n answering this
question, she always stammered, trembled, and looked away from me. "How
could she suspect anything? If she did suspect, it would be very wrong
without good reason: but she ought not to suspect, and did not, of
course."

I never obtained any replies from her more intelligible than these.
Attributing their confusion to the nervous agitation which more or less
affected her when she spoke on any subject, I soon ceased making any
efforts to induce her to explain herself; and determined to search for
the clue to Mr. Mannion's character, without seeking assistance from any
one.

Accident at length gave me an opportunity of knowing something of his
habits and opinions; and so far, therefore, of knowing something about
the man himself.

One night, I met him in the hall at North Villa, about to leave the
house at the same time that I was, after a business-consultation in
private with Mr. Sherwin. We went out together. The sky was unusually
black; the night atmosphere unusually oppressive and still. The roll
of distant thunder sounded faint and dreary all about us. The sheet
lightning, flashing quick and low in the horizon, made the dark
firmament look like a thick veil, rising and falling incessantly, over
a heaven of dazzling light behind it. Such few foot-passengers as passed
us, passed running--for heavy, warning drops were falling already from
the sky. We quickened our pace; but before we had walked more than
two hundred yards, the rain came down, furious and drenching; and the
thunder began to peal fearfully, right over our heads.

"My house is close by," said my companion, just as quietly and
deliberately as usual--"pray step in, Sir, until the storm is over."

I followed him down a bye street; he opened a door with his own key; and
the next instant I was sheltered under Mr. Mannion's roof.

He led me at once into a room on the ground floor. The fire was blazing
in the grate; an arm-chair, with a reading easel attached, was placed by
it; the lamp was ready lit; the tea-things were placed on the table;
the dark, thick curtains were drawn close over the window; and, as if to
complete the picture of comfort before me, a large black cat lay on the
rug, basking luxuriously in the heat of the fire. While Mr. Mannion
went out to give some directions, as he said, to his servant, I had
an opportunity of examining the apartment more in detail. To study the
appearance of a man's dwelling-room, is very often nea