ow and who would take the trouble to inspect
his room when he was out, which occurred every day between ten in the
morning and six in the afternoon, and more often between six in the
afternoon and ten the next morning. The slight additional information
she possessed came from the former lodger's letter, which stated that
the bearer, Mr. Norvic Bing, was a native of Denmark, that he was
visiting America for the first time, and that, desiring a place where
he could live in complete retirement, the writer had recommended Miss
Buffum's house.

As to who he was in his own country--and he certainly must have been
some one of importance, judging from his appearance--and what the
nature of his business, these things did not concern the dear lady in
the least. He was courteous, treated her with marked respect, was
exceedingly agreeable, and had insisted--and this she stated was the
one particular thing that endeared him to her--had insisted on paying
his board a MONTH IN ADVANCE, instead of waiting until the thirty days
had elapsed. His excuse for this unheard-of idiosyncrasy was that he
might some day be suddenly called away, too suddenly even to notify her
of his departure, and that he did not want either his belongings or his
landlady's mind disturbed during his absence.

Miss Buffum's summing up of Bing's courtesy and affability was shared
by every one at my end of the table, although some of them differed as
regarded his origin and occupation.

"Looks more like an Englishman than a Dane," said the bank clerk;
"although I don't know any Danes. But he's a daisy, anyhow, and ought
to have his salary raised for being so jolly."

"I don't agree with you," rejoined the professor. "He is unquestionably
a Scandinavian--you can see that in the high cheekbones and flat nose.
He is evidently studying our people with a view of writing a book.
Nothing else would persuade a man of his parts to live here. I lived in
just such a place the winter I spent in Dresden. You want to get close
to the people when you study their peculiarities. But whoever he is, or
wherever he comes from, he is a most delightful gentleman--perfectly
simple, and so sincere that it is a pleasure to hear him talk."

As for myself, I am ashamed to say that I did not agree with either the
bank clerk or the professor. Although I admitted Mr. Bing's wide
experience of men and affairs, and his marvellous powers of
conversation, I could not divest myself of the convic