MRS. S. Don't interrupt me. I had been in Paris about three weeks, when one evening on my return from the opera, I found a note on my dressing table, containing these words--"I have seen you, and to see you is to love you. I am young, tolerably handsome, and sufficiently rich, yet as I cannot presume to present myself to you until you permit me to do so, I shall venture to remind you from time to time that I am near you."
PEGGY. Well I'm sure, Mr. Impudence; and what was the fellow's name?
MRS. S. There was no name, but merely the initials C. R.
PEGGY. C. R. Samuel something or other I dare say--but he gave his address?
MRS. S. No; simply the words "Post Office, to be left till called for." Of course, I took no notice of it whatever, and had forgotten the circumstance altogether, when a month afterwards to the very day--the very hour--I was then at Florence, I received a second communication, couched in precisely the same words, and again subsequently at Venice, Naples, and Milan.
PEGGY. Dear, dear, it's as good as a play! Then you never took any notice of the fellow at all?
MRS. S. Yes; a circumstance, the bare recollection of which makes me shudder even at this lapse of time, compelled me to break through the silence I had hitherto imposed upon myself: in travelling through Switzerland, on my return to England, the carriage which I occupied was one night placed in imminent peril by the restiveness of one of the horses; fortunately, I was asleep, and was not aware of my danger till I was assured of my safety--within a few feet of a fearful precipice, the traces had been cut, by a man who had evidently followed me, judge then of my astonishment when a voice uttered these words in my ear, "You see, madam, I have kept my promise, I am _still near you._"
PEGGY. Well, he was a fine brave gentleman, whoever he was; and what was he like--eh?
MRS. S. He had disappeared before I could even thank him for his timely and generous assistance.
MRS. S. Well? (_hesitatingly_) his next letter, which reached me shortly after my return to England, did _not_ remain unanswered.
PEGGY. I should think not, indeed! and what did you say to Mr. C. R.?
MRS. S. The truth! that my hand was promised to my cousin, Percy Postlethwaite; that his father had once saved _mine_ from ruin, who made me promise, as the only means of testifying _his_ gratitude to the father, to marry the son.