It is my opinion, too, that that woman was the cause of his unhappiness, and I believe she is at the bottom of all this trouble." Their conversation had drifted to the mystery then surrounding them, and for more than an hour they dwelt on that subject, advancing many surmises, some strangely improbable, but none of which seemed to bring them any nearer a solution of the problem.
"My first visit to this country has proved an eventful one," said young Mainwaring, as, at a late hour, they finally separated for the night, "and I don't know yet how it may terminate; but there's one thing I shall look back upon with pleasure, and that is my meeting with you; and I hope that from this time or we will be friends; and that this friendship, begun to-night, will be renewed in old England many a time." "Are you not rather rash," Scott inquired, slowly, "considering how little we know of each other, the circumstances under which we have met, and the uncertainty of what the future may reveal ?" "No; I'm peculiar.

When I like a fellow, I like him; and I've been studying you pretty closely.

I don't think we need either of us be troubled about the future; but I'm your friend, Scott, and, whatever happens, I'll stand by you." "So be it, then, Hugh," replied the secretary, clasping the hand of the young Englishman and, for the first time, calling him by name.
"I thank you, and I hope you will never go back on that.".