l
resources and pleasures." He bowed, and pointed to the book on the
table.

"I believe, Mr. Mannion," I said, "that you have been of great
assistance in laying a foundation for the studies to which I presume you
refer."

"I endeavoured to make myself useful in that way, Sir, as in all others,
when my employer desired it." He bowed again, as he said this; and then
went out, followed by Mr. Sherwin, who held a short colloquy with him in
the hall.

What had he said to me? Only a few civil words, spoken in a very
respectful manner. There had been nothing in his tones, nothing in his
looks, to give any peculiar significance to what he uttered. Still, the
moment his back was turned, I found myself speculating whether his words
contained any hidden meaning; trying to recall something in his voice or
manner which might guide me in discovering the real sense he attached
to what he said. It seemed as if the most powerful whet to my curiosity,
were supplied by my own experience of the impossibility of penetrating
beneath the unassailable surface which this man presented to me.

I questioned Margaret about him. She could not tell me more than I knew
already. He had always been very kind and useful; he was a clever man,
and could talk a great deal sometimes, when he chose; and he had taught
her more of foreign languages and foreign literature in a month, than
she had learned at school in a year. While she was telling me this,
I hardly noticed that she spoke in a very hurried manner, and busied
herself in arranging the books and work that lay on the table. My
attention was more closely directed to Mrs. Sherwin. To my surprise, I
saw her eagerly lean forward while Margaret was speaking, and fix her
eyes on her daughter with a look of penetrating scrutiny, of which I
could never have supposed a person usually so feeble and unenergetic
to be capable. I thought of transferring to her my questionings on the
subject of Mr. Mannion; but at that moment her husband entered the room,
and I addressed myself for further enlightenment to him.

"Aha!"--cried Mr. Sherwin, rubbing his hands triumphantly--"I knew
Mannion would please you. I told you so, my dear Sir, if you remember,
before he came. Curious looking person--isn't he?"

"So curious, that I may safely say I never saw a face in the slightest
degree resembling his in my life. Your clerk, Mr. Sherwin, is a complete
walking mystery that I want to solve. Margaret cannot give me much h