"
In fact, I did not care to trust Walkirk with this affair. It was plain
that he did not thoroughly sympathize with me in the project. I was
afraid he might make a blunder, or in some way fail me. Any way, this
was a matter which I wished to attend to myself.
XLI.
MISS LANISTON.
At eight o'clock that evening I was at the house of Miss Laniston. The
lady was at home, and received me. She advanced with both hands
extended.
"Truly," she cried, "this is the most charming instance of masculine
forgiveness I have ever witnessed."
I took one of her hands; this much for the sake of policy. "Madam," I
said, "I am not thinking of forgiveness, or unforgiveness. I am here to
ask a favor; and if you grant it, I am willing that it shall
counterbalance everything between us which suggests forgiveness."
"Dear me!" she exclaimed, leading the way to a sofa. "Sit down, and let
me know my opportunities."
I did not want to sit down, but, as I said before, I felt that I must be
politic, and so took a seat on the other end of the sofa.
"My errand is a very simple one," I said. "I merely want to know the
address of Mother Anastasia, in Washington."
The lady folded her hands in her lap, and looked at me steadily.
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