"Well now, Mr. Charles," she answered, almost brightly, as though struck with some coincidence, "it is strange you should speak of him, for only this very day he was speaking to me of you."
"Indeed! Then it's a him?"
"Yes, sir; a gentleman," with a pursing of the lips.
"Young, I suppose?"
"Not much older than you, sir. But he has seen a lot of the world."
This was accepted as an unconscious reflection on his own experience.
"Been here long?"
"About two months, sir, this time. I have had him staying with me before. He belongs to Laysford, you see. He comes and goes as the fancy takes him. Most of his time he spends in London."
"In London," said Henry, who still dreamed dreams, although he was an editor so soon. "Do you happen to know his occupation?"
"He writes, sir, I think, like you do. Leastways, he is often at it in his room upstairs, and is very particular about any of his papers being touched."