunningtoogreatarisk，\"hesaid——moretohimselfthantome。\"Thewomenhaveledmeintomanyarashactioninmytime。Have_you_ledme，Iwonder，intotherashestactionofall？\"
Withthoseominouslastwordshebowedgravelyandleftmealoneintheroom。
CHAPTERX。
THESEARCH。
THEfireburninginthegratewasnotaverylargeone；andtheouterair（asIhadnoticedonmywaytothehouse）hadsomethingofawintrysharpnessinitthatday。
Still，myfirstfeeling，whenMajorFitz—Davidleftme，wasafeelingofheatandoppression，withitsnaturalresult，adifficultyinbreathingfreely。Thenervousagitationofthetimewas，Isuppose，answerableforthesesensations。Itookoffmybonnetandmantleandgloves，andopenedthewindowforalittlewhile。Nothingwastobeseenoutsidebutapavedcourtyard，withaskylightinthemiddle，closedatthefurtherendbythewalloftheMajor’sstables。Afewminutesatthewindowcooledandrefreshedme。Ishutitdownagain，andtookmyfirststeponthewayofdiscovery。Inotherwords，Ibeganmyfirstexaminationofthefourwallsaroundme，andofallthattheyinclosed。
Iwasamazedatmyowncalmness。MyinterviewwithMajorFitz—Davidhad，perhaps，exhaustedmycapacityforfeelinganystrongemotion，forthetimeatleast。Itwasarelieftometobealone；itwasarelieftometobeginthesearch。Thoseweremyonlysensationssofar。
Theshapeoftheroomwasoblong。Ofthetwoshorterwalls，onecontainedthedooringrooveswhichIhavealreadymentionedascommunicatingwiththefrontroom；theotherwasalmostentirelyoccupiedbythebroadwindowwhichlookedoutonthecourtyard。
Takingthedoorwaywallfirst，whatwasthere，intheshapeoffurniture，oneithersideofit？Therewasacard—tableoneitherside。Aboveeachcard—tablestoodamagnificentchinabowlplacedonagiltandcarvedbracketfixedtothewall。
Iopenedthecard—tables。Thedrawersbeneathcontainednothingbutcards，andtheusualcountersandmarkers。Withtheexceptionofonepack，thecardsinbothtableswerestillwrappedintheirpapercoversexactlyastheyhadcomefromtheshop。Iexaminedtheloosepack，cardbycard。Nowriting，nomarkofanykind，wasvisibleonanyoneofthem。Assistedbyalibraryladderwhichstoodagainstthebook—case，Ilookednextintothetwochinabowls。Bothwereperfectlyempty。Wasthereanythingmoretoexamineonthatsideoftheroom？Inthetwocornersthereweretwolittlechairsofinlaidwood，withredsilkcushions。I
turnedthemupandlookedunderthecushions，andstillImadenodiscoveries。WhenIhadputthechairsbackintheirplacesmysearchononesideoftheroomwascomplete。SofarIhadfoundnothing。
Icrossedtotheoppositewall，thewallwhichcontainedthewindow。
Thewindow（occupying，asIhavesaid，almosttheentirelengthandheightofthewall）wasdividedintothreecompartments，andwasadornedattheirextremitybyhandsomecurtainsofdarkredvelvet。Theampleheavyfoldsofthevelvetleftjustroomatthetwocornersofthewallfortwolittleuprightcabinetsinbuhl，containingrowsofdrawers，andsupportingtwofinebronzeproductions（reducedinsize）oftheVenusMiloandtheVenusCallipyge。IhadMajorFitz—David’spermissiontodojustwhatI
pleased。Iopenedthesixdrawersineachcabinet，andexaminedtheircontentswithouthesitation。
Beginningwiththecabinetintheright—handcorner，myinvestigationsweresooncompleted。Allthesixdrawerswerealikeoccupiedbyacollectionoffossils，which（judgingbythecuriouspaperinscriptionsfixedonsomeofthem）wereassociatedwithapastperiodoftheMajor’slifewhenhehadspeculated，notverysuccessfullyinmines。Aftersatisfyingmyselfthatthedrawerscontainednothingbutthefossilsandtheirinscriptions，Iturnedtothecabinetintheleft—handcornernext。
Hereavarietyofobjectswasrevealedtoview，andtheexaminationaccordinglyoccupiedamuchlongertime。
Thetopdrawercontainedacompletecollectionofcarpenter’stoolsinminiature，relicsprobablyofthefar—distanttimewhentheMajorwasaboy，andwhenparentsorfriendshadmadehimapresentofasetoftoytools。Theseconddrawerwasfilledwithtoysofanothersort——presentsmadetoMajorFitz—Davidbyhisfairfriends。Embroideredbraces，smartsmoking—caps，quaintpincushions，gorgeousslippers，glitteringpurses，allborewitnesstothepopularityofthefriendofthewomen。Thecontentsofthethirddrawerwereofalessinterestingsort：theentirespacewasfilledwitholdaccount—books，rangingoveraperiodofmanyyears。Afterlookingintoeachbook，andopeningandshakingituselessly，insearchofanyloosepaperswhichmightbehiddenbetweentheleaves，Icametothefourthdrawer，andfoundmorerelicsofpastpecuniarytransactionsintheshapeofreceiptedbills，neatlytiedtogether，andeachinscribedattheback。AmongthebillsIfoundnearlyadozenloosepapers，allequallyunimportant。Thefifthdrawerwasinsadconfusion。I
tookoutfirstaloosebundleofornamentalcards，eachcontainingthelistofdishesatpastbanquetsgivenorattendedbytheMajorinLondonorParis；next，aboxfullofdelicatelytintedquillpens（evidentlyalady’sgift）；next，aquantityofoldinvitationcards；next，somedog’s—earedFrenchplaysandbooksoftheopera；next，apocket—corkscrew，abundleofcigarettes，andabunchofrustykeys；lastly，apassport，asetofluggagelabels，abrokensilversnuff—box，twocigar—cases，andatornmapofRome。\"Nothinganywheretointerestme，\"I