In a trice Mr. Bucket snaps a handcuff on her wrist.  “That’s one,” says Mr. Bucket.  “Now the other, darling.  Two, and all told!”

He rises; she rises too.  “Where,” she asks him, darkening her large eyes until their drooping lids almost conceal them—­and yet they stare, “where is your false, your treacherous, and cursed wife?”

“She’s gone forrard to the Police Office,” returns Mr. Bucket.  “You’ll see her there, my dear.”

“I would like to kiss her!” exclaims Mademoiselle Hortense, panting tigress-like.

“You’d bite her, I suspect,” says Mr. Bucket.

“I would!” making her eyes very large.  “I would love to tear her limb from limb.”

“Bless you, darling,” says Mr. Bucket with the greatest composure, “I’m fully prepared to hear that.  Your sex have such a surprising animosity against one another when you do differ.  You don’t mind me half so much, do you?”

“No.  Though you are a devil still.”

“Angel and devil by turns, eh?” cries Mr. Bucket.  “But I am in my regular employment, you must consider.  Let me put your shawl tidy.  I’ve been lady’s maid to a good many before now.  Anything wanting to the bonnet?  There’s a cab at the door.”

Mademoiselle Hortense, casting an indignant eye at the glass, shakes herself perfectly neat in one shake and looks, to do her justice, uncommonly genteel.

“Listen then, my angel,” says she after several sarcastic nods.  “You are very spiritual.  But can you restore him back to life?”

Mr. Bucket answers, “Not exactly.”

“That is droll.  Listen yet one time.  You are very spiritual.  Can you make a honourable lady of her?”

“Don’t be so malicious,” says Mr. Bucket.

“Or a haughty gentleman of him?” cries mademoiselle, referring to Sir Leicester with ineffable disdain.  “Eh!  Oh, then regard him!  The poor infant!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!”

“Come, come, why this is worse PARLAYING than the other,” says Mr. Bucket.  “Come along!”

“You cannot do these things?  Then you can do as you please with me.  It is but the death, it is all the same.  Let us go, my angel.  Adieu, you old man, grey.  I pity you, and I despise you!”

With these last words she snaps her teeth together as if her mouth closed with a spring.  It is impossible to describe how Mr. Bucket gets her out, but he accomplishes that feat in a manner so peculiar to himself, enfolding and pervading her like a cloud, and hovering away with her as if he were a homely Jupiter and she the object of his affections.

Sir Leicester, left alone, remains in the same attitude, as though he were still listening and his attention were still occupied.  At length he gazes round the empty room, and finding it deserted, rises unsteadily to his feet, pushes back his chair, and walks a few steps, supporting himself by the table.  Then he stops, and with more of those inarticulate sounds, lifts up his eyes and seems to stare at something.