“Well，no，sir，notasignofit。”wasthereply。“Worse，wethink，thanever。”
“Dear，dear！”saidIagain。
“WhenMr。Norrisarrived，sheDIDseemgladtoseehim。”hepursued；“andwewereallpleased，I’msure；fornooneknowstheyounggentlemanbutwhatlikeshim。Ah，sir，itdidn’tlastlong！Thatverynighttheyhadatalk，andfelloutorsomething；herladyshiptookonmostpainful；itwaslikeolddays，butworse。AndthenextmorningMr。Norriswasoffagainuponhistravels。“Denman。”hesaidtoMr。Denman，“Denman，I’llnevercomeback。”hesaid，andshookhimbythe’and。Iwouldn’tbesayingallthistoastranger，sir。”addedmyinformant，overcomewithasuddenfearlesthehadgonetoofar。
Hehadindeedtoldmemuch，andmuchthatwasunsuspectedbyhimself。Onthatstormynightofhisreturn，Carthewhadtoldhisstory；theoldladyhadmoreuponhermindthanmerebereavements；andamongthementalpicturesonwhichshelooked，asshewalkedstaringdownthepath，wasoneofMidwayIslandandtheFlyingScud。
Mr。Denmanheardmyinquirieswithdiscomposure，butinformedmetheshysterwasalreadygone。
“Gone？”criedI。“Thenwhatcanhehavecomefor？OnethingIcantellyou，itwasnottoseethehouse。”
“Idon’tseeitcouldhavebeenanythingelse。”repliedthebutler。
“Youmaydependuponititwas。”saidI。“Andwhateveritwas，hehasgotit。Bytheway，whereisMr。Carthewatpresent？Iwassorrytofindhewasfromhome。”
“Heisengagedintravelling，sir。”repliedthebutler，dryly。
“Ah，bravo！”criedI。“Ilaidatrapforyouthere，Mr。Denman。
NowIneednotaskyou；Iamsureyoudidnottellthispryingstranger。”
“Tobesurenot，sir。”saidthebutler。
Iwentthroughtheformof“shakinghimbythe’and“——likeMr。
Norris——not，however，withgenuineenthusiasm。ForIhadfailedingloriouslytogettheaddressformyself；andIfeltasureconvictionthatBellairshaddonebetter，orhehadstillbeenhereandstillcultivatingMr。Denman。
Ihadescapedthegroundsandthecattle；Icouldnotescapethehouse。Aladywithsilverhair，aslendersilvervoice，andastreamofinsignificantinformationnottobediverted，ledmethroughthepicturegallery，themusic-room，thegreatdining-
room，thelongdrawing-room，theIndianroom，thetheatre，andeverycorner(asIthought)ofthatinterminablemansion。Therewasbutoneplacereserved；thegarden-room，whitherLadyAnnhadnowretired。Ipausedamomentontheoutsideofthedoor，andsmiledtomyself。Thesituationwasindeedstrange，andthesethinboardsdividedthesecretoftheFlyingScud。
Allthewhile，asIwenttoandfro，IwasconsideringthevisitanddepartureofBellairs。Thathehadgottheaddress，Iwasquitecertain：thathehadnotgotitbydirectquestioning，Iwasconvinced；someingenuity，someluckyaccident，hadservedhim。Asimilarchance，anequalingenuity，wasrequired；orI
waslefthelpless，theferretmustrundownhisprey，thegreatoaksfall，theRaphaelsbescattered，thehouselettosomestockbrokersuddenlymaderich，andthenamewhichnowfilledthemouthsoffiveorsixparishesdwindletoamemory。
Strangethatsuchgreatmatters，sooldamansion，afamilysoancientandsodull，shouldcometodependforperpetuityupontheintelligence，thediscretion，andthecunningofaLatin-
Quarterstudent！WhatBellairshaddone，Imustdolikewise。
Chanceoringenuity，ingenuityorchance——soIcontinuedtoringthechangesasIwalkeddowntheavenue，castingbackoccasionalglancesattheredbrickfacadeandthetwinklingwindowsofthehouse。HowwasItocommandchance？wherewasItofindtheingenuity？
Thesereflectionsbroughtmetothedooroftheinn。Andhere，pursuanttomypolicyofkeepingwellwithallmen，I
immediatelysmoothedmybrow，andaccepted(beingtheonlyguestinthehouse)aninvitationtodinewiththefamilyinthebar-parlour。IsatdownaccordinglywithMr。Higgstheex-butler，Mrs。Higgstheex-lady’s-maid，andMissAgnesHiggstheirfrowsy-headedlittlegirl，theleastpromisingand(astheeventshowed)themostusefulofthelot。Thetalkranendlesslyonthegreathouseandthegreatfamily；theroastbeef，theYorkshirepudding，thejam-roll，andthecheddarcheesecameandwent，andstillthestreamflowedon；nearfourgenerationsofCarthewsweretoucheduponwithoutelicitingonepointofinterest；andwehadkilledMr。Henryin“the’unting-field。”withavastelaborationofpainfulcircumstance，andburiedhiminthemidstofawholesorrowingcounty，beforeIcouldsomuchasmanagetobringuponthestagemyintimatefriend，Mr。Norris。Atthename，theex-butlergrewdiplomatic，andtheex-lady’s-maidtender。Hewastheonlypersonofthewholefeaturelessserieswhoseemedtohaveaccomplishedanythingworthmention；andhisachievements，poordog，seemedtohavebeenconfinedtogoingtothedevilandleavingsomeregrets。HehadbeentheimageoftheRightHonourableBailley，oneofthelightsofthatdimhouse，andacareerofdistinctionhadbeenpredictedofhiminconsequencealmostfromthecradle。Butbeforehewasoutoflongclothes，theclovenfootbegantoshow；heprovedtobenoCarthew，developedatasteforlowpleasuresandbadcompany，wentbirdnestingwithastable-boybeforehewaseleven，andwhenhewasneartwenty，andmighthavebeenexpectedtodisplayatleastsomerudimentsofthefamilygravity，rambledthecountryoverwithaknapsack，makingsketchesandkeepingcompanyinwaysideinns。Hehadnoprideabouthim，Iwastold；hewouldsitdownwithanyman；anditwassomewhatwoundinglyimpliedthatIwasindebtedtothispeculiarityformyownacquaintancewiththehero。Unhappily，Mr。Norriswasnotonlyeccentric，hewasfast。HisdebtswerestillrememberedattheUniversity；stillmore，itappeared，thehighlyhumorouscircumstancesattendinghisexpulsion。“Hewasalwaysfondofhisjest。”commentedMrs。Higgs。
“Thathewere！”observedherlord。
Butitwasafterhewentintothediplomaticservicethattherealtroublebegan。
“Itseems，sir，thathewentthepaceextraordinary。”saidtheex-butler，withasolemngusto。
“Hisdebtsweresomethinkawful。”saidthelady’s-maid。“Andasniceayounggentlemanallthetimeasyouwouldwishtosee！”
“WhenwordcametoMr。Carthew’sears，theturnupwas’orrible。”continuedMr。Higgs。“Irememberitasifitwasyesterday。Thebellwasrungafterherla’shipwasgone，whichIanswereditmyself，supposingitwerethecoffee。TherewasMr。Carthewonhisfeet。’’Iggs，’hesays，pointingwithhisstick，forhehadaturnofthegout，’orderthedog-cartinstantlyforthissonofminewhichhasdisgracedhisself。’Mr。Norrissaynothink：hesittherewithhis’eaddown，makingbelieftobelookingatawalnut。Youmighthavebowledmeoverwithastraw。”saidMr。Higgs。
“Hadhedoneanythingverybad？”Iasked。
“Nothe，Mr。Dodsley！”criedthelady——itwassoshehadconceivedmyname。“Heneverdidanythinktoallreallywronginhispoorlife。The’oleaffairwasadisgrace。Itwasallrankfavouritising。”
“Mrs。’Iggs！Mrs。’Iggs！”criedthebutlerwarningly。
“Well，whatdoIcare？”retortedthelady，shakingherringlets。
“Youknowitwasyourself，Mr。’Iggs，andsodideverymemberofthestaff。”
WhileIwasgettingthesefactsandopinions，Ibynomeansneglectedthechild。Shewasnotattractive；butfortunatelyshehadreachedthecorruptageofseven，whenhalfacrownappearsaboutaslargeasasaucerandisfullyasrareasthedodo。Forashillingdown，sixpenceinhermoney-box，andanAmericangolddollarwhichIhappenedtofindinmypocket，I
boughtthecreaturesoulandbody。Shedeclaredherintentiontoaccompanymetotheendsoftheearth；andhadtobechiddenbyhersirefordrawingcomparisonsbetweenmyselfandheruncleWilliam，highlydamagingtothelatter。
Dinnerwasscarcedone，theclothwasnotyetremoved，whenMissAgnesmustneedsclimbintomylapwithherstampalbum，arelicofthegenerosityofUncleWilliam。TherearefewthingsIdespisemorethanoldstamps，unlessperhapsitbecrests；forcattle(fromtheCarthewChillinghamsdowntotheoldgate-keeper’smilk-cowinthelane)contemptisfarfrombeingmyfirstsentiment。ButitseemedIwasdoomedtopassthatdayinviewingcuriosities，andsmotheringayawn，I
devotedmyselfoncemoretotreadthewell-knownround。I
fancyUncleWilliammusthavebegunthecollectionhimselfandtiredofit，forthebook(tomysurprise)wasquiterespectablyfilled。TherewerethevaryingshadesoftheEnglishpenny，Russianswiththecolouredheart，oldundecipherableThurn-und-Taxis，obsoletetriangularCapeofGoodHopes，SwanRiverswiththeSwan，andGuianaswiththesailingship。UponalltheseIlookedwiththeeyesofafishandthespiritofasheep；IthinkindeedIwasattimesasleep；
anditwasprobablyinoneofthesemomentsthatIcapsizedthealbum，andtherefellfromtheendofit，uponthefloor，aconsiderablenumberofwhatIbelievetobecalled“exchanges。”
Here，againstallprobability，mychancehadcometome；forasIgallantlypickedthemup，Iwasstruckwiththedisproportionateamountoffive-sousFrenchstamps。Someone，Ireasoned，mustwriteveryregularlyfromFrancetotheneighbourhoodofStallbridge-le-Carthew。CoulditbeNorris？
OnonestampImadeoutaninitialC；uponasecondIgotasfarasCH；beyondwhichpoint，thepostmarkusedwasineveryinstanceundecipherable。CH，whenyouconsiderthataboutaquarterofthetownsinFrancebeginwith“chateau。”wasaninsufficientclue；andIpromptlyannexedtheplainestofthecollectioninordertoconsultthepost-office。
Thewretchedinfanttookmeinthefact。“Naughtyman，to’tealmy’tamp！”shecried；andwhenIwouldhavebrazeneditoffwithadenial，recoveredanddisplayedthestolenarticle。
Mypositionwasnowhighlyfalse；andIbelieveitwasinmerepitythatMrs。Higgscametomyrescuewithawelcomeproposition。Ifthegentlemanwasreallyinterestedinstamps，shesaid，probablysupposingmeamonomaniaconthepoint，heshouldseeMr。Denman’salbum。Mr。Denmanhadbeencollectingfortyyears，andhiscollectionwassaidtobeworthamintofmoney。“Agnes。”shewenton，“ifyouwereakindlittlegirl，youwouldrunovertothe’All，tellMr。Denmanthere’saconnaisseerinthe’ouse，andaskhimifoneoftheyounggentlemenmightbringthealbumdown。”
“Ishouldliketoseehisexchangestoo。”Icried，risingtotheoccasion。“Imayhavesomeofmineinmypocket-bookandwemighttrade。”
HalfanhourlaterMr。Denmanarrivedhimselfwithamostunconscionablevolumeunderhisarm。“Ah，sir。”hecried，“whenI’eardyouwasacollector，Idroppedall。It’sasayingofmine，Mr。Dodsley，thatcollectingstampsmakesallcollectorskin。It’sabond，sir；itcreatesabond。”
Uponthetruthofthis，Icannotsay；butthereisnodoubtthattheattempttopassyourselfoffforacollectorfalselycreatesaprecarioussituation。
“Ah，here’sthesecondissue！”Iwouldsay，afterconsultingthelegendattheside。“Thepink——no，Imeanthemauve——yes，that’sthebeautyofthislot。Thoughofcourse，asyousay。”I
wouldhastentoadd，“thisyellowonthethinpaperismorerare。”
IndeedImustcertainlyhavebeendetected，hadInotpliedMr。
Denmaninself-defencewithhisfavouriteliquor——aportsoexcellentthatitcouldneverhaveripenedinthecellaroftheCarthewArms，butmusthavebeentransported，undercloudofnight，fromtheneighbouringvaultsofthegreathouse。Ateachthreatofexposure，andinparticularwheneverIwasdirectlychallengedforanopinion，Imadehastetofillthebutler’sglass，andbythetimewehadgottotheexchanges，hewasinaconditioninwhichnostampcollectorneedbeseriouslyfeared。
GodforbidIshouldhintthathewasdrunk；heseemedincapableofthenecessaryliveliness；buttheman’seyeswereset，andsolongashewassufferedtotalkwithoutinterruption，heseemedcarelessofmyheedinghim。
InMr。Denman’sexchanges，asinthoseoflittleAgnes，thesamepeculiaritywastoberemarked，anunduepreponderanceofthatdespicablycommonstamp，theFrenchtwenty-fivecentimes。Andherejoiningtheminstealthyreview，IfoundtheCandtheCH；thensomethingofanAjustfollowing；andthenaterminalY。Herewasalsothewholenamespeltouttome；itseemedfamiliar，too；andyetforsometimeIcouldnotbridgetheimperfection。ThenIcameuponanotherstamp，inwhichanLwaslegiblebeforetheY，andinamomentthewordleapedupcomplete。Chailly，thatwasthename；Chailly-
en-Biere，theposttownofBarbizon——ah，therewastheveryplaceforanymantohidehimself——therewastheveryplaceforMr。Norris，whohadrambledoverEnglandmakingsketches——
theveryplaceforGoddedaal，whohadleftapalette-knifeonboardtheFlyingScud。Singular，indeed，thatwhileIwasdriftingoverEnglandwiththeshyster，themanwewereinquestofawaitedmeatmyownultimatedestination。
WhetherMr。DenmanhadshownhisalbumtoBellairs，whether，indeed，Bellairscouldhavecaught(asIdid)thishintfromanobliteratedpostmark，Ishallneverknow，anditmatterednot。Wewereequalnow；mytaskatStallbridge-le-
Carthewwasaccomplished；myinterestinpostage-stampsdiedshamelesslyaway；theastonishedDenmanwasbowedout；andorderingthehorsetobeputin，Iplungedintothestudyofthetime-table。
