"But—but—you—I was not wrong in feeling sure that you were—that something in me had aroused your attention?"
"Not wrong at all; but 'something' is not the word."
"What is the word?"
"Everything. Everything in you rouses my attention, Mr. Chichester. But
I can't think why."
"Did you know I was Mr. Harding's curate the first time you met me?"
"Yes; I had seen you at St. Joseph's once or twice when I came to hear your rector preach. You didn't interest me at all then, I'm bound to say."
Chichester stood in silence for a minute. Then he said:
"I might walk a little way back with you, if you have no objection."
Stepton jerked his head in assent. And so the acquaintance of these two men was begun. Their first conversation was a delight to the professor. After a short silence the curate said:
"I could not help seeing each time we have met how your attention was fastened upon me."