Near the front entrance of the hotel stood three men chatting,--men whose characters the experienced are never at a loss to know at once; a gentlemanly looking class, well dressed, of affable manners, and of the greatest shrewdness of address; men whose colloquial powers are very great at times, but who know how to measure every word, and adapt it to the precise wants of the individual whom they may happen to address. These were of a class always infesting the hotels, especially the better ones, of the city, and whose business it is to "rope in" strangers into the various gambling saloons. Upon the approach of Mr. Purvis, two of these worthies, bidding the other a cordial adieu for the evening, and addressing him in a style to indicate that he was a man of unusual importance, withdrew up Broadway. Still this courtliness was evidently intended to bear upon Mr. Purvis, who was in hearing; and as he drew nearer the distinguished gentleman, the latter addressed him, in a mild way, touching the weather,-- "A very pleasant evening, sir." "Decidedly. You seldom enjoy a finer one here in New York, I suppose?" "O, I don't know about that. The weather here is usually pretty fair. Are you a stranger, sir, in New York, allow me to ask?" "Not a stranger exactly, but not a resident. I have been here considerably, off and on--enough to know the city pretty well, I reckon." "That's my case exactly, for the last few years, though I formerly resided here for a while. A pretty stirring place to get into, if one knows all the avenues of business or pleasure, sir." "Surely, but I have never had occasion to learn much of these." "Well, I too have only a limited acquaintance here, yet I always find my way around without much difficulty--generally going about with some friends, of whom I have a few here, formerly from my native State, Connecticut." "Ah, Connecticut? Do you know anything about Hartford? Perhaps you are from there?" "Yes, sir, that is my native place, and a pleasant little city 'tis. Great deal of wealth and refinement there, sir." "Yes, I know it. I had a cousin from Arkansas there, at Trinity College, some years ago, and a gay boy, too, was Bill Sebastian" (if I rightly remember the name he gave). "I visited him there during his collegiate course, and spent a delightful week. Old Sam Colt was a trifle gay--wasn't he? Well, we had a jolly time with him one night, and several more of the jolly men of Hartford, in rooms at the old City Hotel. You know where that is?" "Of course; and it has witnessed many a festive meeting. The Trinity boys always go there for their fun." "I am glad to learn that you are from Hartford. I've thought I should visit that town before I return. Do you intend to return there soon?" "Yes, I may go up to-morrow, but I may remain here a day or two more. Should you be going up when I go, I should be pleased to have your company."