"No harm can grow out of a few inquiries," was answered. "They may lead to the truth we so much desire to elucidate, and identify the person seen by Mr. Lamar as a very different individual from Mr. Lyon." Under the existing position of things, no further steps in the very important business they had in progress could be taken that day. After an hour's further conference, the two men parted, under arrangement to meet again in the morning. CHAPTER XII. IT was scarcely mid-day when Mr. Markland's carriage drew near to Woodbine Lodge. As he was about entering the gateway to his grounds, he saw Mr. Allison, a short distance beyond, coming down the road. So he waited until the old gentleman came up. "Home again," said Mr. Allison, in his pleasant, interested way, as he extended his hand. "When did you arrive?" "Last evening," replied Mr. Markland. "Been to the city this morning, I suppose." "Yes. Some matters of business required my attention. The truth is, Mr. Allison, I grow more and more wearied with my inactive life, and find relief in any new direction of thought." "You do not design re-entering into business?" "I have no such present purpose." Mr. Markland stepped from his carriage, as he thus spoke, and told the driver to go forward to the house. "Though it is impossible to say where we may come out when we enter a new path. I am not a man to do things by halves. Whatever I undertake, I am apt to prosecute with considerable activity and concentration of thought." "So I should suppose. It is best, however, for men of your temperament to act with prudence and wise forethought in the beginning--to look well to the paths they are about entering; for they are very apt to go forward with a blind perseverance that will not look a moment from the end proposed." "There is truth in your remark, no doubt. But I always try to be sure that I am right before I go ahead. David Crockett's homely motto gives the formula for all high success in life." "Yes; he spoke wisely. There would be few drones in our hive, if all acted up to his precept." "Few, indeed. Oh! I get out of all patience sometimes with men in business; they act with such feebleness of nerve--such indecision of purpose. They seem to have no life--none of those clear intuitions that spring from an ardent desire to reach a clearly-seen goal. Without earnestness and concentration, nothing of more than ordinary importance is ever effected. Until a man taxes every faculty of his mind to the utmost, he cannot know the power that is in him." "Truly said. And I am for every man doing his best; but doing it in the right way. It is deplorable to see the amount of wasted effort there is in the world. The aggregate of misapplied energy is enormous." "What do you call misapplied energy?" said Markland. "The energy directed by a wrong purpose." "Will you define for me a wrong purpose?" "Yes; a merely selfish purpose is a wrong one." "All men are selfish," said Mr. Markland.