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to good account in a foreign mission。 However； as it is always
possible that his influence may still be of use to us； I venture
to suggest keeping him within our reach until Romayne's
conversion has actually taken place。 Don't suppose that the
present separation between them is final； I will answer for their
meeting again。
I may now proceed to the failure of my agent； and to the course
of action that I have adopted in consequence。
The investigations appear to have definitely broken down at the
seaside village of Clovelly； in the neighborhood of Mr。
Winterfield's country seat。 Knowing that I could depend upon the
information which associated this gentleman with Miss Eyrecourt；
under compromising circumstances of some sort； I decided on
seeing Mr。 Winterfield； and judging for myself。
The agent's report informed me that the person who had finally
baffled his inquiries was an aged Catholic priest； long resident
at Clovelly。 His name is Newbliss； and he is much respected among
the Catholic gentry in that part of Devonshire。 After due
consideration； I obtained a letter of introduction to my reverend
colleague； and traveled to Clovellytelling my friends here that
I was taking a little holiday； in the interests of my health。
I found Father Newbliss a venerable and reticent son of the
Churchwith one weak point； however； to work on； which was
entirely beyond the reach of the otherwise astute person charged
with my inquiries。 My reverend friend is a scholar； and is
inordinately proud of his learning。 I am a scholar too。 In that
capacity I first found my way to his sympathies； and then gently
encouraged his pride。 The result will appear in certain
discoveries； which I number as follows：
1。 The events which connect Mr。 Winterfield with Miss Eyrecourt
happened about two years since； and had their beginning at
Beaupark House。
2。 At this period； Miss Eyrecourt and her mother were staying at
Beaupark House。 The general impression in the neighborhood was
that Mr。 Winterfield and Miss Eyrecourt were engaged to be
married。
3。 Not long afterward； Miss Eyrecourt and her mother surprised
the neighborhood by suddenly leaving Beaupark House。 Their
destination was supposed to be London。
4。 Mr。 Winterfield himself next left his country seat for the
Continent。 His exact destination was not mentioned to any one。
The steward； soon afterward； dismissed all the servants； and the
house was left empty for more than a year。
5。 At the end of that time Mr。 Winterfield returned alone to
Beaupark House； and told nobody how； or where； he had passed the
long interval of his absence。
6。 Mr。 Winterfield remains； to the present day； an unmarried man。
Having arrived at these preliminary discoveries； it was time to
try what I could make of Mr。 Winterfield next。
Among the other good things which this gentleman has inherited is
a magnificent library collected by his father。 That one learned
man should take another learned man to see the books was a
perfectly natural proceeding。 My introduction to the master of
the house followed my introduction to the library almost as a
matter of course。
I am about to surprise you； as I was myself surprised。 In all my
long experience； Mr。 Winterfield is； I think； the most
fascinating person I ever met with。 Genial； unassuming manners； a
prepossessing personal appearance； a sweet temper； a quaint humor
delightfully accompanied by natural refinementsuch are the
characteristic qualities of the man from whom I myself saw Miss
Eyrecourt （accidentally meeting him in public） recoil with dismay
and disgust！ It is absolutely impossible to look at him； and to
believe him to be capable of a cruel or dishonorable action。 I
never was so puzzled in my life。
You may be inclined to think that I am misled by a false
impression； derived from the gratifying welcome that I received
as a friend of Father Newbliss。 I will not appeal to my knowledge
of human natureI will refer to the unanswerable evidence of Mr。
Winterfield's poorer neighbors。 Wherever I went； in the village
or out of it； if I mentioned his name； I produced a universal
outburst of admiration and gratitude。 〃There never was such a
friend to poor people； and there never can be such another to the
end of the world。〃 Such was a fisherman's description of him； and
the one cry of all the men and women near us answered； 〃That's
the truth！〃
And yet there is something wrongfor this plain reason； that
there is something to be concealed in the past lives of Mr。
Winterfield and Miss Eyrecourt。
Under these perplexing circumstances； what use have I made of my
opportunities？ I am going to surprise you againI have mentioned
Romayne's name to Mr。 Winterfield； and I have ascertained that
they are； so far； perfect strangers to one anotherand that is
all。
The little incident of mentioning Romayne arose out of my
examination of the library。 I discovered certain old volumes；
which may one day be of use to him； if he continues his
contemplated work on the Origin of Religions。 Hearing me express
myself to this effect； Mr。 Winterfield replied with the readiest
kindness：
〃I can't compare myself to my excellent father；〃 he said； 〃but I
have at least inherited his respect for the writers of books。 My
library is a treasure which I hold in trust for the interests of
literature。 Pray say so； from me； to your friend Mr。 Romayne。〃
And what does this amount to？ you will ask。 My reverend friend；
it offers me an opportunity； in the future； of bringing Romayne
and Winterfield together。 Do you see the complications which may
ensue？ If I can put no other difficulty in Miss Eyrecourt's way；
I think there is fruitful promise of a scandal of some kind
arising out of the introduction to each other of those two men。
You will agree with me that a scandal may prove a valuable
obstacle in the way of a marriage。
Mr。 Winterfield has kindly invited me to call on him when he is
next in London。 I may then have opportunities of putting
questions which I could not venture to ask on a short
acquaintance。
In the meantime； I have obtained another introduction since my
return to town。 I have been presented to Miss Eyrecourt's mother；
and I am invited to drink tea with her on Wednesday。 My next
letter may tell youwhat Penrose ought to have
discoveredwhether Romayne has been already entrapped into a
marriage e