no secret; or I should rather say it need be no secret
here,' said the stranger, observing that Mr Abel and the Notary were
preparing to retire. 'It relates to a dealer in curiosities with whom
he lived, and in whom I am earnestly and warmly interested. I have
been a stranger to this country, gentlemen, for very many years, and if
I am deficient in form and ceremony, I hope you will forgive me.'

'No forgiveness is necessary, sir;--none whatever,' replied the Notary.
And so said Mr Abel.

'I have been making inquiries in the neighbourhood in which his old
master lived,' said the stranger, 'and I learn that he was served by
this lad. I have found out his mother's house, and have been directed
by her to this place as the nearest in which I should be likely to find
him. That's the cause of my presenting myself here this morning.'

'I am very glad of any cause, sir,' said the Notary, 'which procures me
the honour of this visit.'

'Sir,' retorted the stranger, 'you speak like a mere man of the world,
and I think you something better. Therefore, pray do not sink your
real character in paying unmeaning compliments to me.'

'Hem!' coughed the Notary. 'You're a plain speaker, sir.'

'And a plain dealer,' returned the stranger. 'It may be my long
absence and inexperience that lead me to the conclusion; but if plain
speakers are scarce in this part of the world, I fancy plain dealers
are still scarcer. If my speaking should offend you, sir, my dealing,
I hope, will make amends.'

Mr Witherden seemed a little disconcerted by the elderly gentleman's
mode of conducting the dialogue; and as for Kit, he looked at him in
open-mouthed astonishment: wondering what kind of language he would
address to him, if he talked in that free and easy way to a Notary. It
was with no harshness, however, though with something of constitutional
irritability and haste, that he turned to Kit and said:

'If you think, my lad, that I am pursuing these inquiries with any
other view than that of serving and reclaiming those I am in search of,
you do me a very great wrong, and deceive yourself. Don't be deceived,
I beg of you, but rely upon my assurance. The fact is, gentlemen,' he
added, turning again to the Notary and his pupil, 'that I am in a very
painful and wholly unexpected position. I came to this city with a
darling object at my heart, expecting to find no obstacle or difficulty
in the way of its attainment. I find myself suddenly