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quietly into the station and took his place in the darkest
corner of a third…class carriage。 Here； all day long； he
jolted on the bare boards； distressed by heat and continually
reawakened from uneasy slumbers。 By the half return ticket
in his purse； he was entitled to make the journey on the easy
cushions and with the ample space of the first…class； but
alas！ in his absurd attire； he durst not； for decency；
commingle with his equals； and this small annoyance； coming
last in such a series of disasters； cut him to the heart。
That night； when； in his Putney lodging； he reviewed the
expense； anxiety； and weariness of his adventure； when he
beheld the ruins of his last good trousers and his last
presentable coat； and above all； when his eye by any chance
alighted on the Tyrolese hat or the degrading ulster； his
heart would overflow with bitterness； and it was only by a
serious call on his philosophy that he maintained the dignity
of his demeanour。
SOMERSET'S ADVENTURE： THE SUPERFLUOUS MANSION
MR。 PAUL SOMERSET was a young gentleman of a lively and fiery
imagination； with very small capacity for action。 He was one
who lived exclusively in dreams and in the future： the
creature of his own theories； and an actor in his own
romances。 From the cigar divan he proceeded to parade the
streets； still heated with the fire of his eloquence； and
scouting upon every side for the offer of some fortunate
adventure。 In the continual stream of passers…by； on the
sealed fronts of houses； on the posters that covered the
hoardings； and in every lineament and throb of the great
city； he saw a mysterious and hopeful hieroglyph。 But
although the elements of adventure were streaming by him as
thick as drops of water in the Thames； it was in vain that；
now with a beseeching； now with something of a braggadocio
air； he courted and provoked the notice of the passengers； in
vain that； putting fortune to the touch； he even thrust
himself into the way and came into direct collision with
those of the more promising demeanour。 Persons brimful of
secrets； persons pining for affection； persons perishing for
lack of help or counsel； he was sure he could perceive on
every side； but by some contrariety of fortune； each passed
upon his way without remarking the young gentleman； and went
farther （surely to fare worse！） in quest of the confidant；
the friend； or the adviser。 To thousands he must have turned
an appealing countenance； and yet not one regarded him。
A light dinner； eaten to the accompaniment of his impetuous
aspirations； broke in upon the series of his attempts on
fortune； and when he returned to the task； the lamps were
already lighted； and the nocturnal crowd was dense upon the
pavement。 Before a certain restaurant； whose name will
readily occur to any student of our Babylon； people were
already packed so closely that passage had grown difficult；
and Somerset； standing in the kennel； watched； with a hope
that was beginning to grow somewhat weary； the faces and the
manners of the crowd。 Suddenly he was startled by a gentle
touch upon the shoulder； and facing about； he was aware of a
very plain and elegant brougham； drawn by a pair of powerful
horses； and driven by a man in sober livery。 There were no
arms upon the panel； the window was open； but the interior
was obscure； the driver yawned behind his palm； and the young
man was already beginning to suppose himself the dupe of his
own fancy； when a hand； no larger than a child's and smoothly
gloved in white； appeared in a corner of the window and
privily beckoned him to approach。 He did so； and looked in。
The carriage was occupied by a single small and very dainty
figure； swathed head and shoulders in impenetrable folds of
white lace； and a voice； speaking low and silvery； addressed
him in these words …
'Open the door and get in。'
'It must be；' thought the young man with an almost unbearable
thrill； 'it must be that duchess at last！' Yet； although the
moment was one to which he had long looked forward； it was
with a certain share of alarm that he opened the door； and；
mounting into the brougham； took his seat beside the lady of
the lace。 Whether or no she had touched a spring； or given
some other signal； the young man had hardly closed the door
before the carriage； with considerable swiftness； and with a
very luxurious and easy movement on its springs； turned and
began to drive towards the west。
Somerset； as I have written； was not unprepared； it had long
been his particular pleasure to rehearse his conduct in the
most unlikely situations； and this； among others； of the
patrician ravisher； was one he had familiarly studied。
Strange as it may seem； however； he could find no apposite
remark； and as the lady； on her side； vouchsafed no further
sign； they continued to drive in silence through the streets。
Except for alternate flashes from the passing lamps； the
carriage was plunged in obscurity； and beyond the fact that
the fittings were luxurious； and that the lady was singularly
small and slender in person； and； all but one gloved hand；
still swathed in her costly veil； the young man could
decipher no detail of an inspiring nature。 The suspense
began to grow unbearable。 Twice he cleared his throat； and
twice the whole resources of the language failed him。 In
similar scenes； when he had forecast them on the theatre of
fancy； his presence of mind had always been complete； his
eloquence remarkable； and at this disparity between the
rehearsal and the performance； he began to be seized with a
panic of apprehension。 Here； on the very threshold of
adventure； suppose him ignominiously to fail； suppose that
after ten； twenty； or sixty seconds of still uninterrupted
silence； the lady should touch the check…string and re…
deposit him； weighed and found wanting； on the common street！
Thousands of persons of no mind at all； he reasoned； would be
found more equal to the part； could； that very instant； by
some decisive step； prove the lady's choice to have been well
inspired； and put a stop to this intolerable silence。
His eye； at this point； lighted on the hand。 It was better
to fall by desperate councils than to continue as he was； and
with one tremulous swoop he pounced on the gloved fingers and
drew them to himself。 One overt step； it had appeared to
him； would dissolve the spell of his embarrassment； in act；
he found it otherwise： he found himself no less incapable of
speech or further progress； and with the lady's hand in his；
sat helpless。 But worse was in store。 A peculiar quivering
began to agitate the form of his companion； the hand that lay
unresistingly in Somerset's trembled as with ague； and
presently there broke forth； in the shadow of the carriage；
the bubbling and musical sound of laughter； resisted but
triumphant。 The young man dropped his prize； had it been
possible； he would have bounded from the carriage。 The lady；
meanwhile； lying back upon the cushions； passed on from trill
to trill of the most heartfelt； high…pitched； clear a