Page:The Sins of the Cities of the Plain.djvu/75

 "What; not pledge me?" she said, with an arch smile. "Pour me out a glass if you please, and hand the biscuits."

The blood rushed to my face, as I stammered out my excuse that I feared to take such a liberty.

"You will very likely have to come here pretty often, so pray make yourself quite at home. Here, I wish you every success in your business. Now, sir, drink, to me!" she said, raising the glass to her lips.

I did the same, wishing her ladyship every future happines [sic].

She pressed me to take a second glass, and then I proceeded to open out the rolls of silk for her inspection, and at the same time I felt a most extraordinary glow pervade my whole system,