of trying to penetrate the mystery connected with him was an idea that
pleased me; there was a promise of future excitement in it of no
ordinary kind. I determined to have a little private conversation with
Margaret about him; and to make her an ally in my new project. If
there really had been some romance connected with Mr. Mannion's early
life--if that strange and striking face of his was indeed a sealed
book which contained a secret story, what a triumph and a pleasure, if
Margaret and I should succeed in discovering it together!

When I woke the next morning, I could hardly believe that this
tradesman's clerk had so interested my curiosity that he had actually
shared my thoughts with my young wife, during the evening before. And
yet, when I next saw him, he produced exactly the same impression on
me again.

III.

Some weeks passed away; Margaret and I resumed our usual employments
and amusements; the life at North Villa ran on as smoothly and
obscurely as usual--and still I remained ignorant of Mr. Mannion's
history and Mr. Mannion's character. He came frequently to the house,
in the evening; but was generally closeted with Mr. Sherwin, and
seldom accepted his employer's constant invitation to him to join the
party in the drawing-room. At those rare intervals when we did see
him, his appearance and behaviour were exactly the same as on the
night when I had met him for the first time; he spoke just as seldom,
and resisted just as resolutely and respectfully the many attempts
made on my part to lead him into conversation and familiarity. If he
had really been trying to excite my interest, he could not have
succeeded more effectually. I felt towards him much as a man feels in