Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 7, 1895 - Tales and Fantasies, Volume II

THE SQUIRE OF DAMES
gingerly, as fearing to increase her terrors ; but,
tread as lightly as he might, his footfalls eloquently
echoed in the empty street. Their sound appeared
to strike in her some strong emotion ; for scarce
had he begun to follow ere she paused. A second
time she addressed herself to flight ; and a second
time she paused. Then she turned about, and, with
doubtful steps and the most attractive appearance of
timidity, drew near to the young man. He on his
side continued to advance with similar signals of
distress and bashfulness. At length, when they
were but some steps apart, he saw her eyes brim
over, and she reached out both her hands in eloquent
appeal.
' Are you an English gentleman ? ' she cried.
The unhappy Challoner regarded her with con-
sternation. He was the spirit of fine courtesy, and
would have blushed to fail in his devoirs to any lady ;
but, in the other scale, he was a man averse from
amorous adventures. He looked east and west ; but
the houses that looked down upon this interview
remained inexorably shut ; and he saw himself,
though in the full glare of the day's eye, cut off
from any human intervention. His looks returned
at last upon the suppliant. He remarked with
irritation that she was charming both in face and
figure, elegantly dressed and gloved : a lady undeni-
able ; the picture of distress and innocence ; weeping
and lost in the city of diurnal sleep.
' Madam,' he said, ' I protest you have no cause
to fear intrusion ; and if I have appeared to follow
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