yet he could not help a fancy that some one was groping his way up the staircase outside.

"It's only the boards creaking, or the pipes leaking through," he thought. "I must have the place done up. But I'm as nervous as a cat to-night."

The steps were nearer and nearer—they stopped at the door—there was a loud commanding blow on the panels.

"Who's here at this time of night?" cried Leander, aloud. "Come in, if you want to!"

But the door remained shut, and there came another rap, even more imperious.

"I shall go mad if this goes on!" he muttered, and making a desperate rush to the door, threw it wide open, and then staggered back panic-stricken.

Upon the threshold stood a tall figure in classical[Pg 48] drapery. His eyes might have deceived him in the omnibus; but here, in the crude gaslight, he could not be mistaken. It was the statue he had last seen in Rosherwich Gardens—now, in some strange and wondrous way, moving—alive![Pg 50][Pg 49]

[Pg 48]

[Pg 50]

[Pg 49]

[Pg 51]

[Pg 51]

[Pg 52]

[Pg 52]

A DISTINGUISHED STRANGER

III.

 "How could it be a dream? Yet there She stood, the moveless image fair!"  The Earthly Paradise. 

"How could it be a dream? Yet there

She stood, the moveless image fair!"

The Earthly Paradise.

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