The very worst hotels in the world for handsome young ladies
who present themselves alone at the door without male escort, without a
maid in attendance, and without a single article of luggage. Dark as it
is, I think I could see a lady's box, if there was anything of the sort
in our immediate neighborhood."
"My box is at the cloak-room. What is to prevent my sending the ticket
for it?"
"Nothing--if you want to communicate your address by means of your
box--nothing whatever. Think; pray think! Do you really suppose that the
people who are looking for you are such fools as not to have an eye
on the cloakroom? Do you think they are such fools--when they find you
don't come to Mr. Huxtable's at eight to-night--as not to inquire at all
the hotels? Do you think a young lady of your striking appearance (even
if they consented to receive you) could take up her abode at an inn
without becoming the subject of universal curiosity and remark? Here is
night coming on as fast as it can. Don't let me bore you; only let me
ask once more--Where are you to sleep?"
There was no answer to that question: in Magdalen's position, there was
literally no answer to it on her side.
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