He paused a moment, during which he could perceive that the stranger had a spirit not to be tampered with.
"No, sir," he replied, "not exactly to you, but when persons such as you come in this skulking way, probably for the purpose of insinuating themselves into families of rank--" "Have I, sir, attempted to insinuate myself into yours," asked the stranger, interrupting him.
"When such persons come under circumstances of strong suspicion," said the other, without replying to him, "it is the business of every gentleman in the country to keep a vigilant eye upon them." "I shall hold myself accountable to no such gentleman," replied the stranger; "but will consider every man, no matter what his rank or character may be, as unwarrantably impertinent, who arrogantly attempts to intrude himself in affairs that don't--" he was about to add, "that don't concern him," when he paused, and added, "into any man's affairs.
Every man has a right to travel incognito, and to live incognito, if he chooses; and, on that account, sir, so long as I wish to maintain mine, I shall allow no man to assume the right of penetrating it.

If this has been the object of your visit, you will much oblige me by relinquishing the one, and putting an end to the other, as soon as may be." "As a magistrate, sir, I demand to know your name," said the baronet, who thought that, in the stranger's momentary hesitation, he had observed symptoms of yielding.
"As an independent man, sir, and a gentleman, I shall not answer such a question." "You brave me, sir--you defy me." continued the other, his face still pale, but baleful in its expression.
"Yes, sir," replied the other, "I brave you--I defy you." "Very well, sir," returned the baronet--"remember these words." "I am not in the habit of forgetting anything that a man of spirit ought to remember," said the other--"I have the honor of wishing you a good-morning." The baronet withdrew in a passion that had risen to red heat, and was proceeding to mount his horse at the door, when Counsellor Crackenfudge, who had followed him downstairs, thus addressed him: "I beg your pardon, Sir Thomas; I happened to be sitting in the back-room while you were speaking to that strange fellow above; I pledge you my honor I did not listen; but I could not help overhearing, you know--well, Sir Thomas, I can tell you something about him." "How!" said the baronet, whose eye I gleamed with delight--"Can you, in truth, tell me anything about him, Mr.Crackenfudge?
You will oblige me very much if you do." "I will tell you all I know about him, Sir Thomas," replied the worthy counsellor; "and that is, that I know he has paid many secret visits to Mr.Birney the attorney." "To Birney!" exclaimed the other; and, as he spoke, he seemed actually to stagger back a step or two, whilst the paleness of his complexion increased to a hue that was ghastly--"to Birney!--to my blackest and bitterest enemy--to the man who, I suspect, has important family documents of mine in his possession.

Thanks, even for this, Crackenfudge--you are looking to become of the peace.

Hearken now; aid me in ferreting out this lurking scoundrel, and I shall not forget your wishes." He then rode homewards.
The stranger, during this stormy dialogue with Sir Thomas Gourlay, turned his eye, from time to time, toward Fenton, who appeared to have lost consciousness itself so long as the baronet was in the room.

On the departure, however, of that gentleman, he went over to him, and said: "Why, Fenton, what's the matter ?" Fenton looked at him with a face of great distress, from which the perspiration was pouring, but seemed utterly unable to speak..