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for the best； since she had changed her mind and long since
repented of her message。
Next day he resumed his labours； glowing with pity and
courage； and determined to protect Teresa with his life。 But
a painful shock awaited him。 In the narrow and silent Hanway
Street； she turned suddenly about and addressed him with a
manner and a light in her eyes that were new to the young
man's experience。
'Do I understand that you follow me； Senor？' she cried。 'Are
these the manners of the English gentleman？'
Harry confounded himself in the most abject apologies and
prayers to be forgiven； vowed to offend no more； and was at
length dismissed； crestfallen and heavy of heart。 The check
was final； he gave up that road to service； and began once
more to hang about the square or on the terrace； filled with
remorse and love； admirable and idiotic； a fit object for the
scorn and envy of older men。 In these idle hours； while he
was courting fortune for a sight of the beloved； it fell out
naturally that he should observe the manners and appearance
of such as came about the house。 One person alone was the
occasional visitor of the young lady： a man of considerable
stature； and distinguished only by the doubtful ornament of a
chin…beard in the style of an American deacon。 Something in
his appearance grated upon Harry； this distaste grew upon him
in the course of days； and when at length he mustered courage
to inquire of the Fair Cuban who this was； he was yet more
dismayed by her reply。
'That gentleman；' said she； a smile struggling to her face；
'that gentleman； I will not attempt to conceal from you；
desires my hand in marriage； and presses me with the most
respectful ardour。 Alas； what am I to say？ I； the forlorn
Teresa； how shall I refuse or accept such protestations？'
Harry feared to say more； a horrid pang of jealousy
transfixed him； and he had scarce the strength of mind to
take his leave with decency。 In the solitude of his own
chamber； he gave way to every manifestation of despair。 He
passionately adored the Senorita； but it was not only the
thought of her possible union with another that distressed
his soul； it was the indefeasible conviction that her suitor
was unworthy。 To a duke； a bishop； a victorious general； or
any man adorned with obvious qualities； he had resigned her
with a sort of bitter joy； he saw himself follow the wedding
party from a great way off； he saw himself return to the poor
house； then robbed of its jewel； and while he could have wept
for his despair； he felt he could support it nobly。 But this
affair looked otherwise。 The man was patently no gentleman；
he had a startled； skulking； guilty bearing； his nails were
black； his eyes evasive； his love perhaps was a pretext； he
was perhaps； under this deep disguise； a Cuban emissary！
Harry swore that he would satisfy these doubts； and the next
evening； about the hour of the usual visit； he posted himself
at a spot whence his eye commanded the three issues of the
square。
Presently after； a four…wheeler rumbled to the door； and the
man with the chin…beard alighted； paid off the cabman； and
was seen by Harry to enter the house with a brown box hoisted
on his back。 Half an hour later； he came forth again without
the box； and struck eastward at a rapid walk； and Desborough；
with the same skill and caution that he had displayed in
following Teresa； proceeded to dog the steps of her admirer。
The man began to loiter； studying with apparent interest the
wares of the small fruiterer or tobacconist； twice he
returned hurriedly upon his former course； and then； as
though he had suddenly conquered a moment's hesitation； once
more set forth with resolute and swift steps in the direction
of Lincoln's Inn。 At length； in a deserted by…street； he
turned； and coming up to Harry with a countenance which
seemed to have become older and whiter； inquired with some
severity of speech if he had not had the pleasure of seeing
the gentleman before。
'You have； sir；' said Harry； somewhat abashed； but with a
good show of stoutness； 'and I will not deny that I was
following you on purpose。 Doubtless；' he added； for he
supposed that all men's minds must still be running on
Teresa； 'you can divine my reason。'
At these words； the man with the chin…beard was seized with a
palsied tremor。 He seemed； for some seconds； to seek the
utterance which his fear denied him； and then whipping
sharply about； he took to his heels at the most furious speed
of running。
Harry was at first so taken aback that he neglected to
pursue； and by the time he had recovered his wits； his best
expedition was only rewarded by a glimpse of the man with the
chin…beard mounting into a hansom； which immediately after
disappeared into the moving crowds of Holborn。
Puzzled and dismayed by this unusual behaviour； Harry
returned to the house in Queen Square； and ventured for the
first time to knock at the fair Cuban's door。 She bade him
enter； and he found her kneeling with rather a disconsolate
air beside a brown wooden trunk。
'Senorita；' he broke out； 'I doubt whether that man's
character is what he wishes you to believe。 His manner； when
he found； and indeed when I admitted that I was following
him； was not the manner of an honest man。'
'Oh！' she cried； throwing up her hands as in desperation；
'Don Quixote； Don Quixote； have you again been tilting
against windmills？' And then； with a laugh； 'Poor soul！' she
added； 'how you must have terrified him！ For know that the
Cuban authorities are here； and your poor Teresa may soon be
hunted down。 Even yon humble clerk from my solicitor's
office may find himself at any moment the quarry of armed
spies。'
'A humble clerk！' cried Harry； 'why； you told me yourself
that he wished to marry you！'
'I thought you English like what you call a joke；' replied
the lady calmly。 'As a matter of fact； he is my lawyer's
clerk； and has been here to…night charged with disastrous
news。 I am in sore straits； Senor Harry。 Will you help me？'
At this most welcome word； the young man's heart exulted； and
in the hope； pride； and self…esteem that kindled with the
very thought of service； he forgot to dwell upon the lady's
jest。 'Can you ask？' he cried。 'What is there that I can
do？ Only tell me that。'
With signs of an emotion that was certainly unfeigned； the
fair Cuban laid her hand upon the box。 'This box；' she said；
'contains my jewels； papers； and clothes； all； in a word；
that still connects me with Cuba and my dreadful past。 They
must now be smuggled out of England； or； by the opinion of my
lawyer； I am lost beyond remedy。 To…morrow； on board the
Irish packet； a sure hand awaits the box： the problem still
unsolved； is to find some one to carry it as far as Holyhead；
to see it placed on board the steamer； and instantly return
to town。 Will you be he？ Will you leave to…morrow by the
first train； punctually obey orders； bear still in mind that
you are surrounded by Cuban spies； and without so much as a
look behind you； or a single