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I said I should have been glad to show him any attention on our
friend's introduction。
'I am sure of that；' said he； 'and am much obliged。 At another
time； perhaps； I may be less delicate。 Only； however； if I have
real business； for I know； Mr。 Sampson； how precious business time
is； and what a vast number of impertinent people there are in the
world。'
I acknowledged his consideration with a slight bow。 'You were
thinking；' said I； 'of effecting a policy on your life。'
'O dear no！ I am afraid I am not so prudent as you pay me the
compliment of supposing me to be； Mr。 Sampson。 I merely inquired
for a friend。 But you know what friends are in such matters。
Nothing may ever come of it。 I have the greatest reluctance to
trouble men of business with inquiries for friends； knowing the
probabilities to be a thousand to one that the friends will never
follow them up。 People are so fickle； so selfish； so
inconsiderate。 Don't you； in your business； find them so every
day； Mr。 Sampson？'
I was going to give a qualified answer； but he turned his smooth；
white parting on me with its 'Straight up here； if you please！' and
I answered 'Yes。'
'I hear； Mr。 Sampson；' he resumed presently； for our friend had a
new cook； and dinner was not so punctual as usual； 'that your
profession has recently suffered a great loss。'
'In money？' said I。
He laughed at my ready association of loss with money； and replied；
'No； in talent and vigour。'
Not at once following out his allusion； I considered for a moment。
'HAS it sustained a loss of that kind？' said I。 'I was not aware
of it。'
'Understand me； Mr。 Sampson。 I don't imagine that you have
retired。 It is not so bad as that。 But Mr。 Meltham … '
'O； to be sure！' said I。 'Yes！ Mr。 Meltham； the young actuary of
the 〃Inestimable。〃'
'Just so；' he returned in a consoling way。
'He is a great loss。 He was at once the most profound； the most
original； and the most energetic man I have ever known connected
with Life Assurance。'
I spoke strongly； for I had a high esteem and admiration for
Meltham； and my gentleman had indefinitely conveyed to me some
suspicion that he wanted to sneer at him。 He recalled me to my
guard by presenting that trim pathway up his head； with its
internal 'Not on the grass； if you please … the gravel。'
'You knew him； Mr。 Slinkton。'
'Only by reputation。 To have known him as an acquaintance or as a
friend； is an honour I should have sought if he had remained in
society； though I might never have had the good fortune to attain
it； being a man of far inferior mark。 He was scarcely above
thirty； I suppose？'
'About thirty。'
'Ah！' he sighed in his former consoling way。 'What creatures we
are！ To break up； Mr。 Sampson； and become incapable of business at
that time of life！ … Any reason assigned for the melancholy fact？'
（'Humph！' thought I； as I looked at him。 'But I WON'T go up the
track； and I WILL go on the grass。'）
'What reason have you heard assigned； Mr。 Slinkton？' I asked；
point…blank。
'Most likely a false one。 You know what Rumour is； Mr。 Sampson。 I
never repeat what I hear； it is the only way of paring the nails
and shaving the head of Rumour。 But when YOU ask me what reason I
have heard assigned for Mr。 Meltham's passing away from among men；
it is another thing。 I am not gratifying idle gossip then。 I was
told； Mr。 Sampson； that Mr。 Meltham had relinquished all his
avocations and all his prospects； because he was； in fact； broken…
hearted。 A disappointed attachment I heard； … though it hardly
seems probable； in the case of a man so distinguished and so
attractive。'
'Attractions and distinctions are no armour against death；' said I。
'O； she died？ Pray pardon me。 I did not hear that。 That； indeed；
makes it very； very sad。 Poor Mr。 Meltham！ She died？ Ah； dear
me！ Lamentable； lamentable！'
I still thought his pity was not quite genuine； and I still
suspected an unaccountable sneer under all this； until he said； as
we were parted； like the other knots of talkers； by the
announcement of dinner：
'Mr。 Sampson； you are surprised to see me so moved on behalf of a
man whom I have never known。 I am not so disinterested as you may
suppose。 I have suffered； and recently too； from death myself。 I
have lost one of two charming nieces； who were my constant
companions。 She died young … barely three…and…twenty； and even her
remaining sister is far from strong。 The world is a grave！'
He said this with deep feeling； and I felt reproached for the
coldness of my manner。 Coldness and distrust had been engendered
in me； I knew； by my bad experiences； they were not natural to me；
and I often thought how much I had lost in life； losing
trustfulness； and how little I had gained； gaining hard caution。
This state of mind being habitual to me； I troubled myself more
about this conversation than I might have troubled myself about a
greater matter。 I listened to his talk at dinner； and observed how
readily other men responded to it； and with what a graceful
instinct he adapted his subjects to the knowledge and habits of
those he talked with。 As； in talking with me； he had easily
started the subject I might be supposed to understand best； and to
be the most interested in； so； in talking with others； he guided
himself by the same rule。 The company was of a varied character；
but he was not at fault； that I could discover； with any member of
it。 He knew just as much of each man's pursuit as made him
agreeable to that man in reference to it； and just as little as
made it natural in him to seek modestly for information when the
theme was broached。
As he talked and talked … but really not too much； for the rest of
us seemed to force it upon him … I became quite angry with myself。
I took his face to pieces in my mind； like a watch； and examined it
in detail。 I could not say much against any of his features
separately； I could say even less against them when they were put
together。 'Then is it not monstrous；' I asked myself； 'that
because a man happens to part his hair straight up the middle of
his head； I should permit myself to suspect； and even to detest
him？'
（I may stop to remark that this was no proof of my sense。 An
observer of men who finds himself steadily repelled by some
apparently trifling thing in a stranger is right to give it great
weight。 It may be the clue to the whole mystery。 A hair or two
will show where a lion is hidden。 A very little key will open a
very heavy door。）
I took my part in the conversation with him after a time； and we
got on remarkably well。 In the drawing…room I asked the host how
long he had known Mr。 Slinkton。 He answered； not many months； he
had met him at the house of a celebrated painter then present； who
had known him well when he was travelling with his nieces in Italy
for their heal