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plainly　animated　by　the　spirit　of　derision。　　The　racier　of　
the　two　cartoons　displayed；　indeed；　no　symptom　of　attractive　
merit；　and　though　it　had　a　certain　share　of　that　success　
called　scandalous；　failed　utterly　of　its　effect。　　On　the　day；　
however；　of　the　second　appearance　of　the　companion　work；　a　
real　inquirer　did　actually　present　himself　before　the　eyes　of　
Somerset。

This　was　a　gentlemanly　man；　with　some　marks　of　recent　
merriment；　and　his　voice　under　inadequate　control。

'I　beg　your　pardon；'　said　he；　'but　what　is　the　meaning　of　
your　extraordinary　bill？'

'I　beg　yours；'　returned　Somerset　hotly。　　'Its　meaning　is　
sufficiently　explicit。'　　And　being　now；　from　dire　experience；　
fearful　of　ridicule；　he　was　preparing　to　close　the　door；　when　
the　gentleman　thrust　his　cane　into　the　aperture。

'Not　so　fast；　I　beg　of　you；'　said　he。　　'If　you　really　let　
apartments；　here　is　a　possible　tenant　at　your　door；　and　
nothing　would　give　me　greater　pleasure　than　to　see　the　
accommodation　and　to　learn　your　terms。'

His　heart　joyously　beating；　Somerset　admitted　the　visitor；　
showed　him　over　the　various　apartments；　and；　with　some　return　
of　his　persuasive　eloquence；　expounded　their　attractions。　　
The　gentleman　was　particularly　pleased　by　the　elegant　
proportions　of　the　drawing…room。

'This；'　he　said；　'would　suit　me　very　well。　　What；　may　I　ask；　
would　be　your　terms　a　week；　for　this　floor　and　the　one　above　
it？'

'I　was　thinking；'　returned　Somerset；　'of　a　hundred　pounds。'

'Surely　not；'　exclaimed　the　gentleman。

'Well；　then；'　returned　Somerset；　'fifty。'

The　gentleman　regarded　him　with　an　air　of　some　amazement。　　
'You　seem　to　be　strangely　elastic　in　your　demands；'　said　he。　　
'What　if　I　were　to　proceed　on　your　own　principle　of　division；　
and　offer　twenty…five？'

'Done！'　cried　Somerset；　and　then；　overcome　by　a　sudden　
embarrassment；　'You　see；'　he　added　apologetically；　'it　is　all　
found　money　for　me。'

'Really？'　said　the　stranger；　looking　at　him　all　the　while　
with　growing　wonder。　　'Without　extras；　then？'

'I　…　I　suppose　so；'　stammered　the　keeper　of　the　lodging…
house。

'Service　included？'　pursued　the　gentleman。

'Service？'　cried　Somerset。　　'Do　you　mean　that　you　expect　me　
to　empty　your　slops？'

The　gentleman　regarded　him　with　a　very　friendly　interest。　　
'My　dear　fellow；'　said　he；　'if　you　take　my　advice；　you　will　
give　up　this　business。'　　And　thereupon　he　resumed　his　hat　and　
took　himself　away。

This　smarting　disappointment　produced　a　strong　effect　on　the　
artist　of　the　cartoons；　and　he　began　with　shame　to　eat　up　his　
rosier　illusions。　　First　one　and　then　the　other　of　his　great　
works　was　condemned；　withdrawn　from　exhibition；　and　
relegated；　as　a　mere　wall…picture；　to　the　decoration　of　the　
dining…room。　　Their　place　was　taken　by　a　replica　of　the　
original　wafered　announcement；　to　which；　in　particularly　
large　letters；　he　had　added　the　pithy　rubric：　　'NO　SERVICE。'　　
Meanwhile　he　had　fallen　into　something　as　nearly　bordering　on　
low　spirits　as　was　consistent　with　his　disposition；　
depressed；　at　once　by　the　failure　of　his　scheme；　the　
laughable　turn　of　his　late　interview；　and　the　judicial　
blindness　of　the　public　to　the　merit　of　the　twin　cartoons。

Perhaps　a　week　had　passed　before　he　was　again　startled　by　the　
note　of　the　knocker。　　A　gentleman　of　a　somewhat　foreign　and　
somewhat　military　air；　yet　closely　shaven　and　wearing　a　soft　
hat；　desired　in　the　politest　terms　to　visit　the　apartments。　　
He　had　（he　explained）　a　friend；　a　gentleman　in　tender　health；　
desirous　of　a　sedate　and　solitary　life；　apart　from　
interruptions　and　the　noises　of　the　common　lodging…house。　　
'The　unusual　clause；'　he　continued；　'in　your　announcement；　
particularly　struck　me。　　〃This；〃　I　said；　〃is　the　place　for　
Mr。　Jones。〃　　You　are　yourself；　sir；　a　professional　
gentleman？'　concluded　the　visitor；　looking　keenly　in　
Somerset's　face。

'I　am　an　artist；'　replied　the　young　man　lightly。

'And　these；'　observed　the　other；　taking　a　side　glance　through　
the　open　door　of　the　dining…room；　which　they　were　then　
passing；　'these　are　some　of　your　works。　　Very　remarkable。'　　
And　he　again　and　still　more　sharply　peered　into　the　
countenance　of　the　young　man。

Somerset；　unable　to　suppress　a　blush；　made　the　more　haste　to　
lead　his　visitor　upstairs　and　to　display　the　apartments。

'Excellent；'　observed　the　stranger；　as　he　looked　from　one　of　
the　back　windows。　　'Is　that　a　mews　behind；　sir？　　Very　good。　　
Well；　sir：　　see　here。　　My　friend　will　take　your　drawing…room　
floor；　he　will　sleep　in　the　back　drawing…room；　his　nurse；　an　
excellent　Irish　widow；　will　attend　on　all　his　wants　and　
occupy　a　garret；　he　will　pay　you　the　round　sum　of　ten　dollars　
a　week；　and　you；　on　your　part；　will　engage　to　receive　no　
other　lodger？　　I　think　that　fair。'

Somerset　had　scarcely　words　in　which　to　clothe　his　gratitude　
and　joy。

'Agreed；'　said　the　other；　'and　to　spare　you　trouble；　my　
friend　will　bring　some　men　with　him　to　make　the　changes。　　You　
will　find　him　a　retiring　inmate；　sir；　receives　but　few；　and　
rarely　leaves　the　house；　except　at　night。'

'Since　I　have　been　in　this　house；'　returned　Somerset；　'I　have　
myself；　unless　it　were　to　fetch　beer；　rarely　gone　abroad　
except　in　the　evening。　　But　a　man；'　he　added；　'must　have　some　
amusement。'

An　hour　was　then　agreed　on；　the　gentleman　departed；　and　
Somerset　sat　down　to　compute　in　English　money　the　value　of　
the　figure　named。　　The　result　of　this　investigation　filled　
him　with　amazement　and　disgust；　but　it　was　now　too　late；　
nothing　remained　but　to　endure；　and　he　awaited　the　arrival　of　
his　tenant；　still　trying；　by　various　arithmetical　expedients；　
to　obtain　a　more　favourable　quotation　for　the　dollar。　　With　
the　approach　of　dusk；　however；　his　impatience　drove　him　once　
more　to　the　front　balcony。　　The　night　fell；　mild　and　airless；　
the　lamps　shone　around　the　central　darkness　of　the　garden；　
and　through　the　tall　grove　of　trees　that　intervened；　many　
warmly　illuminated　windows　on　the　farther　side　of　the　square；　
told　their　tale　of　white　napery；　choice　wine；　and　genial　
hospitality。　　The　stars　were　already　thickening　overhead；　
when　the　young　man's　eyes　alighted　on　a　procession　of　three　
four…wheelers；　coasting　round　the　garden　railing　and　bound　
for　the　Superfluous　Mansion。　　They　were　laden　with　formidable　
boxes；　moved　in　a　military　order；　one　following　another；　and；　
by　the　extreme　slowness　of　their　advance；　inspired　Somerset　
with　the　most　serious　ideas　of　his　tenant's　malady。

By　the　time　he　had　the　door　open；　the　cabs　had　drawn　up　
beside　the　pavement；　and　from　the　two　first；　there　had　
alighted　the　military　gentleman　of　the　morning　and　two　very　
stalwart　porters。　　These　proceeded　instantly　to　take　
possession　of　the　house；　with　their　own　hands；　and　firmly　
rejecting　Somerset's　assistance；　they　carried　in　the　various　
crates　and　boxes；　with　their　own　hands　dismounted　and　
transferred　to　the　back　drawing…room　the　bed　in　which　the　
tenant　was　to　sleep；　and　it　was　not　until　the　bustle　of　
arrival　had　subsided；　and　the　arrangements　were　complete；　
that　there　descended；　from　the　third　of　the　three　vehicles；　a　
gentleman　of　great　stature　and　broad　shoulders；　leaning　on　
the　shoulder　of　a　woman　in　a　widow's　dress；　and　himself　
covered　by　a　long　cloak　and　muffled　in　a　coloured　comforter。

Somerset　had　but　a　glimpse　of　him　in　passing；　he　was　soon　
shut　into　the　back　drawing…room；　the　other　men　departed；　
silence　redescended　on　the　house；　and　had　not　the　nurse　
appeared　a　little　before　half…past　ten；　and；　with　a　strong　
brogue；　asked　if　there　were　a　decent　public…house　in　the　
neighbourhood；　Somerset　might　have　still　supposed　himself　to　
be　alone　in　the　Superfluous　Mansion。

Day　followed　day；　and　still　the　young　man　had　never　come　by　
speech　or　sight　of　his　mysterious　lodger。　　The　doors　of　the　
drawing…room　flat　were　never　open；　and　although　Somerset　
could　hear　him　moving　to　and　fro；　the　tall　man　had　never　
quitted　the　privacy　of　his　apartments。　　Visitors；　indeed；　
arrived；　sometimes　in　the　dusk；　sometimes　at　intempestuous　
hours　of　night　or　morning；　men；　for　the　most　part；　some　
meanly　attired；　some　decently；　some　loud；　some　cringing；　and　
yet　all；　in　the　eyes　of　Somerset；　displeasing。　　A　certain　air　
of　fear　and　secrecy　was　common　to　them　all；　they　were　all　
voluble；　he　thought；　and　ill　at　ease；　even　the　military　
gentleman　proved；　on　a　closer　inspection；　to　be　no　gentleman　
at　all；　and　as　for　the　doctor　who　attended　the　sick　man；　his　
manners　were　not　suggestive　of　a　university　career。　　The　
nurse；　again；　was　scarcely　a　desirable　house…fellow。　　Since　
her　arrival；　the　fall　of　whisky　in　the　young　man's　private　
bottle　was　much　accelerated；　and　though　never　communicative；　
she　was　at　times　unpleasantly　familiar。　　When　asked　about　the　
patient's　health；　she　would　dolorously　shake　her　head；　and　
declare　that　the　poor　gentleman　was　in　a　pitiful　condition。

Yet　somehow　Somerset　had　early　begun　to　entertain　the　notion　
that　his　complaint　was　other　than　bodily。　　The　ill…looking　
birds　that　gathered　to　the　house；　the　strange　noises　that　
sounded　from　the　drawing…room　in　the　dead　hours　of　night；　the　
careless　attendance　and　intemperate　habits　of　the　nurse；　the　
entire　absence　of　correspondence；　the　entire　seclusion　of　Mr。　
Jones　himself；　whose　face；　up　to　that　hour；　he　could　not　have　
sworn　to　in　a　court　of　justice　…　all　weighed　unpleasantly　
upon　the　young　man's　mind。　　A　sense　of　something　evil；　
irregular　and　underhand；　haunted　and　depressed　him；　and　this　
uneasy　sentiment　was　the　more　firmly　rooted　in　his　mind；　
when；　in　the　fulness　of　time；　he　had　an　opportunity　of　
observing　the　features　of　his　tenant。　　It　fell　in　this　way。　　
The　young　landlord　was　awakened　about　four　in　the　morning　by　
a　noise　in　the　hall。　　Leaping　to　his　feet；　and　opening　the　
door　of　the　library；　he　saw　the　tall　man；　candle　in　hand；　in　
earnest　conversation　with　the　gentleman　who　had　taken　the　
rooms。　　The　faces　of　both　were　strongly　illuminated；　and　in　
that　of　his　tenant；　Somerset　could　perceive　none　of　the　marks　
of　disease；　but　every　sign　of　health；　energy；　and　resolution。　　
While　he　was　still　looking；　the　visitor　took　his　d