It may have been perfectly natural that this man's presence shed off all idea of medical consultation; but why should it instantly bring to the Doctor's mind, as an answer to his question, another man as different from this one as water from fire? The detective returned the Doctor's salutation, and they became seated. Then the visitor craved permission to ask a confidential question or two for information which he was seeking in his official capacity. His manners were a little old-fashioned, but perfect of their kind. The Doctor consented. The man put his hand into his breast-pocket, and drew out a daguerreotype case, touched its spring, and as it opened in his palm extended it to the Doctor. The Doctor took it with evident reluctance. It contained the picture of a youth who was just reaching manhood. The detective spoke:-- "They say he ought to look older than that now." "He does," said Dr. Sevier. "Do you know his name?" inquired the detective. "No." "What name do you know him by?" "John Richling." "Wasn't he sent down by Recorder Munroe, last summer, for assault, etc.?" "Yes. I got him out the next day. He never should have been put in." To the Doctor's surprise the detective rose to go. "I'm much obliged to you, Doctor." "Is that all you wanted to ask me?" "Yes, sir." "Mr. Izard, who is this young man? What has he done?" "I don't know, sir. I have a letter from a lawyer in Kentucky who says he represents this young man's two sisters living there,--half-sisters, rather,--stating that his father and mother are both dead,--died within three days of each other." "What name?" "He didn't give the name. He sent this daguerreotype, with instructions to trace up the young man, if possible. He said there was reason to believe he was in New Orleans. He said, if I found him, just to see him privately, tell him the news, and invite him to come back home. But he said if the young fellow had got into any kind of trouble that might somehow reflect on the family, you know, like getting arrested for something or other, you know, or some such thing, then I was just to drop the thing quietly, and say nothing about it to him or anybody else." "And doesn't that seem a strange way to manage a matter like that,--to put it into the hands of a detective?" "Well, I don't know," said Mr. Izard. "We're used to strange things, and this isn't so very strange. No, it's very common. I suppose he knew that if he gave it to me it would be attended to in a quiet and innocent sort o' way. Some people hate mighty bad to get talked about. Nobody's seen that picture but you and one 'aid,' and just as soon as he saw it he said, 'Why, that's the chap that Dr. Sevier took out of the Parish Prison last September.' And there won't anybody else see it." "Don't you intend to see Richling?" asked the Doctor, following the detective toward the door.