And yet, singularly enough, you are not the only one who has mentioned to me that a person resembling Mr.Lyon was seen after he had left for the South--seen, too, almost on the very day that letters from him arrived by mail.

The coincidence is at least remarkable." "Remarkable enough," answered the old man, "to lead you, at least, to a close scrutiny into the matter." "I believe it only to be a coincidence," said Mr.Markland, more confidently.
"If the fact of his being here, at the time referred to, would change in any respect your relation to him, then let me advise the most rigid investigation.

I cannot get rid of the impression that he really was here--and, let me speak a plainer word--nor that he met your daughter in the summer-house." Markland started as if an adder had stung him, uttering the word-- "Impossible!" "Understand me," calmly remarked the old man, "I do not say that it was so.

I have no proof to offer.

But the impression has haunted me ever since, and I cannot drive it away." "It is only an impression, then ?" "Nothing more." "But what, was there in my daughter's conduct that led you to so strange an impression ?" "Her manner was confused; a thing that has never happened at any previous meeting with her.