ed contented himself with
tea.

At length they rose from the table.

"This is a beastly hole--St. Victor, I mean," said Bowman, as he led
the way to the reading-room, "but the eating is fair. An Englishman
keeps the inn, and though he has no French kickshaws on his table, he
gives you solid food and enough of it. Do you smoke? I believe I have a
cigar somewhere, but I smoke a pipe myself."

"Thank you," answered Fred, "but I don't smoke. I used to smoke
cigarettes, but a young man--an acquaintance of mine--died of
cigarette-smoking, so the doctor said, and I gave it up."

"Smoking never hurt me that I know of," said Bowman. "Even if it did,
what's a man to do in this dull hole? Shall you stay here long?"

"I don't know how long. It's a cheap place to stay in, isn't it?"

"Yes, it has that recommendation."

"Then I may stay a week possibly," said Fred in an off-hand way.

"I've been here six weeks," said Bowman.

"Then you have had a chance to get well acquainted with St. Victor."

"A good deal better than I want to be. I was just getting ready to
leave, when my partner had a sharp attack of rheumatism."

"Is he from New York too?"

"No, from Philadelphia," answered Bowman cautiously, though he had no
suspicion that Fred was other than he represented himself.

"I have never been in Philadelphia," said Fred indifferently. "What is
your partner's name?"

"James Sinclair," answered Bowman after a moment's hesitation. "Have
you ever heard that name before?"

"Yes."

"Where?" I asked Bowman quickly.

"I had a schoolmate of that name."

"Oh! Yes, I suppose the name is not an uncommon one. Do you play
billiards?"

"I have seen it played."

"There is a poor table in the house. Such as it is, it may afford us a
little recreation. Will you try a game?"

"Yes, if you will teach me."

Fred felt that it was his policy to cultivate the acquaintance of Mr.
Bowman, as it might afford him an opportunity to obtain the information
he desired. He had never played a game of billiards, but he was willing
to try it.

"Come in, then," said Bowman.

He led the way into a room opposite the office, where stood a
venerable-looking billiard table, probably twenty years old. It had
been given to the landlord some years before by a gentleman, and it had
seen hard service since then.

They played one game, and were about to commence another when a small
girl with black hair cut short entered the room.

"Monsieur Bowm