"So he did, but he will not come again, soon."
"Yes. And that is not all I know. I know you left Mrs. De Vrai's last night about half-past nine o'clock, on your way home; that soon after you started you were overtaken by a stout-built gentleman, with black hair and black whiskers, who said, 'Good evening, Miss, how did you leave Mrs. De Vrai, this evening?'"
"Mercy on me, his exact words. Did you hear them? I am sure I did not see anybody else near us at the time."
"No, I did not hear him--was not in that part of the city."
"He has told you then. I am sure I never did."
"What then? why, then you answered, 'Oh, sir, are you acquainted with Mrs. De Vrai?'"
"So I did; why how strange that you should know it all."
"And then he began to talk to you about the danger of such a pretty girl going home alone--"
"Yes, sir, and then he offered me his arm; and, and, and I thought as he was a friend of Mrs. De Vrai's I might take it, and he said so many pretty things that----"
"That you were deceived by a villain, and----"
"Oh, sir, for mercy sake don't tell all before this dear good lady, she who saved my life last night. Don't tell all."
"Why, Agnes, I cannot tell all. How do you suppose I know all?"
"I don't know, sir, but I am sure you do. What is it makes you know it; is it what they call animal magnetism, or what is it? Are you a medium?"
"Yes, I hope so; a medium of glad tidings, that will bring great joy to the world. But not a spirit medium, as they are called."
"I don't know then how you know all about me, but I am sure you do."
"No, I do not; I never saw you but once before, in my life--never heard of you since except to hear your name mentioned once last night, and that you had been at Mrs. De Vrai's in the evening, and that that man followed you from there, and I guessed his wicked purpose."
"I know nothing more. I do not ask you either to tell more, yet I believe it would be a relief to you to tell it, and that it will be a burden off of your mind."
"Yes, yes, it will, it will; but I am afraid that you will not believe me, or that you will despise me, or laugh at me for being so simple, to be so deceived by a stranger; but then how could I tell that he was a bad man, and the streets so dark?"