It was with a feeling of triumph that Laura reached her hotel, a scornful feeling of victory over society with its own weapons.

Mrs. Hawkins shared not at all in this feeling; she was broken with the disgrace and the long anxiety.

“Thank God, Laura,” she said, “it is over.  Now we will go away from this hateful city.  Let us go home at once.”

“Mother,” replied Laura, speaking with some tenderness, “I cannot go with you.  There, don’t cry, I cannot go back to that life.”

Mrs. Hawkins was sobbing.  This was more cruel than anything else, for she had a dim notion of what it would be to leave Laura to herself.

“No, mother, you have been everything to me.  You know how dearly I love you.  But I cannot go back.”

A boy brought in a telegraphic despatch.  Laura took it and read: 

“The bill is lost.  Dilworthy ruined. (Signed) Washington.”

For a moment the words swam before her eyes.  The next her eyes flashed fire as she handed the dispatch to her m other and bitterly said,

“The world is against me.  Well, let it be, let it.  I am against it.”

“This is a cruel disappointment,” said Mrs. Hawkins, to whom one grief more or less did not much matter now, “to you and, Washington; but we must humbly bear it.”

“Bear it;” replied Laura scornfully, “I’ve all my life borne it, and fate has thwarted me at every step.”

A servant came to the door to say that there was a gentleman below who wished to speak with Miss Hawkins.  “J.  Adolphe Griller” was the name Laura read on the card.  “I do not know such a person.  He probably comes from Washington.  Send him up.”

Mr. Griller entered.  He was a small man, slovenly in dress, his tone confidential, his manner wholly void of animation, all his features below the forehead protruding—­particularly the apple of his throat—­hair without a kink in it, a hand with no grip, a meek, hang-dog countenance. a falsehood done in flesh and blood; for while every visible sign about him proclaimed him a poor, witless, useless weakling, the truth was that he had the brains to plan great enterprises and the pluck to carry them through.  That was his reputation, and it was a deserved one.  He softly said: 

“I called to see you on business, Miss Hawkins.  You have my card?”

Laura bowed.

Mr. Griller continued to purr, as softly as before.

“I will proceed to business.  I am a business man.  I am a lecture-agent, Miss Hawkins, and as soon as I saw that you were acquitted, it occurred to me that an early interview would be mutually beneficial.”

“I don’t understand you, sir,” said Laura coldly.

“No?  You see, Miss Hawkins, this is your opportunity.  If you will enter the lecture field under good auspices, you will carry everything before you.”

“But, sir, I never lectured, I haven’t any lecture, I don’t know anything about it.”