and, though the lady was much admired and courted, had succeeded, after
a time, in inducing her to become the partner of his life.

Mrs. Giles, or, as she described herself, Mrs. Putney Giles, taking
advantage of a second and territorial Christian name of her husband, was
a showy woman; decidedly handsome, unquestionably accomplished, and
gifted with energy and enthusiasm which far exceeded even her physical
advantages. Her principal mission was to destroy the papacy and to
secure Italian unity. Her lesser impulses were to become acquainted
with the aristocracy, and to be herself surrounded by celebrities.
Having a fine house in Tyburnia, almost as showy as herself, and a
husband who was never so happy as when gratifying her wishes, she did
not find it difficult in a considerable degree to pursue and even
accomplish her objects. The Putney Giles gave a great many dinners, and
Mrs. Putney received her world frequently, if not periodically. As they
entertained with profusion, her well-lighted saloons were considerably
attended. These assemblies were never dull; the materials not being
ordinary, often startling, sometimes even brilliant, occasionally rather
heterogeneous. For, though being a violent Protestant, and of extreme
conservative opinions, her antipapal antipathies and her Italian
predilections frequently involved her with acquaintances not so
distinguished as she deemed herself for devotion to the cause of order
and orthodoxy. It was rumored that the brooding brow of Mazzini had
been observed in her rooms, and there was no sort of question that she
had thrown herself in ecstatic idolatry at the feet of the hero of
Caprera.

On the morning of the day on which he intended to visit Cardinal
Grandison, Mr. Giles, in his chambers at Lincoln's Inn, was suddenly
apprised, by a clerk, that an interview with him was sought by a client