As the night wore on, his anger and uneasiness increased; and yet he lingered until the last moment, torturing himself with all kinds of speculations as to what was the nature of the feeling that Ellen entertained for Joshua. Every expression of gladness that fell from her lips concerning Joshua and Joshua's career was painful to him, and it was with a bitter heart that he left the house, with the flower still in his coat. He was hot and feverish as he closed the street-door behind him, and he was not sorry to find that a heavy rain was falling. He took off his hat and bared his head to the rain. Within the house he had been compelled to repress expression of his feelings; it was a relief to him now to feel that no one was by, and that he could speak out at last. And the first words he uttered, as he smoothed his wet hair and put on his hat, were, "Damn Joshua Marvel! I would give money to drown him!" As he spoke the words aloud, he was conscious of a slouching figure at his side. Although it was raining, the night was not quite dark there was enough light for him to notice that the man who had approached him was in rags--most probably a beggar. Muttering that he had nothing to give, Solomon Fewster walked on. But the man was not to be so easily shaken off, and Mr. Fewster being in an eminently quarrelsome mood turned upon him, and repeated in no civil tone that he had nothing to give. "I have not asked you for any thing," said the man, surlily, "though if I had, you might speak to me more civilly, Mr. Fewster." They were passing a lamp-post, and, attracted by the utterance of his name, Mr. Fewster stopped and said,-- "How do you know my name?" "I know it; that is enough," was the answer. "Ah!" said Mr. Fewster, regarding the Lascar with curiosity and recognizing him, "I have seen you before, my man." "That is not saying much against me, master," said the Lascar, rather sneeringly. "I have seen _you_ before; so we're equal. "And whenever I have seen you, it has been in this street," continued Mr. Fewster. "And pretty well whenever I have seen you, it has been in this street," retorted the Lascar; "you seem to be as fond of it as I am." "And generally of a night." "The same to you master; and what then? The street is free to me as it is to you. Look you. I know more than you are aware of. If it comes to that, why do you go so often to that house?" The sudden look of discomposure that flashed into Mr. Fewster's face was not lost upon the Lascar, who had seen him walking by Ellen's side more than once, and who had stealthily followed them on every occasion. "Look you, master. What one man does for love, another man does for hate." "Hate of whom? What do you mean?" "The people in that house have received letters from Joshua Marvel to-day." "Well, what of that?"