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that nothing of mere effrontery was perceptible； and my sole
sentiments were those of admiration and surprise。
I observed that； upon her first elevation of the glass； she had
seemed satisfied with a momentary inspection of my person； and was
withdrawing the instrument； when； as if struck by a second thought；
she resumed it； and so continued to regard me with fixed attention
for the space of several minutes for five minutes； at the very
least； I am sure。
This action； so remarkable in an American theatre； attracted very
general observation； and gave rise to an indefinite movement； or
buzz； among the audience； which for a moment filled me with
confusion； but produced no visible effect upon the countenance of
Madame Lalande。
Having satisfied her curiosity if such it was she dropped the
glass； and quietly gave her attention again to the stage； her profile
now being turned toward myself； as before。 I continued to watch her
unremittingly； although I was fully conscious of my rudeness in so
doing。 Presently I saw the head slowly and slightly change its
position； and soon I became convinced that the lady； while pretending
to look at the stage was； in fact； attentively regarding myself。 It
is needless to say what effect this conduct； on the part of so
fascinating a woman； had upon my excitable mind。
Having thus scrutinized me for perhaps a quarter of an hour； the fair
object of my passion addressed the gentleman who attended her； and
while she spoke； I saw distinctly； by the glances of both； that the
conversation had reference to myself。
Upon its conclusion； Madame Lalande again turned toward the stage；
and； for a few minutes； seemed absorbed in the performance。 At the
expiration of this period； however； I was thrown into an extremity of
agitation by seeing her unfold； for the second time； the eye…glass
which hung at her side； fully confront me as before； and；
disregarding the renewed buzz of the audience； survey me； from head
to foot； with the same miraculous composure which had previously so
delighted and confounded my soul。
This extraordinary behavior； by throwing me into a perfect fever of
excitement into an absolute delirium of love…served rather to
embolden than to disconcert me。 In the mad intensity of my devotion；
I forgot everything but the presence and the majestic loveliness of
the vision which confronted my gaze。 Watching my opportunity； when I
thought the audience were fully engaged with the opera； I at length
caught the eyes of Madame Lalande； and； upon the instant； made a
slight but unmistakable bow。
She blushed very deeply then averted her eyes then slowly and
cautiously looked around； apparently to see if my rash action had
been noticed then leaned over toward the gentleman who sat by her
side。
I now felt a burning sense of the impropriety I had committed； and
expected nothing less than instant exposure； while a vision of
pistols upon the morrow floated rapidly and uncomfortably through my
brain。 I was greatly and immediately relieved； however； when I saw
the lady merely hand the gentleman a play…bill； without speaking； but
the reader may form some feeble conception of my astonishment of
my profound amazement my delirious bewilderment of heart and soul
when； instantly afterward； having again glanced furtively around；
she allowed her bright eyes to set fully and steadily upon my own；
and then； with a faint smile； disclosing a bright line of her pearly
teeth； made two distinct； pointed； and unequivocal affirmative
inclinations of the head。
It is useless； of course； to dwell upon my joy upon my transport…
upon my illimitable ecstasy of heart。 If ever man was mad with excess
of happiness； it was myself at that moment。 I loved。 This was my
first love so I felt it to be。 It was love supreme…indescribable。
It was 〃love at first sight；〃 and at first sight； too； it had been
appreciated and returned。
Yes； returned。 How and why should I doubt it for an instant。 What
other construction could I possibly put upon such conduct； on the
part of a lady so beautiful so wealthy evidently so
accomplished of so high breeding of so lofty a position in
society in every regard so entirely respectable as I felt assured
was Madame Lalande？ Yes； she loved me she returned the enthusiasm
of my love； with an enthusiasm as blind as uncompromising as
uncalculating as abandoned and as utterly unbounded as my own！
These delicious fancies and reflections； however； were now
interrupted by the falling of the drop…curtain。 The audience arose；
and the usual tumult immediately supervened。 Quitting Talbot
abruptly； I made every effort to force my way into closer proximity
with Madame Lalande。 Having failed in this； on account of the crowd；
I at length gave up the chase； and bent my steps homeward； consoling
myself for my disappointment in not having been able to touch even
the hem of her robe； by the reflection that I should be introduced by
Talbot； in due form； upon the morrow。
This morrow at last came； that is to say； a day finally dawned upon a
long and weary night of impatience； and then the hours until 〃one〃
were snail…paced； dreary； and innumerable。 But even Stamboul； it is
said； shall have an end； and there came an end to this long delay。
The clock struck。 As the last echo ceased； I stepped into B's and
inquired for Talbot。
〃Out；〃 said the footman Talbot's own。
〃Out！〃 I replied； staggering back half a dozen paces 〃let me tell
you； my fine fellow； that this thing is thoroughly impossible and
impracticable； Mr。 Talbot is not out。 What do you mean？〃
〃Nothing； sir； only Mr。 Talbot is not in； that's all。 He rode over to
S； immediately after breakfast； and left word that he would not be
in town again for a week。〃
I stood petrified with horror and rage。 I endeavored to reply； but my
tongue refused its office。 At length I turned on my heel； livid with
wrath； and inwardly consigning the whole tribe of the Talbots to the
innermost regions of Erebus。 It was evident that my considerate
friend； il fanatico； had quite forgotten his appointment with myself
had forgotten it as soon as it was made。 At no time was he a very
scrupulous man of his word。 There was no help for it； so smothering
my vexation as well as I could； I strolled moodily up the street；
propounding futile inquiries about Madame Lalande to every male
acquaintance I met。 By report she was known； I found； to all… to many
by sight but she had been in town only a few weeks； and there were
very few； therefore； who claimed her personal acquaintance。 These
few； being still comparatively strangers； could not； or would not；
take the liberty of introducing me through the formality of a morning
call。 While I stood thus in despair； conversing with a trio of
friends upon the all absorbing subject of my heart； it so happened
that the subject itself passed by。
〃As I live； there she is！〃 cried one。
〃Surprisingly beautiful！〃 exclaimed a second。
〃An angel upon earth！〃 ejaculated a third。
I looked； and in an open carriage which approached us； passing slowly
down the street； sat the enchanting vision of the opera； accompanied
by the younger lady who