Do you mean to say she did not show any surprise ?" "Well, now I come to think, she did show something; maybe it was surprise; I hadn't thought of that--I took it for gratification." "Oh, undoubtedly you were right; it must have been gratification; it could not be otherwise than gratifying to be assaulted by a stranger with such a question as that.

Then what did you do ?" "I offered my hand and the party gave me a shake." "I saw it! I did not believe my own eyes, at the time.

Did the gentleman say anything about cutting your throat ?" "No, they all seemed glad to see me, as far as I could judge." "And do you know, I believe they were.

I think they said to themselves, 'Doubtless this curiosity has got away from his keeper--let us amuse ourselves with him.' There is no other way of accounting for their facile docility.

You sat down.