CHAPTER IV.
THE BARONESS HELENA Woman is seldom merciful to the man who is timid.
-- _Edward Bulwer Lytton_.
There was one of our dim street lights at a central corner on old Pennsylvania Avenue, and under it, after a long walk, I paused for a glance at the inscription on my sealed document.

I had not looked at it before in the confusion of my somewhat hurried mental processes.

In addition to the name and street number, in Calhoun's writing, I read this memorandum: "Knock at the third door in the second block beyond M Street" I recalled the nearest cross street; but I must confess the direction still seemed somewhat cryptic.

Puzzled, I stood under the lamp, shielding the face of the note under my cloak to keep off the rain, as I studied it.
The sound of wheels behind me on the muddy pavement called my attention, and I looked about.

A carriage came swinging up to the curb where I stood.