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ourselves disappointed？'
'Whenever you choose。'
Before they had put their intention in practice there appeared to be
reasons for waiting awhile。 Out of the plain of fog beneath； a
stone tooth seemed to be upheaving itself： then another showed
forth。 These were the summits of the St。 Romain and the Butter
Towersat the western end of the building。 As the fog stratum
collapsed other summits manifested their presence further offamong
them the two spires and lantern of St。 Ouen's； when to the left the
dome of St。 Madeline's caught a first ray from the peering sun；
under which its scaly surface glittered like a fish。 Then the mist
rolled off in earnest； and revealed far beneath them a whole city；
its red； blue； and grey roofs forming a variegated pattern； small
and subdued as that of a pavement in mosaic。 Eastward in the
spacious outlook lay the hill of St。 Catherine； breaking intrusively
into the large level valley of the Seine； south was the river which
had been the parent of the mist； and the Ile Lacroix； gorgeous in
scarlet； purple； and green。 On the western horizon could be dimly
discerned melancholy forests； and further to the right stood the
hill and rich groves of Boisguillaume。
Ethelberta having now done looking around； the descent was begun and
continued without intermission till they came to the passage behind
the parapet。
Ethelberta was about to step airily forward； when there reached her
ear the voices of persons below。 She recognized as one of them the
slow unaccented tones of Neigh。
'Please wait a minute！' she said in a peremptory manner of confusion
sufficient to attract Lord Mountclere's attention。
A recollection had sprung to her mind in a moment。 She had half
made an appointment with Neigh at her aunt's hotel for this very
week； and here was he in Rouen to keep it。 To meet him while
indulging in this vagary with Lord Mountclerewhich； now that the
mood it had been engendered by was passing off； she somewhat
regrettedwould be the height of imprudence。
'I should like to go round to the other side of the parapet for a
few moments；' she said； with decisive quickness。 'Come with me；
Lord Mountclere。'
They went round to the other side。 Here she kept the viscount and
their suisse until she deemed it probable that Neigh had passed by；
when she returned with her companions and descended to the bottom。
They emerged into the Rue Saint…Romain； whereupon a woman called
from the opposite side of the way to their guide； stating that she
had told the other English gentleman that the English lady had gone
into the fleche。
Ethelberta turned and looked up。 She could just discern Neigh's
form upon the steps of the fleche above； ascending toilsomely in
search of her。
'What English gentleman could that have been？' said Lord Mountclere；
after paying the man。 He spoke in a way which showed he had not
overlooked her confusion。 'It seems that he must have been
searching for us； or rather for you？'
'Only Mr。 Neigh；' said Ethelberta。 'He told me he was coming here。
I believe he is waiting for an interview with me。'
'H'm；' said Lord Mountclere。
'Businessonly business；' said she。
'Shall I leave you？ Perhaps the business is importantmost
important。'
'Unfortunately it is。'
'You must forgive me this once： I cannot helpwill you give me
permission to make a difficult remark？' said Lord Mountclere； in an
impatient voice。
'With pleasure。'
'Well； then； the business I meant wasan engagement to be married。'
Had it been possible for a woman to be perpetually on the alert she
might now have supposed that Lord Mountclere knew all about her； a
mechanical deference must have restrained such an illusion had he
seen her in any other light than that of a distracting slave。 But
she answered quietly； 'So did I。'
'But how does he knowdear me； dear me！ I beg pardon；' said the
viscount。
She looked at him curiously； as if to imply that he was seriously
out of his reckoning in respect of her if he supposed that he would
be allowed to continue this little play at love…making as long as he
chose； when she was offered the position of wife by a man so good as
Neigh。
They stood in silence side by side till； much to her ease； Cornelia
appeared at the corner waiting。 At the last moment he said； in
somewhat agitated tones； and with what appeared to be a renewal of
the respect which had been imperceptibly dropped since they crossed
the Channel； 'I was not aware of your engagement to Mr。 Neigh。 I
fear I have been acting mistakenly on that account。'
'There is no engagement as yet；' said she。
Lord Mountclere brightened like a child。 'Then may I have a few
words in private'
'Not nownot to…day；' said Ethelberta； with a certain irritation at
she knew not what。 'Believe me； Lord Mountclere； you are mistaken
in many things。 I mean； you think more of me than you ought。 A
time will come when you will despise me for this day's work； and it
is madness in you to go further。'
Lord Mountclere； knowing what he did know； may have imagined what
she referred to； but Ethelberta was without the least proof that he
had the key to her humour。 'Well； well； I'll be responsible for the
madness；' he said。 'I know you to bea famous woman； at all
events； and that's enough。 I would say more； but I cannot here。
May I call upon you？'
'Not now。'
'When shall I？'
'If you must； let it be a month hence at my house in town；' she said
indifferently； the Hamlet mood being still upon her。 'Yes； call
upon us then； and I will tell you everything that may remain to be
told； if you should be inclined to listen。 A rumour is afloat which
will undeceive you in much； and depress me to death。 And now I will
walk back： pray excuse me。' She entered the street； and joined
Cornelia。
Lord Mountclere paced irregularly along； turned the corner； and went
towards his inn； nearing which his tread grew lighter； till he
scarcely seemed to touch the ground。 He became gleeful； and said to
himself； nervously palming his hip with his left hand； as if
previous to plunging it into hot water for some prize： 'Upon my
life I've a good mind！ Upon my life I have！。 。 。 。 I must make a
straightforward thing of it； and at once； or he will have her。 But
he shall not； and I willhee…hee！'
The fascinated man； screaming inwardly with the excitement； glee；
and agony of his position； entered the hotel； wrote a hasty note to
Ethelberta and despatched it by hand； looked to his dress and
appearance； ordered a carriage； and in a quarter of an hour was
being driven towards the Hotel Beau Sejour； whither his note had
preceded him。
35。 THE HOTEL （continued）； AND THE QUAY IN FRONT
Ethelberta； having arrived there some time earlier； had gone
straight to her aunt； whom she found sitting behind a large ledger
in the office； making up the accounts with her husband； a well…
framed reflective man with a grey beard。 M。 Moulin bustled； waited
for her remarks and replies； and made much of her in a general way；
when Ethelberta said； what she had wanted to say instantly； 'Has a
gentleman called Mr。 Neigh been here？'
'O yesI think it is Neighthere's