"Then they are not dead—I thought not!" exclaimed the man, joyously.
"That's more than I can say. It's many years since I lost sight of the only one I ever saw; and they may be both dead for what I know."
"Indeed!" said the man. "Then you can give me no kind of—of—hint like, to find them out?"
"No. Do they owe you anything?"
"It does not signify talking now, sir. I beg your pardon."
"Stay—who are you?"
"I am a very poor man, sir."
Mr. Morton recoiled.
"Poor! Oh, very well—very well. You have done with me now. Good day— good day. I'm busy."
The stranger pecked for a moment at his hat—turned the handle of the door-peered under his grey eyebrows at the portly trader, who, with both hands buried in his pockets, his mouth pursed up, like a man about to say "No" fidgeted uneasily behind Mrs. Morton's chair. He sighed, shook his head, and vanished.