point him out, Sir?' asked Mervyn, a little less sternly, for
he saw no traces of a guilty knowledge in the severe countenance and
prompt, unembarrassed manner of the gentleman who leaned back in his
chair, with the clear bright light full on him, and his leg crossed so
carelessly.

Dangerfield smiled, shook his head gently, and shrugged his shoulders
the least thing in the world.

'Don't you know him, Sir?' demanded Mervyn.

'Why,' said Dangerfield, with his chin a little elevated, and the tips
of his fingers all brought together, and his elbows resting easily upon
the arms of his chair, and altogether an involuntary air of hauteur,
'Charles Archer, perhaps you're not aware, was not exactly the most
reputable acquaintance in the world; and my knowledge of him was very
slight indeed--wholly accidental--and of very short duration.'

'May I ask you, if, without leaving this town, you can lay your finger
on him, Sir?'

'Why, not conveniently,' answered Dangerfield, with the same air of
cynical amusement. ''Twould reach in that case all the way to Florence,
and even then we should gain little by the discovery.'

'But you do know him?' pursued Mervyn.

'_I did_, Sir, though very slightly,' answered Dangerfield.

'And I'm given to understand, Sir, he's to be found occasionally in this
town?' continued his visitor.

'There's just one man who sees him, and that's the parish clerk--what's
his name?--Zekiel Irons--he sees him. Suppose we send down to his house,
and fetch him here, and learn all about it?' said Dangerfield, who
seemed mightily tickled by the whole thing.

'He left the town, Sir, last night; and I've reason to suspect, with a
resolution of returning no more. And I must speak plainly, Mr.
Dangerfield, 'tis no subject for trifling--the fame and fortune of a
noble family depend on searching out the truth; and I'll lose my life,
Sir, or I'll discover it.'

Still the old cynical, quizzical smile on Dangerfield's white face, who
said encouragingly--

'Nobly resolved, Sir, upon my honour!'

'And Mr. Dangerfield, if you'll only lay yourself out to help me, with
your great knowledge and subtlety--disclosing everything you know or
conjecture, and putting me in train to discover the rest--so that I may
fully clear this dreadful mystery up--there is no sacrifice of fortune I
will not cheerfully make to recompense such immense services, and you
may name with confidence your own terms, and think nothing exorbita