Montgomery turned, and directed their steps again toward
Broadway. The distance was short, and fifteen minutes had scarcely
elapsed since they left the store before they again entered it. They
made their way to the lower end of the store and accosted the same clerk
with whom they had before spoken.

"Is your wife better?" he asked.

"Much better, thank you. A turn in the air always relieves her, and she
is quite herself again. I have returned because it is necessary for
me to leave the city by the evening train, and my time is, therefore,
short. Will you be kind enough to show the ring to your employer, and
ask him if he will purchase?"

The clerk returned, and said that the firm would pay two hundred and
fifty dollars, but must be assured of his right to dispose of it.

"Did you mention my name?" asked the adventurer.

"I mentioned that you were a clergyman. I could not remember the name."

"The Rev. Mr. Barnes, of Hayfield Centre, Connecticut. I have been
preaching there for--is it six or seven years, my dear?"

"Seven," said his wife.

"I should think that would be sufficient. You may mention that to Mr.
Ball or Mr. Black, if you please. I presume after that he will not be
afraid to purchase."

Mr. Montgomery said this with an air of conscious respectability and
high standing, which might readily impose upon strangers. But, by bad
luck, what he had said was heard by a person able to confute him.

"Did you say you were from Hayfield Centre?" asked a gentleman, standing
a few feet distant.

"Yes," said Mr. Montgomery.

"I think you said your name was Barnes?"

"Yes, sir."

"And that you have been preaching there for the last seven years?"

"Yes, sir," answered Mr. Montgomery, but there was rather less
confidence in his tone. In fact he was beginning to feel uneasy.

"It is very strange," said the other. "I have a sister living in
Hayfield Centre, and frequently visit the place myself, and so of course
know something of it. Yet I have never heard of any clergyman named
Barnes preaching there."

Mr. Montgomery saw that things looked critical.

"You are strangely mistaken, sir," he said. "However, I will not press
the sale. If you will return the ring (to the clerk) I will dispose of
it elsewhere."

But the clerk's suspicions had been aroused by what had been said.

"I will first speak to Mr. Ball," he said.

"There is no occasion to speak to him. I shall not sell the ring to-day.
To-morrow, I w