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walking out to…night？〃 It was not my business to interpret her meaning；
before she had thought fit to confide her secret to me。 〃To my mind； my
dear；〃 was all I said； 〃it is a very beautiful view。〃
She fell silent again； and absorbed herself in her own thoughts。 We
turned into a new winding of the valleyand there； walking towards us
from the opposite direction； was a human figure at lastthe figure of a
solitary man！
As we got nearer to each other I perceived that he was a gentleman；
dressed in a light shooting…jacket； and wearing a felt hat of the conical
Italian shape。 A little nearerand I saw that he was young。 Nearer
stilland I discovered that he was handsome； though in rather an
effeminate way。 At the same moment； Lucilla heard his footstep。 Her color
instantly rose； and once again I felt her hand tighten involuntarily
round my arm。 （Good！ Here was the mysterious object of Zillah's warning
to me found at last！）
I have； and I don't mind acknowledging it； an eye for a handsome man。 I
looked at him as he passed us。 Now I solemnly assure you； I am not an
ugly woman。 Nevertheless； as our eyes met； I saw the strange gentleman's
face suddenly contract； with an expression which told me plainly that I
had produced a disagreeable impression on him。 With some difficultyfor
my companion was holding my arm； and seemed to be disposed to stop
altogetherI quickened my pace so as to get by him rapidly； showing him；
I dare say； that I thought the change in his face when I looked at him；
an impertinence on his part。 However that may be； after a momentary
interval； I heard his step behind。 The man had turned； and had followed
us。
He came close to me； on the opposite side to Lucilla； and took off his
hat。
〃I beg your pardon； ma'am；〃 he said。 〃You looked at me just now。〃
At the first sound of his voice； I felt Lucilla start。 Her hand began to
tremble on my arm with some sudden agitation； inconceivable to me。 In the
double surprise of discovering this； and of finding myself charged so
abruptly with the offense of looking at a gentleman； I suffered the most
exceptional of all losses （where a woman is concerned）the loss of my
tongue。
He gave me no time to recover myself。 He proceeded with what he had to
sayspeaking； mind； in the tone of a perfectly well…bred man； with
nothing wild in his look； and nothing odd in his manner。
〃Excuse me； if I venture on asking you a very strange question；〃 he went
on。 〃Did you happen to be at Exeter； on the third of last month？〃
（I must have been more or less than woman； if I had not recovered the use
of my tongue now！）
〃I never was at Exeter in my life； sir；〃 I answered。 〃May I ask； on my
side； why you put the question to me？〃
Instead of replying； he looked at Lucilla。
〃Pardon me； once more。 Perhaps this young lady？〃
He was plainly on the point of inquiring next； whether Lucilla had been
at Exeterwhen he checked himself。 In the breathless interest which she
felt in what was going on； she had turned her full face upon him。 There
was still light enough left for her eyes to tell their own sad story； in
their own mute way。 As he read the truth in them； the man's face changed
from the keen look of scrutiny which it had worn thus far； to an
expression of compassionI had almost said； of distress。 He again took
off his hat； and bowed to me with the deepest respect。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said； very earnestly。 〃I beg the young lady's
pardon。 Pray forgive me。 My strange behavior has its excuseif I could
bring myself to explain it。 You distressed me； when you looked at me。 I
can't explain why。 Good evening。〃
He turned away hastily； like a man confused and ashamed of himselfand
left us。 I can only repeat that there was nothing strange or flighty in
his manner。 A perfect gentleman； in full possession of his sensesthere
is the unexaggerated and the just description of him。
I looked at Lucilla。 She was standing； with her blind face raised to the
sky； lost in herself； like a person wrapped in ecstasy。
〃Who is that man？〃 I asked。
My question brought her down suddenly from heaven to earth。 〃Oh！〃 she
said reproachfully； 〃I had his voice still in my earsand now I have
lost it！ 'Who is he？' 〃 she added； after a moment； repeating my question。
〃Nobody knows。 Tell mewhat is he like。 Is he beautiful？ He _must_ be
beautiful； with that voice！〃
〃Is this the first time you have heard his voice？〃 I inquired。
〃Yes。 He passed us yesterday； when I was out with Zillah。 But he never
spoke。 What is he like？ Do； pray tell mewhat is he like？〃
There was a passionate impatience in her tone which warned me not to
trifle with her。 The darkness was coming。 I thought it wise to propose
returning to the house。 She consented to do anything I liked； as long as
I consented； on my side； to describe the unknown man。
All the way back； I was questioned and cross…questioned till I felt like
a witness under skillful examination in a court of law。 Lucilla appeared
to be satisfied； so far； with the results。 〃Ah！〃 she exclaimed； letting
out the secret which her old nurse had confided to me。 〃_You_ can use
your eyes。 Zillah could tell me nothing。〃
When we got home again； her curiosity took another turn。 〃Exeter？〃 she
said； considering with herself。 〃He mentioned Exeter。 I am like youI
never was there。 What will books tell us about Exeter？〃 She despatched
Zillah to the other side of the house for a gazetteer。 I followed the old
woman into the corridor； and set her mind at ease； in a whisper。 〃I have
kept what you told me a secret；〃 I said。 〃The man was out in the
twilight； as you foresaw。 I have spoken to him； and I am quite as curious
as the rest of you。 Get the book。〃
Lucilla had （to confess the truth） infected me with her idea； that the
gazetteer might help us in interpreting the stranger's remarkable
question relating to the third of last month； and his extraordinary
assertion that I had distressed him when I looked at him。 With the nurse
breathless on one side of me； and Lucilla breathless on the other； I
opened the book at the letter 〃E；〃 and found the place； and read aloud
these lines； as follows：
〃EXETER： A city and seaport in Devonshire。 Formerly the seat of the West
Saxon Kings。 It has a large foreign and home commerce。 Population 33；738。
The Assizes for Devonshire are held at Exeter in the spring and summer。〃
〃Is that all？〃 asked Lucilla。
I shut the book； and answered； like Finch's boy； in three monosyllabic
words：
〃That is all。〃
CHAPTER THE FIFTH
Candlelight View of the Man
THERE had been barely light enough left for me to read by。 Zillah lit the
candles and drew the curtains。 The silence which betokens a profound
disappointment reigned in the room。
〃Who can he be？〃 repeated Lucilla； for the hundredth time。 〃And why
should your looking at him have distressed him？ Guess； Madame
Pratolungo！〃
The last sentence in the gazetteer's description of Exeter hung a little
on my mindin consequence of there being one word in it which I did not
quite understandthe word 〃Assizes。〃 I have； I hope； shown that I
possess a competent knowledge of the English language； by this time。 But
my experience fails