expression showing he was utterly unconscious of anything but an
obstacle in his path. The strangest part of it all was that he seemed
to have no fear. To be sure he took pains to leave his watch at home;
but with such a figure and carriage as he possessed, the absence of
jewelry could never deceive the eye for a moment as to the fact of his
being a man of wealth, and those he went among would do anything for
money. Perhaps, like me, he carried a pistol. At all events he
shunned no spot where either poverty lay hid or deviltry reigned, his
proud stern head bending to enter the lowest doors without a tremble
of the haughty lips that remained compressed as by an iron force;
except when some poor forlorn creature with flaunting head-gear, and
tremulous hands, attracted by his bearing would hastily brush against
him, when he would turn and look, perhaps speak, though what he said
I always failed to catch; after which he would hurry on as if
possessed by seven devils. The evenings of those three days were
notable also. Two of them he spent in the manner I have described;
the third he went to the Windsor House--where the Countess De Mirac
had taken rooms--going up to the ladies' entrance and actually
ringing the bell, only to start back and walk up and down on the
opposite side of the way, with his hands behind his back, and his
head bent, evidently deliberating as to whether he should or should
not carry out his original intention of entering. The arrival of a
carriage with the stately subject of his deliberations, who from her
elaborate costume had seemingly been to some kettledrum or private
reception, speedily put an end to his doubts. As the door opened to
admit her, I saw him cast one look at her heavily draped person, with
its snowy opera-cloak drawn tightly over the sweeping folds of her
maize colored silk, and shrink back with what sounded like a sigh of
anger or distrust, and without waiting for the closing of the door
upon her, turn toward home with a step that hesitated no longer.