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down the street； sat the enchanting vision of the opera； accompanied
by the younger lady who had occupied a portion of her box。
〃Her companion also wears remarkably well；〃 said the one of my trio
who had spoken first。
〃Astonishingly；〃 said the second； 〃still quite a brilliant air； but
art will do wonders。 Upon my word； she looks better than she did at
Paris five years ago。 A beautiful woman still； don't you think so；
Froissart？ Simpson； I mean。〃
〃Still！〃 said I； 〃and why shouldn't she be？ But compared with her
friend she is as a rush light to the evening star a glow
worm to Antares。
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！ why； Simpson； you have an astonishing tact at making
discoveries original ones； I mean。〃 And here we separated； while
one of the trio began humming a gay vaudeville； of which I caught
only the lines…
Ninon； Ninon； Ninon a bas…
A bas Ninon De L'Enclos！
During this little scene； however； one thing had served greatly to
console me； although it fed the passion by which I was consumed。 As
the carriage of Madame Lalande rolled by our group； I had observed
that she recognized me； and more than this； she had blessed me； by
the most seraphic of all imaginable smiles； with no equivocal mark of
the recognition。
As for an introduction； I was obliged to abandon all hope of it until
such time as Talbot should think proper to return from the country。
In the meantime I perseveringly frequented every reputable place of
public amusement； and； at length； at the theatre； where I first saw
her； I had the supreme bliss of meeting her； and of exchanging
glances with her once again。 This did not occur； however； until the
lapse of a fortnight。 Every day； in the interim； I had inquired for
Talbot at his hotel； and every day had been thrown into a spasm of
wrath by the everlasting 〃Not come home yet〃 of his footman。
Upon the evening in question； therefore； I was in a condition little
short of madness。 Madame Lalande； I had been told； was a Parisian
had lately arrived from Paris might she not suddenly return？
return before Talbot came back and might she not be thus lost to
me forever？ The thought was too terrible to bear。 Since my future
happiness was at issue； I resolved to act with a manly decision。 In a
word； upon the breaking up of the play； I traced the lady to her
residence； noted the address； and the next morning sent her a full
and elaborate letter； in which I poured out my whole heart。
I spoke boldly； freely in a word； I spoke with passion。 I
concealed nothing nothing even of my weakness。 I alluded to the
romantic circumstances of our first meeting even to the glances
which had passed between us。 I went so far as to say that I felt
assured of her love； while I offered this assurance； and my own
intensity of devotion； as two excuses for my otherwise unpardonable
conduct。 As a third； I spoke of my fear that she might quit the city
before I could have the opportunity of a formal introduction。 I
concluded the most wildly enthusiastic epistle ever penned； with a
frank declaration of my worldly circumstances of my affluence
and with an offer of my heart and of my hand。
In an agony of expectation I awaited the reply。 After what seemed the
lapse of a century it came。
Yes； actually came。 Romantic as all this may appear； I really
received a letter from Madame Lalande the beautiful； the wealthy；
the idolized Madame Lalande。 Her eyes her magnificent eyes； had
not belied her noble heart。 Like a true Frenchwoman as she was she
had obeyed the frank dictates of her reason the generous impulses
of her nature despising the conventional pruderies of the world。
She had not scorned my proposals。 She had not sheltered herself in
silence。 She had not returned my letter unopened。 She had even sent
me； in reply； one penned by her own exquisite fingers。 It ran thus：
〃Monsieur Simpson vill pardonne me for not compose de butefulle tong
of his contree so vell as might。 It is only de late dat I am arrive；
and not yet ave do opportunite for to l'etudier。
〃Vid dis apologie for the maniere； I vill now say dat； helas！…
Monsieur Simpson ave guess but de too true。 Need I say de more？
Helas！ am I not ready speak de too moshe？
〃EUGENIE LALAND。〃
This noble spirited note I kissed a million times； and committed；
no doubt； on its account； a thousand other extravagances that have
now escaped my memory。 Still Talbot would not return。 Alas！ could he
have formed even the vaguest idea of the suffering his absence had
occasioned his friend； would not his sympathizing nature have flown
immediately to my relief？ Still； however； he came not。 I wrote。 He
replied。 He was detained by urgent business but would shortly
return。 He begged me not to be impatient to moderate my transports
to read soothing books to drink nothing stronger than Hock
and to bring the consolations of philosophy to my aid。 The fool！ if
he could not come himself； why； in the name of every thing rational；
could he not have enclosed me a letter of presentation？ I wrote him
again； entreating him to forward one forthwith。 My letter was
returned by that footman； with the following endorsement in pencil。
The scoundrel had joined his master in the country：
〃Left S… yesterday； for parts unknown did not say where or
when be back so thought best to return letter； knowing your
handwriting； and as how you is always； more or less； in a hurry。
〃Yours sincerely；
〃STUBBS。〃
After this； it is needless to say； that I devoted to the infernal
deities both master and valet： but there was little use in anger；
and no consolation at all in complaint。
But I had yet a resource left； in my constitutional audacity。
Hitherto it had served me well； and I now resolved to make it avail
me to the end。 Besides； after the correspondence which had passed
between us； what act of mere informality could I commit； within
bounds； that ought to be regarded as indecorous by Madame Lalande？
Since the affair of the letter； I had been in the habit of watching
her house； and thus discovered that； about twilight； it was her
custom to promenade； attended only by a negro in livery； in a public
square overlooked by her windows。 Here； amid the luxuriant and
shadowing groves； in the gray gloom of a sweet midsummer evening； I
observed my opportunity and accosted her。
The better to deceive the servant in attendance； I did this with the
assured air of an old and familiar acquaintance。 With a presence of
mind truly Parisian； she took the cue at once； and； to greet me； held
out the most bewitchingly little of hands。 The valet at once fell
into the rear； and now； with hearts full to overflowing； we
discoursed long and unreservedly of our love。
As Madame Lalande spoke English even less fluently than she wrote it；
our conversation was necessarily in French。 In this sweet tongue； so
adapted to passion； I gave loose to the impetuous enthusiasm of my
nature； and； with all the eloquence I could command； besought her to
consent to an immediate marriage。
At this impatience she smiled。 She urged the old story of decorum…
that bug…bear which deters so many from bliss until the opportunity
for bliss has forever gone