.

"I did not suppose you knew it. All I want to ask your husband is, to
give me a description of Gordon. I wish to see if it tallies with--with
some one I once knew," he cautiously concluded. "Perhaps you remember
what the man was said to be like?"

She put her fingers up to her brow, leaning her elbow on the table. He
could not help observing how the hand shook.

"I think it was said that he had red hair," she began, after a long
pause; "and was--tall, was it?--either tall or short; one of the two. And
his eyes--his eyes were dark eyes, either brown or blue."

Lord Hartledon could not avoid a smile. "That's no description at all."

"My memory is not over-good, my lord: I read his description in the
handbills offering the reward; and that's some time ago now."

"The handbills!--to be sure!" interrupted Lord Hartledon, springing from
his perch. "I never thought of them; they'll give me the best description
possible. Do you know where--"

The conference was interrupted by the clerk. He came in with a large
book in his hand; and a large dog, which belonged to a friend, and had
followed him home. For a minute or two there was only commotion, for the
dog was leaping and making friends with every one. Lord Hartledon then
said a few words of explanation, and the quiet demeanour of the clerk,
as he calmly listened, was in marked contrast to his wife's nervous
agitation.

"Might I inquire your lordship's reasons for thinking that Gordon came
back?" he quietly asked, when Lord Hartledon had ceased.

"I cannot give them in detail, Gum. That he did come back, there is no
doubt about whatever, though how he succeeded in eluding the vigilance
of the police, who were watching for him, is curious. His coming back,
however, is not the question: I thought you might be able to give me a
close description of him. You went to Liverpool when the unfortunate
passengers arrived there."

But Clerk Gum was unable to give any satisfactory response. No doubt he
had heard enough of what Gordon was like at the time, he observed, but
it had passed out of his memory. A fair man, he thought he was described,
with light hair. He had heard nothing of Gordon since; didn't want to,
if his lordship would excuse his saying it; firmly believed he was at
the bottom of the sea.

Patient, respectful, apparently candid, he spoke, attending his guest,
hat in hand, to the outer gate, when it pleased him to depart. But, take
it for all in all, there re