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admiration for your character； but on the subject of house
property； I cannot allow the interference of my feelings。 I
will； however； to prove to you that there is nothing personal
in my request； here solemnly engage my word that I will never
put another tenant in this house。'
'Madam；' said Florizel； 'you plead your cause too charmingly
to be refused。'
Thereupon we all three withdrew。 The young man； still
reeling in his walk； departed by himself to seek the
assistance of his fellow…conspirators； and the prince； with
the most attentive gallantry； lent me his escort to the door
of my hotel。 The next day； the lease was cancelled； nor from
that hour to this； though sometimes regretting my engagement；
have I suffered a tenant in this house。
THE SUPERFLUOUS MANSION （CONTINUED）。
AS soon as the old lady had finished her relation； Somerset
made haste to offer her his compliments。
'Madam；' said he； 'your story is not only entertaining but
instructive； and you have told it with infinite vivacity。 I
was much affected towards the end； as I held at one time very
liberal opinions； and should certainly have joined a secret
society if I had been able to find one。 But the whole tale
came home to me； and I was the better able to feel for you in
your various perplexities； as I am myself of somewhat hasty
temper。'
'I do not understand you；' said Mrs。 Luxmore； with some marks
of irritation。 'You must have strangely misinterpreted what
I have told you。 You fill me with surprise。'
Somerset； alarmed by the old lady's change of tone and
manner； hurried to recant。
'Dear Mrs。 Luxmore；' said he； 'you certainly misconstrue my
remark。 As a man of somewhat fiery humour； my conscience
repeatedly pricked me when I heard what you had suffered at
the hands of persons similarly constituted。'
'Oh； very well indeed；' replied the old lady； 'and a very
proper spirit。 I regret that I have met with it so rarely。'
'But in all this；' resumed the young man； 'I perceive nothing
that concerns myself。'
'I am about to come to that；' she returned。 'And you have
already before you； in the pledge I gave Prince Florizel； one
of the elements of the affair。 I am a woman of the nomadic
sort； and when I have no case before the courts I make it a
habit to visit continental spas： not that I have ever been
ill； but then I am no longer young； and I am always happy in
a crowd。 Well； to come more shortly to the point； I am now
on the wing for Evian； this incubus of a house； which I must
leave behind and dare not let； hangs heavily upon my hands；
and I propose to rid myself of that concern； and do you a
very good turn into the bargain； by lending you the mansion；
with all its fittings； as it stands。 The idea was sudden； it
appealed to me as humorous： and I am sure it will cause my
relatives； if they should ever hear of it； the keenest
possible chagrin。 Here； then； is the key； and when you
return at two to…morrow afternoon； you will find neither me
nor my cats to disturb you in your new possession。'
So saying； the old lady arose； as if to dismiss her visitor；
but Somerset； looking somewhat blankly on the key； began to
protest。
'Dear Mrs。 Luxmore；' said he； 'this is a most unusual
proposal。 You know nothing of me； beyond the fact that I
displayed both impudence and timidity。 I may be the worst
kind of scoundrel； I may sell your furniture … '
'You may blow up the house with gunpowder； for what I care！'
cried Mrs。 Luxmore。 'It is in vain to reason。 Such is the
force of my character that； when I have one idea clearly in
my head； I do not care two straws for any side consideration。
It amuses me to do it； and let that suffice。 On your side；
you may do what you please … let apartments； or keep a
private hotel； on mine； I promise you a full month's warning
before I return； and I never fail religiously to keep my
promises。'
The young man was about to renew his protest； when he
observed a sudden and significant change in the old lady's
countenance。
'If I thought you capable of disrespect！' she cried。
'Madam；' said Somerset； with the extreme fervour of
asseveration； 'madam； I accept。 I beg you to understand that
I accept with joy and gratitude。'
'Ah well；' returned Mrs。 Luxmore； 'if I am mistaken； let it
pass。 And now； since all is comfortably settled； I wish you
a good…night。'
Thereupon； as if to leave him no room for repentance； she
hurried Somerset out of the front door； and left him
standing； key in hand； upon the pavement。
The next day； about the hour appointed； the young man found
his way to the square； which I will here call Golden Square；
though that was not its name。 What to expect； he knew not；
for a man may live in dreams； and yet be unprepared for their
realisation。 It was already with a certain pang of surprise
that he beheld the mansion； standing in the eye of day； a
solid among solids。 The key； upon trial； readily opened the
front door； he entered that great house； a privileged
burglar； and； escorted by the echoes of desertion； rapidly
reviewed the empty chambers。 Cats； servant； old lady； the
very marks of habitation； like writing on a slate； had been
in these few hours obliterated。 He wandered from floor to
floor； and found the house of great extent； the kitchen
offices commodious and well appointed； the rooms many and
large； and the drawing…room； in particular； an apartment of
princely size and tasteful decoration。 Although the day
without was warm； genial； and sunny； with a ruffling wind
from the quarter of Torquay； a chill； as it were； of
suspended animation inhabited the house。 Dust and shadows
met the eye； and but for the ominous procession of the
echoes； and the rumour of the wind among the garden trees；
the ear of the young man was stretched in vain。
Behind the dining…room； that pleasant library； referred to by
the old lady in her tale； looked upon the flat roofs and
netted cupolas of the kitchen quarters； and on a second
visit； this room appeared to greet him with a smiling
countenance。 He might as well； he thought； avoid the expense
of lodging： the library； fitted with an iron bedstead which
he had remarked； in one of the upper chambers； would serve
his purpose for the night； while in the dining…room； which
was large； airy； and lightsome； looking on the square and
garden； he might very agreeably pass his days； cook his
meals； and study to bring himself to some proficiency in that
art of painting which he had recently determined to adopt。
It did not take him long to make the change： he had soon
returned to the mansion with his modest kit； and the cabman
who brought him was readily induced； by the young man's
pleasant manner and a small gratuity； to assist him in the
installation of the iron bed。 By six in the evening； when
Somerset went forth to dine； he was able to look back upon
the mansion with a sense of pride and property。 Four…square
it stood； of an imposing frontage； and flanked on either side
by family hatchments。 His eye； from where he stood whistling
in the