“Come, no backing out. I want to confide to you a very important secret.”
He looked so mysterious that Paul's curiosity was aroused, and reflecting that it was yet early, he took his companion's proffered arm, and sauntered along by his side.
“What's the secret?” he asked at length, perceiving that Nicholas was silent.
“Wait till we get to a more retired place.”
He turned out of Broadway into a side street, where the passers were less numerous.
“I don't think you could guess,” said the young man, turning towards our hero.
“I don't think I could.”
“And yet,” continued Benton, meditatively, “it is possible that you may have noticed something in my appearance just a little unusual, within the last week. Haven't you, now?”
Paul could not say that he had.
Mr. Benton looked a little disappointed.