"Yes. The house was scarcely ready when we signed the agreement. Then this Mr Johns, or Jones--I am not sure which he said--went on in a rather extraordinary way to persuade me to sublet it to him. He said that the house was dear and I could get plenty, more convenient, at less rent, and it was unhealthy, and the drains were bad, and that we should be pestered by tramps and it was just the sort of house that burglars picked on, only he had taken a sort of fancy to it and he would give me a fifty-pound premium for the term." "Did he explain the motive for this rather eccentric partiality?" "I don't imagine that he did. He repeated several times that he was a queer old fellow with his whims and fancies and that they often cost him dear." "I think we all know that sort of old fellow," said Carrados. "It must have been rather entertaining for you, Mrs Bellmark." "Yes, I suppose it was," she admitted. "The next thing we knew of him was that he had taken the other house as soon as it was finished." "Then he would scarcely require this?" "I am afraid not." It was obvious that the situation was not disposed of. "But he seems to have so little furniture there and to live so solitarily," she explained, "that we have even wondered whether he might not be there merely as a sort of caretaker." "And you have never heard where he came from or who he is?" "Only what the milkman told my servant--our chief source of local information, Mr Carrados. He declares that the man used to be the butler at a large house that stood here formerly, Fountain Court, and that his name is neither Johns nor Jones. But very likely it is all a mistake." "If not, he is certainly attached to the soil," was her visitor's rejoinder. "And, apropos of that, will you show me over your garden before I go, Mrs Bellmark?" "With pleasure," she assented, rising also. "I will ring now and then I can offer you tea when we have been round. That is, if you----?" "Thank you, I do," he replied. "And would you allow my man to go through into the garden--in case I require him?" "Oh, certainly. You must tell me just what you want without thinking it necessary to ask permission, Mr Carrados," she said, with a pretty air of protection. "Shall Amy take a message?" He acquiesced and turned to the servant who had appeared in response to the bell. "Will you go to the car and tell my man--Parkinson--that I require him here. Say that he can bring his book; he will understand." "Yes, sir." They stepped out through the French window and sauntered across the lawn. Before they had reached the other side Parkinson reported himself. "You had better stay here," said his master, indicating the sward generally. "Mrs Bellmark will allow you to bring out a chair from the drawing-room." "Thank you, sir; there is a rustic seat already provided," replied Parkinson. He sat down with his back to the houses and opened the book that he had brought. Let in among its pages was an ingeniously contrived mirror.