An eminently respectable tradesman was seated in his cosy little parlour, or counting-house, at the back of his shop, within a mile of the Mansion House in the City of London, one summer afternoon in the year 1861. His wife was the only other person present on this occasion. It was an unusual circumstance for this lady to be there, as Mr. Delmar also occupied, for purposes of residence, a neat little house in an eastern suburb of the metropolis. He was, moreover, the father of a family. He had four sons and three daughters, whose ages varied between seven and twenty-two. He was churchwarden of the parish in which he carried on business. He was regarded as the very pattern of domestic virtue, and a model of rectitude in business. Few men, indeed, in the whole world enjoyed a better reputation than Mr. Delmar. Nobody had ever breathed a word against his character, and nobody had a right to do so. His fireside was as cheerful as moderate prosperity, a good wife, and dutiful children could render it. These particulars about Mr. Delmar, his family, his connexions, his circumstances, and his reputation, are necessary to enable the reader to appreciate the incidents I have to describe. Mrs. Delmar had come to town, on the present occasion, for the legitimate purpose of shopping. She was giving her prudent spouse an estimate of the call she needed--or considered that she needed--to make upon his purse for a variety of domestic necessities, from little child's-shoes to her own and her eldest daughter's bonnets. Mr. Delmar was checking off the anticipated outlay, or, as I may put it, revising the domestic estimates, with a prudence quite commendable and, I also think, consistent with a good husband and father's affection for those dependent on him. An assistant of Mr. Delmar's entered the parlour, or counting-house, and observed, "A gentleman wishes to see you, sir, in the shop." "Show him in, Williams." "He says he wishes to see you privately, sir." "Privately!" exclaimed Mr. Delmar, in tones of surprise; "show him in;" and the speaker glanced at his better half as he finished the sentence. Williams left the room and informed the gentleman, who was standing in the shop, that his master wished him to walk in. "You told me," observed the unknown visitor to the shopman, "that Mrs. Delmar was with her husband?" "Yes, sir," was the reply. "I would rather Mr. Delmar should step out to me." "He will not do it, sir. He says you are to go in to him." "Well, I will see him." The unknown visitor advanced to the apartment in which the worthy and happy couple were closeted; he cautiously, not to say nervously, opened the door, and seemed to halt in the execution of his purpose. "I would very much rather see you alone, sir, for a moment." "You cannot see me alone, sir; this lady is my wife." "My business is private." "I have no private business or secrets unknown to my wife, sir," exclaimed Mr. Delmar, growing a little irritated.