His hair, as well as his beard and mustache, was coal-black; his eyes, too, were black and sparkling, and his teeth remarkably brilliant.He was rather carelessly but well and fashionably dressed, in a summer-morning costume.There was a gold chain, exquisitely wrought, across his vest.Inever saw a smoother or whiter gloss than that upon his shirt-bosom, which had a pin in it, set with a gem that glimmered, in the leafy shadow where he stood, like a living tip of fire.He carried a stick with a wooden head, carved in vivid imitation of that of a serpent.I hated him, partly, I do believe, from a comparison of my own homely garb with his well-ordered foppishness.
"Well, sir," said I, a little ashamed of my first irritation, but still with no waste of civility, "be pleased to speak at once, as I have my own business in hand.""I regret that my mode of addressing you was a little unfortunate," said the stranger, smiling; for he seemed a very acute sort of person, and saw, in some degree, how I stood affected towards him."I intended no offence, and shall certainly comport myself with due ceremony hereafter.
I merely wish to make a few inquiries respecting a lady, formerly of my acquaintance, who is now resident in your Community, and, I believe, largely concerned in your social enterprise.You call her, I think, Zenobia.""That is her name in literature," observed I; "a name, too, which possibly she may permit her private friends to know and address her by, --but not one which they feel at liberty to recognize when used of her personally by a stranger or casual acquaintance.""Indeed!" answered this disagreeable person; and he turned aside his face for an instant with a brief laugh, which struck me as a noteworthy expression of his character."Perhaps I might put forward a claim, on your own grounds, to call the lady by a name so appropriate to her splendid qualities.But I am willing to know her by any cognomen that you may suggest."Heartily wishing that he would be either a little more offensive, or a good deal less so, or break off our intercourse altogether, I mentioned Zenobia's real name.
"True," said he; "and in general society I have never heard her called otherwise.And, after all, our discussion of the point has been gratuitous.My object is only to inquire when, where, and how this lady may most conveniently be seen.""At her present residence, of course," I replied."You have but to go thither and ask for her.This very path will lead you within sight of the house; so I wish you good-morning.""One moment, if you please," said the stranger."The course you indicate would certainly be the proper one, in an ordinary morning call.But my business is private, personal, and somewhat peculiar.Now, in a community like this, I should judge that any little occurrence is likely to be discussed rather more minutely than would quite suit my views.Irefer solely to myself, you understand, and without intimating that it would be other than a matter of entire indifference to the lady.In short, I especially desire to see her in private.If her habits are such as I have known them, she is probably often to be met with in the woods, or by the river-side; and I think you could do me the favor to point out some favorite walk, where, about this hour, I might be fortunate enough to gain an interview."I reflected that it would be quite a supererogatory piece of Quixotism in me to undertake the guardianship of Zenobia, who, for my pains, would only make me the butt of endless ridicule, should the fact ever come to her knowledge.I therefore described a spot which, as often as any other, was Zenobia's resort at this period of the day; nor was it so remote from the farmhouse as to leave her in much peril, whatever might be the stranger's character.
