as heavy with its first
disappointment and my brain on fire with the excitement of the work then
on my hands.

I arrived at the depot just as the train came in.

There was but one passenger for R----, a brisk young man, whose whole
appearance differed so from the description which had been given me of
_Q_ that I at once made up my mind he could not be the man I was looking
for, and was turning away disappointed, when he approached, and handed
me a card on which was inscribed the single character "?" Even then I
could not bring myself to believe that the slyest and most successful
agent in Mr. Gryce's employ was before me, till, catching his eye, I saw
such a keen, enjoyable twinkle sparkling in its depths that all doubt
fled, and, returning his bow with a show of satisfaction, I remarked:

"You are very punctual. I like that."

He gave another short, quick nod. "Glad, sir, to please you. Punctuality
is too cheap a virtue not to be practised by a man on the lookout for
a rise. But what orders, sir? Down train due in ten minutes; no time to
spare."

"Down train? What have we to do with that?"

"I thought you might wish to take it, sir. Mr. Brown"--winking
expressively at the name, "always checks his carpet-bag for home when he
sees me coming. But that is your affair; I am not particular."

"I wish to do what is wisest under the circumstances."

"Go home, then, as speedily as possible." And he gave a third sharp nod
exceedingly business-like and determined.

"If I leave you, it is with the understanding that you bring your
information first to me; that you are in my employ, and in that of no
one else for the time being; and that _mum_ is the word till I give you
liberty to speak."

"Yes, sir. When I work for Brown & Co. I do not work for Smith & Jones.
That you can count on."

"Very well then, here are your instructions."

He looked at the paper I handed him with a certain degree of care, then
stepped into the waiting-room and threw it into the stove, saying in
a low tone: "So much in case I should meet with some accident: have an
apoplectic fit, or anything of that sort."

"But----"

"Oh, don't worry; I sha'n't forget. _I've a._ memory, sir. No need of
anybody using pen and paper with me."

And laughing in the short, quick way one would expect from a person of
his appearance and conversation, he added: "You will probably hear from
me in a day or so," and bowing, took his brisk, free way down the street