d and made their game; but
Brackenbury had lost interest in the guests.

"This Morris," thought he, "is no idler in the room. Some deep purpose
inspires him; let it be mine to fathom it."

Now and then Mr. Morris would call one of his visitors aside; and after
a brief colloquy in an ante-room, he would return alone, and the
visitors in question reappeared no more. After a certain number of
repetitions, this performance excited Brackenbury's curiosity to a high
degree. He determined to be at the bottom of this minor mystery at once;
and strolling into the ante-room, found a deep window recess concealed
by curtains of the fashionable green. Here he hurriedly ensconced
himself; nor had he to wait long before the sound of steps and voices
drew near him from the principal apartment. Peering through the
division, he saw Mr. Morris escorting a fat and ruddy personage, with
somewhat the look of a commercial traveller, whom Brackenbury had
already remarked for his coarse laugh and under-bred behaviour at the
table. The pair halted immediately before the window, so that
Brackenbury lost not a word of the following discourse:--

"I beg you a thousand pardons!" began Mr. Morris, with the most
conciliatory manner; "and, if I appear rude, I am sure you will readily
forgive me. In a place so great as London accidents must continually
happen; and the best that we can hope is to remedy them with as small
delay as possible. I will not deny that I fear you have made a mistake
and honoured my poor house by inadvertence; for, to speak openly, I
cannot at all remember your appearance. Let me put the question without
unnecessary circumlocution--between gentlemen of honour a word will
suffice--Under whose roof do you suppose yourself to be?"

"That of Mr. Morris," replied the other, with a prodigious display of
confusion, which had been visibly growing upon him throughout the last
few words.

"Mr. John or Mr. James Morris?" inquired the host.

"I really cannot tell you," returned the unfortunate guest. "I am not
personally acquainted with the gentleman, any more than I am with
yourself."

"I see," said Mr. Morris. "There is another person of the same name
farther down the street; and I have no doubt the policeman will be able
to supply you with his number. Believe me, I felicitate myself on the
misunderstanding which has procured me the pleasure of your company for
so long; and let me express a hope that we may meet again upon a more