They all had something to say as to the peculiarity of his habits and the freaks of his mute servant.

They were both described as hermits, differing from the rest of their kind only in that they denied themselves no reasonable luxury and seemed to have adopted a shut-in life from a pure love of seclusion.

The master was never seen at the stores.

It was the servant who made the purchases, and this by means of gestures which were often strangely significant.

Indeed, he seemed to have great power of expressing himself by looks and actions, and rarely caused a mistake or made one.