"And then," murmured Mr. Pickens, as if checking off a mental list, "there is a young man to go with the bridegroom, I believe. I never had one, but Miss Minnie says it's the fashion." "Oh, yes, a 'best man!'" explained his hostess, "but--the bridegroom usually selects one of his intimate friends for that." "I don't believe Mr. MacJacobs has any friends; round here, that is. He came from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, but he's never been there since he was a boy. He's been in New Orleans, and then in Europe, as travelling agent for MacVickar & Company. I suppose you've heard of _them_." "I dare say I can find a best man." "Thank you. You are very kind; yes, very kind indeed, I'm sure." "I presume," interposed the host, in bland accents, "you wish to give away the bride yourself?" "Yes!" said Mr. Pickens, starting; "oh, yes, I suppose I can, if there's not too much to do. Should I have to say anything?" "Scarcely," replied the clergyman, reassuringly. "I ask a question to which you are supposed to reply, but a nod will be quite sufficient. The bridegroom is generally audible, and sometimes the bride, but I have never heard a sound proceed from the bride's father." "Very good--very good; it will be very pleasant to join in your service, I am sure. Many thanks to you for your kind advice. I will now take my leave," and after a jerking bow or two he departed, with a sort of fluttering, bird-like step. The pastor laughed, but his wife looked sober. "Our friend is as amusing a specimen as I ever encountered," he began. "Amusing! I call him disgusting, with his 'Miss Minnie 'and 'take his leave.' He can't be a gentleman; there is something very suspicious about the whole affair." "Indeed! and what do you suspect?" "I don't believe there's a wedding at all. Perhaps he's an impostor who wants to get in here to steal." "Do you miss anything?" "No," said the lady, after a peep into her dining-room. "I can't say I do. But he may come back on this pretended wedding business. Are you sure that he really is Mr. Perley Pickens?" "Why, yes. I have never spoken to him before, but I have seen him at the post-office, opening his box, and again at the station. I cannot be mistaken in that walk of his." "Well, he may be the head of a gang of thieves, and have taken the house and got up this scheme of a wedding for some end of his own." "Such as what?" "Why, to cheat somebody, somehow. I am sure you will never get a wedding fee for it; and he may not pay any of the bills, and the people may bother us." "He gave me the name of his Boston bankers, May & Maxwell, to whom he said I could refer the tradespeople, if they wished it, 'being a stranger here himself,' as he justly remarked. But whom, my dear, do you expect to provide for ushers or best man?" "Oh, for ushers, the Crocker boys will do. They will be glad of something to amuse them in vacation." "Are they not rather young? Fred can hardly be eighteen yet."