or in at the whim or convenience of the
owner.

As I had use for the dark shadows cast by these pictures, I pulled
them both out, and made such other arrangements as appeared likely to
facilitate the purpose I had in view; then I sat down and waited for the
two gentlemen who were expected to come in together.

They arrived almost immediately, whereupon I rose and played my part
with all necessary discretion. While ridding Mr. T---- of his overcoat,
I stole a look at his face. It is not a handsome one, but it boasts of
a gay, devil-may-care expression which doubtless makes it dangerous to
many women, while his manners are especially attractive, and his voice
the richest and most persuasive that I ever heard. I contrasted him,
almost against my will, with Dr. Zabriskie, and decided that with most
women the former's undoubted fascinations of speech and bearing would
outweigh the latter's great beauty and mental endowments; but I doubted
if they would with her.

The conversation which immediately began was brilliant but desultory,
for Mr. Smithers, with an airy lightness for which he is remarkable,
introduced topic after topic, perhaps for the purpose of showing off Mr.
T-'s versatility, and perhaps for the deeper and more sinister purpose
of shaking the kaleidoscope of talk so thoroughly, that the real topic
which we were met to discuss should not make an undue impression on the
mind of his guest.

Meanwhile one, two, three bottles passed, and I had the pleasure
of seeing Joe Smithers's eye grow calmer and that of Mr. T---- more
brilliant and more uncertain. As the last bottle was being passed, Joe
cast me a meaning glance, and the real business of the evening began.

I shall not attempt to relate the half dozen failures which Joe made in
endeavouring to elicit the facts we were in search of, without arousing
the suspicion of his visitor. I am only going to relate the successful
attempt. They had been talking now for some hours, and I, who had long
before been waved aside from their immediate presence, was hiding my
curiosity and growing excitement behind one of the pictures, when I
suddenly heard Joe say:

"He has the most remarkable memory I ever met. He can tell to a day when
any notable event occurred."

"Pshaw!" answered his companion, who, by the way, was known to pride
himself upon his own memory for dates, "I can state where I went and
what I did on every day in the year. That may not embrace what you call