Eve's Ransom

s. From the courtyard upon which his window looked there came a ringing of gay laughter followed by shrill, merry gossip in a foreign tongue. Somewhere in

ks, and now awoke with a sense of lonelines

est lures. All he could remember, was a succession of extravagances, beneath a sunless sky, with chance companions whose faces he had forgotten five minutes after parting with them. Sovereign after sovereign melted out of his hand; the end of the second week found his capital

ge, and so far succeeded as to lodge very cheaply in a rather disreputable hotel, and to eat at restaurants where dinner of several courses cost two francs and

certain recollection haunted him persistently. Yesterday, in turning o

et, Chalk Farm Ro

running through his mind, like a

ess significance for him. Here, it seemed, was sufficient motive for a return to London. The alternative was to wander on, and see more of foreign countries; a tem

rection. It was a rainy and uncomfortable day, but this did not much affect his spirits; he felt like a man new risen from illness, seemed to have cast off something that had thr

ould be at home an inquiry at the house and the leaving of a verbal message would discharge his obligation; but he proposed more than that. It was his resolve to see Eve herself, to behold the face which, in a picture, had grown so familiar to him. Yet till this m

ire it. Eve in her own pe

ther debate he knocked. The door was opened by a woman

e," she said, "but she's b

me where she i

her kind, she was anxious to dismiss the inquirer and get the door shut. Grave

w where she is,

o reticence on the score of her former lodgers. If she has parted with them on amicable terms, her instinct is to shield them against the menace presumed in every inquiry; i

thought that Eve would probably, before long, communicate her new address to the friends at Dudley, and by that means he might hear of it, when a dirty-fac

ng for Miss M

o you know any

when she moved I had to take some

ou reme

from 'ere, Sir. Sh

of old, he took out twopence. The face of t

ddress; that w

ow Gower P

ar Gower Stre

er of the house to which Miss Madeley had transferred

orth from Euston Station to look for a lodging. It was a mere chance that he had not turned into this very street, instead of going further. Several windows

sually bright windows. His knock was answered quickly,

iss Madeley

she

t at home

akfast, and I'm sure I can'

rtainty. The young woman, observing his ex

to see her

private

asioned

dinner, sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she comes to tea, but just as

I'll ca

ed the young woman, whose curiosity grew more

ing the question, "I should fi

s someone's going

se do

escape a volley of interrogation for

sing she had a parlour at her disposal, she was not likely to invite a perfect stranger into the house. How could he make her acquaintance on the doorstep? To be sure, he brought a message,

e state of things. From Mrs. Brewer's description of the girl's character, he had imagined her leading a life of clockwor

nd quarters for himself. Why

ainst that particular house was a window with a card. Carelessly he approached the door, and carelessly asked to see the rooms that were to let. They were comfortl

fatigue constrained him to lie down and close his eyes. Almost immediately lie fell into oblivio

d so it happened that, without deliberate purpose of espial, he watched the door of Eve Madeley's residence for a long time; till, in

at the house which interested him. He gazed eagerly. Impossible that a young person of that garb and deportment should be Eve Madeley. Her face was hidden from him, and at this distance he could not have recognised the fe

he left a long perspective southwards. Delaying in doubt as to his course, Hilliard glanced back. From the house which attracted his eyes he sa

could observe their faces. In the second girl he re

ey to present. He had thought of her as very plainly, perhaps poorly, clad; but this attire was ornate, and looked rather expensive; it might be in the mode of

they rapidly came close to where he stood. He drew aside to let the

e," exclaimed the unknown gi

Eve it were. "I hate standing at the

ow; but at the edge of the pavement in Gower Street they stopped, and by advanc

ill take a

ve it could really be. "We'll have a cab. Look, th

e, you are

ell on Hilliard's ear. They both tripped off towards the cab whic

t was settled; the name confirmed him in his identi

consequence to her. She had the look, the tones, of one bent on enjoying her

oreover, with the London accent, while Eve's struck a more familiar note to the man of the Midlands. Eve seemed to be

ancholy, the long-suffering,

ss Madeley to-morrow morning. At one moment he regretted having taken lodgings in Gower Place; at another he determined to make use of his advantage, and play the spy upon Eve's movements without scruple. The interest sh

y his bedroom window, in darkness,