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take you through the present narrative； without sooner or later
disclosing the one weakness （amiable weakness） of the gayest and
brightest and best…preserved man of his time。
Ah； I am now treading on egg…shells； I know！ The English specter called
Propriety springs up rampant on my writing…table； and whispers furiously
in my ear； 〃Madame Pratolungo； raise a blush on the cheek of Innocence；
and it is all over from that moment with you and your story。〃 Oh；
inflammable Cheek of Innocence； be good…natured for once； and I will rack
my brains to try if I can put it to you without offense！ May I picture
good Papa as an elder in the Temple of Venus； burning incense
inexhaustibly on the altar of love？ No： Temple of Venus is Pagan； altar
of love is not propertake them out。 Let me only say of my evergreen
parent that his life from youth to age had been one unintermitting
recognition of the charms of the sex； and that my sisters and I （being of
the sex） could not find it in our hearts to abandon him on that account。
So handsome； so affectionate； so sweet…tempered； with only one faultand
that a compliment to the women； who naturally adored him in return！ We
accepted our destiny。 For years past （since the death of Mamma）； we
accustomed ourselves to live in perpetual dread of his marrying some one
of the hundreds of unscrupulous hussies who took possession of him： and；
worse if possible than that； of his fighting duels about them with men
young enough to be his grandsons。 Papa was so susceptible！ Papa was so
brave！ Over and over again； I had been summoned to interfere； as the
daughter who had the strongest influence over him。 I had succeeded in
effecting his rescue； now by one means； and now by another； ending
always； however； in the same sad way； by the sacrifice of money for
damageson which damages； when the woman is shameless enough to claim
them； my verdict is； 〃Serve her right！〃
On the present occasion； it was the old story over again。 My sisters had
done their best to stop it； and had failed。 I had no choice but to appear
on the sceneto begin； perhaps； by boxing her ears： to end； certainly；
by filling her pockets。
My absence at this time was something more than an annoyanceit was a
downright grief to my blind Lucilla。 On the morning of my departure； she
clung to me as if she was determined not to let me go。
〃What shall I do without you？〃 she said。 〃It is hard； in these dreary
days； to lose the comfort of hearing your voice。 I shall feel all my
security gone； when I feel you no longer near me。 How many days shall you
be away？〃
〃A day to get to Paris；〃 I answered； 〃and a day to get backtwo。 Five
days （if I can do it in the time） to thunder…strike the hussy； and to
rescue Papaseven。 Let us say； if possible； a week。〃
〃You must be back； no matter what happen； before the new year。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I have my yearly visit to pay to my aunt。 It has been twice put off。 I
must absolutely go to London on the last day of the old year； and stay
there my allotted three months in Miss Batchford's house。 I had hoped to
be Oscar's wife before the time came round again〃 she waited a moment
to steady her voice。 〃That is all over now。 We must be parted。 If I can't
leave you here to console him and to take care of him； come what may of
itI shall stay at Dimchurch。〃
Her staying at Dimchurch； while she was still unmarried； meant （under the
terms of her uncle's will） sacrificing her fortune。 If Reverend Finch had
heard her； he would not even have been able to say 〃Inscrutable
Providence〃he would have lost his senses on the spot。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 I said； 〃I shall be back； Lucilla； before you go。
Besides； Oscar may get better。 He may be able to follow you to London；
and visit you at your aunt's。〃
She shook her head； with such a sad； sad doubt of it； that the tears came
into my eyes。 I gave her a last kissand hurried away。
My route was to Newhaven； and then across the Channel to Dieppe。 I don't
think I really knew how fond I had grown of Lucilla； until I lost sight
of the rectory at the turn in the road to Brighton。 My natural firmness
deserted me； I felt torturing presentiments that some great misfortune
would happen in my absence； I astonished myselfI； the widow of the
Spartan Pratolungo！by having a good cry； like any other woman。
Sooner or later； we susceptible people pay with the heartache for the
privilege of loving。 No matter： heartache or not； one must have something
to love in this world as long as one lives in it。 I have lived in
itnever mind how many yearsand I have got Lucilla。 Before Lucilla I
had the Doctor。 Before the Doctorah； my friends； we won't look back
beyond the Doctor！
CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH
Second Result of the Robbery
THE history of my proceedings in Paris can be dismissed in a very few
words。 It is only necessary to dwell in detail on one among the many
particulars which connect themselves in my memory with the rescue of good
Papa。
The affair； this time； assumed the gravest possible aspect。 The venerable
victim had gone the length of renewing his youth； in respect of his
teeth； his hair； his complexion； and his figure （this last involving the
purchase of a pair of stays）。 I declare I hardly knew him again； he was
so outrageously and unnaturally young。 The utmost stretch of my influence
was exerted over him in vain。 He embraced me with the most touching
fervour； he expressed the noblest sentimentsbut in the matter of his
contemplated marriage； he was immovable。 Life was only tolerable to him
on one condition。 The beloved object； or deathsuch was the programme of
this volcanic old man。
To make the prospect more hopeless still； the beloved object proved； on
this occasion； to be a bold enough woman to play her trump card at
starting。
I give the jade her due。 She assumed a perfectly unassailable attitude：
we had her full permission to break off the matchif we could。 〃I refer
you to your father。 Pray understand that I don't wish to marry him； if
his daughters object to it。 He has only to say； 'Release me。' From that
moment he is free。〃 There was no contending against such a system of
defence as this。 We knew as well as she did that our fascinated parent
would not say the word。 Our one chance was to spend money in
investigating the antecedent indiscretions of the lady's life； and to
produce against her proof so indisputable that not even an old man's
infatuation could say； This is a lie。
We disbursed； we investigated； we secured our proof。 It took a fortnight。
At the end of that time； we had the necessary materials in hand for
opening the eyes of good Papa。
In the course of the inquiry I was brought into contact with many strange
peopleamong others； with a man who startled me； at our first interview；
by presenting a personal deformity； which； with all my experience of the
world； I now saw oddly enough for the first time。
The man's face； instead of exhibiting any of the usual shades of
complexion； was hideously distinguished by a superhumanI had almost
said a devilishcolouring of livid blackish _blue！_ He proved to be a
most kind； intelligent； and serviceable person。 But when we first
confronted each other； his horrible color so startled me； that I could
not repress a cry of alarm。 He not only passed over my involuntary act of
rudeness in the most indulgent mannerhe explained to me the cause which
had produced his peculiarity of complexion； so as to put me at my ease
before we entered on the delicate private inquiry which had brought us
together。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said this unfortunate man； 〃for not having warned
you of my disfigurement； before I entered the room。 There are hundreds of
people discolored as I am； in the various parts of the civilized world；
and I supposed that you had met； in the course of your experience； with
other examples of my case。 The blue tinge in my complexion is produced by
the effect on the blood of Nitrate of Silvertaken internally。 It is the
only medicine which relieves sufferers like me from an otherwise
incurable malady。 We have no alternative but to accept the consequences
for the sake of the cure。〃
He did not mention what his malady had been； and I abstained； it is
needless to say； from questioning him further。 I got used to his
disfigurement in the course of my relations with him； and I should no
doubt have forgotten my blue man in attending to more absorbing matters
of interest； if the effects of Nitrate of Silver as a medicine had not
been once more unexpectedly forced on my attention； in another quarter；
and under circumstances which surprised me in no ordinary degree。
Having saved Papa on the brink oflet us say； his twentieth precipice；
it was next necessary to stay a few days longer and reconcile him to the
hardship of being rescued in spite of himself。 You would have been
greatly shocked； if you had seen how he suffered。 He gnashed his
expensive teeth； he tore his beautifully manufactured hair。 In the
fervour of his emotions； I have no doubt he would have burst his new
staysif I had not taken them away； and sold them half…price； and made
（to that small extent） a profit out of our calamity to set against the
loss。 Do what one may in th