face； as frank and open as the morning light； brought the hot blush
of shame to my cheek。 In following her I dimly felt that； in some
way； I was seeking to associate her with evil； which seemed little
less than sacrilege。 I could do nothing； however； but keep on； so
I followed her through Devonshire Street； to New Washington and
thence down Hanover Street almost to the ferry。 Here she turned
into an alleyway and； waiting for Maitland to come up； we both
saw her enter a house at its farther end。
George glanced hastily up at the house and then said； as he seized
me impatiently by the arm： 〃It's a tenement house； come on； the
chase is not up yet； we； too； must go in！〃
So in we went。 The young lady had disappeared； but as we entered
we heard a door close on the floor above； and felt sure we knew
where she had gone。 We mounted the stairs as noiselessly as
possible and listened in the hall。 We could distinguish a woman's
voice and occasionally that of a man； but we could not hear what
passed between them。 On our right there was a door partly ajar。
Maitland pushed it open； and looked in。 The room was empty and
unfurnished； with the exception of a dilapidated stove which stood
against the partition separating this room from the one the young
lady had entered。 Maitland beckoned to me and I followed him into
the room。 There was a key on the inside of the door which he
noiselessly turned in the lock。 He then began to investigate the
premises。 Three other rooms communicated with the one of which we
had taken possession； forming； evidently； a suite which had been
let for housekeeping。 Everything was in ill…repair； as is the
case with most of the cheap tenements in this locality。 The
previous tenant had not thought it necessary to clean the apartments
when quitting them； … for altruism does not flourish at the North
End； … but had been content to leave all the dirt for the next
occupant。
When we had finished reconnoitering we returned to the room we first
entered； which apparently was the kitchen。 We could still hear
the voices； but not distinctly。 〃Do you stay here； Doc；〃 whispered
Maitland； 〃while I get into some old clothes and hunt up the
landlord of this place。 I'm going to rent these rooms long enough
to acquaint myself with my neighbours on the other side of the wall。
I'll be back soon。 Don't let any man leave that room without your
knowing where he goes。〃 With this he left me and I soon found a
way to busy myself in his absence。 In the wall above the stove；
where the pipe passed through the partition into our neighbour's
apartment； there was a chink large enough to permit me； when
mounted upon the stove； to overlook the greater part of the adjacent
room。 I availed myself of this privilege； though not without those
same twinges of conscience which I had felt some minutes before
when following the young lady。 The apartment was poorly furnished；
and yet； despite this scantiness of appointment； there was
unmistakable evidence of refinement。 Everything visible in the
room was scrupulously neat and the few pictures that adorned the
walls； while they were inexpensive half…tones； were yet reproductions
of masterpieces。 In the centre of the room stood a small； deal
table； on the opposite side of which sat the man who had answered my
letter。
At one end of the table； poised upon the back of a chair； sat a
small Capucin monkey of the Weeper or Sai species。 He watched the
man with that sober； judicial air which is by no means confined
exclusively to supreme benches。 I； too； observed the man carefully。
He was tall and spare。 He must have measured nearly six feet in
height and could not； I think； have weighed over one hundred and
fifty pounds。 His face was pinched and careworn； but this effect
was more than redeemed by a pair of full； black eyes having a depth
and penetration I have never seen equalled； albeit there was； ever
and anon； a suggestion of wildness which somewhat marred their deep；
contemplative beauty。 The brows and the carriage of the head at
once bespoke the scholar。 While thus I watched him； the young girl
came from a corner of the room I could not overlook and laid my
letter before him。 She stood behind his chair as he opened it；
smoothing his hair caressingly and； every now and then； kissing him
gently。 He paused with the open letter before him； reached up both
arms； drew her down to him； kissed her passionately； sighed； and
picked up the letter again。 I took pains that no act； word； or look
should escape me。 This show of affection surprised me； and I
remember the thought flashed through my mind； 〃What inconsistent
beings we all are！ Here is a man apparently capable of a causeless
and cold…blooded assassination of a harmless old man。 You would
say such a murderer must be hopelessly selfish and brutal； amenable
to none of the better sentiments of mankind； and yet it needs but
a casual glance to see how his whole life is bound up in the young
girl before him。〃
While this was passing through my mind the man had glanced through
my letter and thrown it upon the table with an exclamation of
disgust。 〃Bah！ he has had the effrontery；〃 he said petulantly； 〃to
send me what he calls a new mode of treatment and it is in every
essential that of Broadbent； well known for more than a quarter of
a century。 New indeed！ I shall never find a doctor who has any
scientific acumen。 I may as well abandon the search now。 Mon Dieu！
and they call medicine a science！ Bah！〃 and with a frown he dropped
his head despondently upon his hand。 The young girl passed her hand
gently； soothingly； over his forehead and did not speak for nearly
a minute。
〃You are not feeling well to…night； father；〃 she said at length。
〃M。 Godin has been here during my absence。〃
〃M。 Godin！〃 I exclaimed half aloud； catching at the stovepipe lest
I should fall from the stove。 〃So our rival is hot upon the scent；
… probably even ahead of us。 How on earth … 〃 But I did not finish
the exclamation。 My seizure of the pipe upon my side of the
partition had produced an audible vibration of that portion extending
over the heads of my neighbours。 The young girl's quick ear had
detected the sound and she had ceased speaking and fastened her eyes
suspiciously upon the aperture through which I was gazing。 It seemed
to me as if she must see me； yet I dared not move。 After a little
she seemed reassured and continued： 〃I knew he had been here。 You
are always this way after his visits。 Why； of late； does he always
come when I am away？〃 The question seemed innocent enough； yet the
man to whom it was addressed turned crimson and then as pale as
ashes。 When he spoke the effort his self…control cost him was
terribly apparent。
〃We have private business； dear；〃 he said； 〃private business。〃 He
hesitated a moment and again his eyes wore the wild look I had first
noticed。 〃I am selling him something；〃 he continued； 〃very dear to
me … as dear as my heart's blood； and I expect to get enough for it
to guard you from want。〃
〃And you； father？〃 the young girl questioned fervently。 I thought
I noticed a tremor run through his frame； as drawing her face down
to his； he said； kissing her； 〃Me？ Never mind me； Puss； this cancer
here will take care of me。〃
She made no reply； but turned away to hide the tears that sprang to
her eyes。 As she did so she raised her face toward me。 I have
never been considered particularly sympathetic； … that is； no more
than the average； … but there was something in the expression of her
face that went to my heart like a knife。 I felt as if I were about
to sob with her。 I do not know what it was that so aroused my
sympathies。 We are； I fancy； more apt to feel for those whose beauty
is like to the ideals we have learned to love； than we are to be
moved by the suffering of those whose looks repel us； … and this may
have had something to do with my condition； … for the young girl was
radiantly beautiful； … yet it could hardly have been the real cause
of it。
So rapt was I in the sympathetic contemplation of her that I did not
see Maitland's entrance or realise I was observed till he plucked me
by the coat and motioned me to get down。 I did so and he told me
he had rented the rooms； and laid before me the plan he meant to
pursue。
As soon as he had ceased speaking I said to him： 〃George； you are
undoubtedly on the right track。 The man in there is the one we are
looking for； fast enough； but I am afraid we are a bit too late。〃
〃Too late！〃 he exclaimed in a tone that I feared might be overheard。
〃What the mischief do you mean？〃
〃I mean；〃 I replied； 〃that M。 Godin is already upon the scene。〃
In the next ten seconds Maitland turned all colours and I edged
nearer to him； expecting him to fall； but he did not。
〃M。 Godin！〃 he ejaculated at length。 〃How in the name of all the
gods at once … Doc； he's all they claim for him； and as fascinating
as he is clever；〃 at which last remark a heavy cloud passed over
Maitland's face。 〃Come；〃 he continued listlessly； 〃you may as well
tell me all you know about it。〃
I then confided to him what I had heard and ended by asking him
what he