of the servants, who was standing at the door. 'Does Captain
Thorn live here?' I asked him.

"'Mr. Westleby lives here,' said he; 'I don't know any Captain Thorn.'

"Then that's his name, thought I to myself. 'A youngish man, isn't he?'
said I, 'very smart, with a pretty wife?'

"'I don't know what you call youngish,' he laughed, 'my master's turned
sixty, and his wife's as old.'

"That checked me. 'Perhaps he has sons?' I asked.

"'Not any,' the man answered; 'there's nobody but their two selves.'

"So, with that, I told him what I wanted--that a lady and gentleman had
alighted there in a cab that day, and I wished to know his name. Well,
Mr. Carlyle, I could get at nothing satisfactory; the fellow said that a
great many had called there that day, for his master was just up from a
long illness, and people came to see him."

"Is that all, Richard?"

"All! I wish it had been all. I kept looking about for him in all the
best streets; I was half mad--"

"Do you not wonder, if he is in this position of life, and resides in
London, that you have never dropped upon him previously?" interrupted
Mr. Carlyle.

"No, sir; and I'll tell you why. I have been afraid to show myself in
those latter parts of the town, fearing I might meet with some one I
used to know at home, who would recognize me, so I have kept mostly in
obscure places--stables and such like. I had gone up to the West End
this day on a matter of business."

"Well, go on with your story."

"In a week's time I came upon him again. It was at night. He was coming
out of one of the theatres, and I went up and stood before him."

"'What do you want, fellow?' he asked. 'I have seen you watching me
before this.'

"'I want to know your name,' I said, 'that's enough for me at present.'

"He flew into a passion, and swore that if ever he caught sight of me
near him again he would hand me over into custody. 'And remember, men
are not given into custody for _watching_ others,' he significantly
added. 'I know you, and if you have any regard for yourself, you'll keep
out of my way.'

"He had got into a private carriage as he spoke, and it drove away; I
could see that it had a great coat-of-arms upon it."

"When do you say this was?"

"A week ago. Well, I could not rest; I was half mad, I say, and went
about, still trying if I could not discover his name and who he was.
I did come upon him, but he was walking quickly, arm-in-arm with--with
another gentleman.