ld gentleman, I mean--died less than a year ago; Lord
Tillibody, her ladyship's brother, two months after; and then there was
the sad business about the young gentleman. Killed in the 'unting-fleld,
sir; and her ladyship's favourite. The present Mr. Norris has never been
so equally."

"So I have understood," said I persistently, and (I think) gracefully
pursuing my inquiries and fortifying my position as a family friend.
"Dear, dear, how sad! And has this change--poor Carthew's return, and
all--has this not mended matters?"

"Well, no, sir, not a sign of it," was the reply. "Worse, we think, than
ever."

"Dear, dear!" said I again.

"When Mr. Norris arrived she _did_ seem glad to see him," he pursued,
"and we were all pleased, I'm sure; for no one knows the young gentleman
but what likes him. Ah, sir, it didn't last long! That very night they
had a talk, and fell out or something; her ladyship took on most
painful: it was like old days, but worse. And the next morning Mr.
Norris was off again upon his travels. 'Denman,' he said to Mr. Denman,
'Denman, I'll never come back,' he said, and shook him by the 'and. I
wouldn't be saying all this to a stranger, sir," added my informant,
overcome with a sudden fear lest he had gone too far.

He had indeed told me much, and much that was unsuspected by himself. On
that stormy night of his return, Carthew had told his story; the old
lady had more upon her mind than mere bereavements; and among the mental
pictures on which she looked, as she walked staring down the path, was
one of Midway Island and the _Flying Scud_.

Mr. Denman heard my inquiries with discomposure, but informed me the
shyster was already gone.

"Gone?" cried I. "Then what can he have come for? One thing I can tell
you, it was not to see the house."

"I don't see it could have been anything else," replied the butler.

"You may depend upon it, it was," said I. "And whatever it was, he has
got it.--By the way, where is Mr. Carthew at present? I was sorry to
find he was from home."

"He is engaged in travelling, sir," replied the butler drily.

"Ah, bravo!" cried I. "I laid a trap for you there, Mr. Denman. Now I
need not ask you; I am sure you did not tell this prying stranger."

"To be sure not, sir," said the butler.

I went through the form of "shaking him by the 'and"--like Mr.
Norris--not, however, with genuine enthusiasm. For I had failed
ingloriously to get the address for myself; and I felt a