The Argosy — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

236 THE ARGOSY. outward shape as the other dwellings about, a Georgian.monument to artistic imbecility, it was unlighted as its fellows ; silent as they were silent, gaunt as they were gaunt, a tower of ugliness to harbor the willing sleepers who lived in the damnable street. Save for a faint glow of light shining upon the ceiling of the hall—as you could observe through the skylight of the front door—there was no indication whatever that man or woman nioved in that abode of gloom. And yet I had seen a woman come out of it, had heard her cry for help, had watched her look up and down the street as though seeking a friend and ally of the night. Even the momentary glimpse I had of her permitted me to notice that she was dressed beyond the ordinary—a woman of majestic height, and, I felt instinctively, a young woman, for such her voice proclaimed her. Never was there a mystery so unlooked for, so inexplicable. I listened long for any sound in the house—-a moan of the wind answered me. I looked down the terrible street—its pavements glistened still with the rain of the earlier hours, but no living being trod them. Curiosity rooted me to the spot. I had the impulse to knock at the door and ask the woman if I could be of service to her. It may be that I should not have brought my courage to that point ; that I should have lighted another cigar and gone at length to my own house with curiosity still high strung. ‘Those are questions I need not answer, for I had been but a couple of minutes before the house when the door was opened for the second time, and the woman ran out almost into my arms. ; She wore a dress of gray silk with red at the shoulders—a gown that had the stamp of Paris and not of Bayswater upon it. Jewels glittered upon her pretty white neck and a tiara of diamonds flashed in the curls of her jet black hair. My surmise as to her height was confirmed when I found that she stood well above my shoulder—the shoulder of Noel Falconer, whom brother officers in the hussars used to call ‘‘length without breath.’’ But of her face I could see ncothing, for little white hands covered it and. checked the sobs which shook her. ‘That her distress was deep rooted I had no man- ner of doubt. Yet how she came there, dressed like that, at such an hour of morning, I knew no more than the dead. ‘‘Madam,’’ I said, stepping out of the shadows suddenly, ‘‘ you seem to be in some trouble na | She did not notice me upon the instant ; but I heard her say again and again in French which had the charm of a Southern accent : “Oh, my God! my God ! they have killed him.’’ I touched her upon the arm, for there was that in her voice which won my pity. | ‘“Madam,’’ I said, ‘‘ you are ill and have no business to be standing here. Even I am cold, and I wear a thick coat Ss She looked up at the words, and observed me for the first time. A more stately or noble creature I had never seen in all my life. And her voice did not lie to me. ‘The warm light of youth shone in her brilliant eyes, was painted upon her pretty lips and flushing face. I thought, then, that she was an Austrian, for nowhere out of Vienna had I come upon one who stood so - Eomicbooks (S(O)