d Marian's grandfather.

There was no change; the shop looked exactly the same as it had looked in
the lifetime of Jacob Nowell. There were the same old guineas in the
wooden bowl, the same tarnished tankards and teapots on view behind the
wire-guarded glass, the same obscure hints of untold riches within, in
the general aspect of the place.

Mr. Tulliver darted forward from his usual lurking-place as Gilbert went
in at the door.

"O!" he exclaimed, with undisguised disappointment, "it's you, is it,
sir? I thought it was a customer."

"I am sorry to disappoint your expectation of profit. I have looked in to
ask you two or three questions, Mr. Tulliver; that is all."

"Any information in my power I'm sure I shall be happy to afford, sir.
Won't you be pleased to take a seat?"

"How long is it since you saw Mr. Nowell, your former employer's son?"
Gilbert asked, dropping into the chair indicated by the shopman, and
coming at once to the point.

Mr. Tulliver was somewhat startled by the question. That was evident,
though he was not a man who wore his heart upon his sleeve.

"How long is it since I've seen Mr. Nowell--Mr. Percival Nowell, sir?" he
repeated, staring thoughtfully at his questioner.

"Yes; you need not be afraid to speak freely to me; I know Mr. Nowell is
in London."

"Well, sir, I've not seen him often since his father's death."

Since his father's death! And according to Mr. Medler, Jacob Nowell's son
had only arrived in England after the old man's death;--or stay, the
lawyer had declared that he had been only aware of Percival's return
within the last two or three weeks. That was a different thing, of
course; yet was it likely this man could have returned, and his father's
lawyer have remained ignorant of his arrival?

Gilbert did not allow the faintest expression of surprise to appear on
his countenance.

"Not often since your master's death: but how often before?"

"Well, he used to come in pretty often before the old man died; but they
were both of 'em precious close. Mr. Percival never let out that he was
my master's son, but I guessed as much before he'd been here many times."

"How was it that I never came across him?"

"Chance, I suppose; but he's a deep one. If you'd happened to come in
when he was here, I daresay he'd have contrived to slip away somehow
without your seeing him."

"When did he come here last?" asked Gilbert.

"About a fortnight ago. He came with Mr. Medler, the