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impressed me most favourably； but how are you to prefer your
opinion before that of my uncle； an ex…minister of state； a
man with the ear of the Queen； and of a long political
experience？ If I am mad； is he？ And you must allow me；
besides； a special claim upon your help。 Strange as you may
think my story； you know that much of it is true； and if you
who heard the explosion and saw the Mormon at Victoria；
refuse to credit and assist me； to whom am I to turn？'
'He gave you money then？' asked Challoner； who had been
dwelling singly on that fact。
'I begin to interest you；' she cried。 'But； frankly； you are
condemned to help me。 If the service I had to ask of you
were serious； were suspicious； were even unusual； I should
say no more。 But what is it？ To take a pleasure trip （for
which； if you will suffer me； I propose to pay） and to carry
from one lady to another a sum of money！ What can be more
simple？'
'Is the sum；' asked Challoner； 'considerable？'
She produced a packet from her bosom； and observing that she
had not yet found time to make the count； tore open the cover
and spread upon her knees a considerable number of Bank of
England notes。 It took some time to make the reckoning； for
the notes were of every degree of value； but at last； and
counting a few loose sovereigns； she made out the sum to be a
little under 710 pounds sterling。 The sight of so much money
worked an immediate revolution in the mind of Challoner。
'And you propose； madam；' he cried； 'to intrust that money to
a perfect stranger？'
'Ah！' said she； with a charming smile； 'but I no longer
regard you as a stranger。'
'Madam；' said Challoner； 'I perceive I must make you a
confession。 Although of a very good family … through my
mother； indeed； a lineal descendant of the patriot Bruce … I
dare not conceal from you that my affairs are deeply； very
deeply involved。 I am in debt； my pockets are practically
empty； and； in short； I am fallen to that state when a
considerable sum of money would prove to many men an
irresistible temptation。'
'Do you not see；' returned the young lady； 'that by these
words you have removed my last hesitation？ Take them。' And
she thrust the notes into the young man's hand。
He sat so long； holding them； like a baby at the font； that
Miss Fonblanque once more bubbled into laughter。
'Pray；' she said； 'hesitate no further； put them in your
pocket； and to relieve our position of any shadow of
embarrassment； tell me by what name I am to address my
knight…errant； for I find myself reduced to the awkwardness
of the pronoun。'
Had borrowing been in question； the wisdom of our ancestors
had come lightly to the young man's aid； but upon what
pretext could he refuse so generous a trust？ Upon none he
saw； that was not unpardonably wounding； and the bright eyes
and the high spirits of his companion had already made a
breach in the rampart of Challoner's caution。 The whole
thing； he reasoned； might be a mere mystification； which it
were the height of solemn folly to resent。 On the other
hand； the explosion； the interview at the public…house； and
the very money in his hands； seemed to prove beyond denial
the existence of some serious danger； and if that were so；
could he desert her？ There was a choice of risks： the risk
of behaving with extraordinary incivility and unhandsomeness
to a lady； and the risk of going on a fool's errand。 The
story seemed false； but then the money was undeniable。 The
whole circumstances were questionable and obscure； but the
lady was charming； and had the speech and manners of society。
While he still hung in the wind； a recollection returned upon
his mind with some of the dignity of prophecy。 Had he not
promised Somerset to break with the traditions of the
commonplace； and to accept the first adventure offered？
Well； here was the adventure。
He thrust the money into his pocket。
'My name is Challoner；' said he。
'Mr。 Challoner；' she replied； 'you have come very generously
to my aid when all was against me。 Though I am myself a very
humble person； my family commands great interest； and I do
not think you will repent this handsome action。'
Challoner flushed with pleasure。
'I imagine that； perhaps； a consulship；' she added； her eyes
dwelling on him with a judicial admiration； 'a consulship in
some great town or capital … or else … But we waste time； let
us set about the work of my delivery。'
She took his arm with a frank confidence that went to his
heart； and once more laying by all serious thoughts； she
entertained him； as they crossed the park； with her agreeable
gaiety of mind。 Near the Marble Arch they found a hansom；
which rapidly conveyed them to the terminus at Euston Square；
and here； in the hotel； they sat down to an excellent
breakfast。 The young lady's first step was to call for
writing materials and write； upon one corner of the table； a
hasty note； still； as she did so； glancing with smiles at her
companion。 'Here；' said she； 'here is the letter which will
introduce you to my cousin。' She began to fold the paper。
'My cousin； although I have never seen her； has the character
of a very charming woman and a recognised beauty； of that I
know nothing； but at least she has been very kind to me； so
has my lord her father； so have you … kinder than all …
kinder than I can bear to think of。' She said this with
unusual emotion； and； at the same time； sealed the envelope。
'Ah！' she cried； 'I have shut my letter！ It is not quite
courteous； and yet； as between friends； it is perhaps better
so。 I introduce you； after all； into a family secret； and
though you and I are already old comrades； you are still
unknown to my uncle。 You go then to this address； Richard
Street； Glasgow； go； please； as soon as you arrive； and give
this letter with your own hands into those of Miss
Fonblanque； for that is the name by which she is to pass。
When we next meet； you will tell me what you think of her；'
she added； with a touch of the provocative。
'Ah；' said Challoner； almost tenderly； 'she can be nothing to
me。'
'You do not know；' replied the young lady； with a sigh。 'By…
the…bye； I had forgotten … it is very childish； and I am
almost ashamed to mention it … but when you see Miss
Fonblanque； you will have to make yourself a little
ridiculous； and I am sure the part in no way suits you。 We
had agreed upon a watchword。 You will have to address an
earl's daughter in these words： 〃NIGGER； NIGGER； NEVER DIE；〃
but reassure yourself；' she added； laughing； 'for the fair
patrician will at once finish the quotation。 Come now； say
your lesson。'
'〃Nigger； nigger； never die；〃' repeated Challoner； with
undisguised reluctance。
Miss Fonblanque went into fits of laughter。 'Excellent；'
said she； 'it will be the most humorous scene。' And she
laughed again。
'And what will be the counterword？' asked Challoner stiffly。
'I will not tell you till the last moment；' said she； 'for I
perceive you are growing too imperious。'
Breakfast over； she accompanied the young man to th