The stranger bowed and said, "Thank you--you are very kind; but I supped
on the other side of the sea, and have no need for any more."

"Mine gracious!" exclaimed Hanz. "You comes all de way from New York to
she me. You eats anoder shupper, shure."

The stranger persisted that he would eat no more that night. The
appearance of the man at so late an hour excited serious apprehensions
in the mind of Angeline lest he should bring news of some disaster to
the good ship Pacific.

Then turning to Mrs. Chapman, he said, "I hope, madam, I have not
intruded on your privacy here to-night?"

That lady, having dropped him one of her best bows, assured him there
was nothing private so far as she was concerned. "We are friends and
neighbors of these good people," she replied with a forced smile and an
air of condescension. "We like to be neighborly, and just dropped in to
make a friendly call. That's all, sir."

"I am very glad to meet Mr. Toodleburg. Very glad to find him such an
excellent person," the stranger repeated, turning to Hanz, and again
taking him by the hand. "Topman, I said my name was; Luke Topman, senior
partner of the enterprising house of Topman and Gusher, doing a large
miscellaneous business in Pearl, near Wall street. You are, doubtless,
well acquainted with the reputation of the firm." Here Mr. Topman
compressed his lips, brushed his fingers through his hair, and addressed
himself to Chapman, who up to this time had maintained an air of
indifference to what was going on.