This then was the meaning of his call. He wished to know whether I had seen him in Coll McSheen's office the night before. He had delivered himself into my hands. So, I answered lightly. "Oh! yes, sometimes." I had led him up to the point and I knew now he was afraid to take a step further. He sheered off. "Well, tell me something," he said, "if you don't mind. Do you know Mr. Leigh?" "What Mr. Leigh?" "Mr. Walter Leigh, the banker." "I don't mind telling you at all that I do not." "Oh!" I thought he was going to offer me a case; but Peck was economical. He already had one lawyer. "I had a letter of introduction to him from Mr. Poole," I said. "But you can say to Mr. Poole that I never presented it." "Oh! Ah! Well--I'll tell him." "Do." "Do you know Mr. McSheen?" I nodded "Yes." "Do you know him well?" "Does any one know him well?" I parried. "He has an office in this building?" I could not, for the life of me, tell whether this was an affirmation or a question. So I merely nodded, which answered in either case. But I was pining to say to him, "Peck, why don't you come out with it and ask me plainly what I know of your conference the other night?" However, I did not. I had learned to play a close game. "Oh! I saw your nigger, Jeams--ah--the other day." "Did you? Where is he?" I wanted to find him, and asked innocently enough. "Back at home." "How is he getting on?" "Pretty well, I believe. He's a big rascal." "Yes, but a pleasant one, and an open one." Peck suddenly rose, "Well, I must be going. I have an engagement which I must keep." At the door he paused. "By the way, Mrs. Peck begged to be remembered to you." He had a way of blinking, like a terrapin--slowly. He did so now. He did not mean his tone to be insolent--only to be insolent himself--but it was. "I'm very much obliged to her. Remember me to her." That afternoon I strolled out, hoping to get a glimpse of Miss Leigh. I did so, but Peck was riding in a carriage with her and her father. So he won the last trick, after all. But the rubber was not over. I was glad that they did not see me, and I returned to my office filled with rage and determined to unmask Peck the first chance I should have, not because he was a trickster and a liar, but because he was applying his trickiness in the direction of Miss Leigh.