“To be popular with the people, is truly an honor,” interrupts the lady, facetiously.

“Thank you-O, thank you, for the compliment,” pursues our hero.  “Now, as to this unfortunate person you seek, knowing it was of little use to search for her in our institutions of charity-one never can find out anything about the wretches who get into them-I put the matter into the hands of one of our day-police-a plaguey sharp fellow-and he set about scenting her out.  I gave him a large sum, and promised him more if successful.  Here, then, after a long and tedious search-I have no doubt the fellow earned his money-is what he got from New York, this morning.”  The Hon. Mr. Snivel, fixing his eye steadily upon her, hands her a letter which reads thus: 

“New York, Dec. 14th, 18-.

“Last night, while making search after a habitant of the Points, a odd old chip what has wandered about here for some years, some think he has bin a better sort of man once, I struck across the woman you want.  She is somewhere tucked away in a Cow Bay garret, and is awful crazy; I’ll keep me eye out till somethin’ further.  If her friends wants to give her a lift out of this place, they’d better come and see me at once.

“Yours, as ever,

“M.  Fitzgerald.”

Mr. Snivel ogles Madame Montford over the page of a book he affects to read.  “Guilt! deep and strong,” he says within himself, as Madame, with flushed countenance and trembling hand, ponders and ponders over the paper.  Then her emotions quicken, her eyes exchange glances with Mr. Snivel, and she whispers, with a sigh, “found-at last!  And yet how foolish of me to give way to my feelings?  The affair, at best, is none of mine.”  Mr. Snivel bows, and curls his Saxon mustache.  “To do good for others is the natural quality of a generous nature.”

Madame, somewhat relieved by this condescension of the Hon. gentleman, says, in reply, “I am curious at solving family affairs.”

“And I!” says our hero, with refreshing coolness—­“always ready to do a bit of a good turn.”

Madame pauses, as if in doubt whether to proceed or qualify what she has already said.  “A relative, whose happiness I make my own,” she resumes, and again pauses, while the words tremble upon her lips.  She hears the words knelling in her ears:  “A guilty conscience needs no betrayer.”

“You have,” pursues our hero, “a certain clue; and of that I may congratulate you.”

Madame says she will prepare at once to return to her home in New York, and-and here again the words hang upon her lips.  She was going to say, her future proceedings would be governed by the paper she holds so nervously in her fingers.

Snivel here receives a nostrum from the lady’s purse.  “Truly,!—­Madame,” he says, in taking leave of her, “the St. Cecilia will regret you-we shall all regret you; you honored and graced our assemblies so.  Our first families will part with you reluctantly.  It may, however, be some satisfaction to know how many kind things will be said of you in your absence.”  Mr. Snivel makes his last bow, a sarcastic smile playing over his face, and passes into the street.