"How 's that? I think I see," he added, after a moment's thought.
"Pity you spoke to him; may have created an unfavorable impression; and
everything depends upon your meeting without any distrust."

He rose and paced the floor.

"Well, we must move slowly, that is all. Give him a chance to see you in
other and better lights. Drop into the Hoffman House reading-room.
Talk with the best men you meet while there; but not too much, or too
indiscriminately. Mr. Clavering is fastidious, and will not feel honored
by the attentions of one who is hail-fellow-well-met with everybody.
Show yourself for what you are, and leave all advances to him; he 'll
make them."

"Supposing we are under a mistake, and the man I met on the corner of
Thirty-seventh Street was not Mr. Clavering?"

"I should be greatly surprised, that's all."

Not knowing what further objection to make, I remained silent.

"And this head of mine would have to put on its thinking-cap," he
pursued jovially.

"Mr. Gryce," I now said, anxious to show that all this talk about an
unknown party had not served to put my own plans from my mind, "there is
one person of whom we have not spoken."

"No?" he exclaimed softly, wheeling around until his broad back
confronted me. "And who may that be?"

"Why, who but Mr.--" I could get no further. What right had I to
mention any man's name in this connection, without possessing sufficient
evidence against him to make such mention justifiable? "I beg your
pardon," said I; "but I think I will hold to my first impulse, and speak
no names."

"Harwell?" he ejaculated easily.

The quick blush rising to my face gave an involuntary assent.

"I see no reason why we shouldn't speak of him," he went on; "that is,
if there is anything to be gained by it."

"His testimony at the inquest was honest, you think?"

"It has not been disproved."

"He is a peculiar man."

"And so am I."

I felt myself slightly nonplussed; and, conscious of appearing at a
disadvantage, lifted my hat from the table and prepared to take my
leave; but, suddenly thinking of Hannah, turned and asked if there was
any news of her.

He seemed to debate with himself, hesitating so long that I began to
doubt if this man intended to confide in me, after all, when suddenly he
brought his two hands down before him and exclaimed vehemently:

"The evil one himself is in this business! If the earth had opened and
swallowed up this girl, she couldn't have mor