“Ahem! not at present; the fact is I am obliged to give so much of my time to callers--I have to-day been obliged to see half a dozen--that I must lock myself up and say 'Not at home' for the rest of the day.” Feeling that this was an intimation that the interview was over, the new private secretary, a little dashed as to his near hopes, but still sanguine of the future, humbly took his leave. But here a certain Providence, perhaps mindful of poor Dobbs, threw into his simple hands--to be used or not, if he were worthy or capable of using it--a certain power and advantage. He had descended the staircase, and was passing through the lower corridor, when he was made the unwilling witness of a remarkable assault. It appeared that Mr. Wiles, who had quitted Gashwiler's presence as Dobbs was announced, had other business in the hotel, and in pursuance of it had knocked at room No. 90. In response to the gruff voice that bade him enter, Mr. Wiles opened the door, and espied the figure of a tall, muscular, fiery-bearded man extended on the bed, with the bedclothes carefully tucked under his chin, and his arms lying flat by his side. Mr. Wiles beamed with his right cheek, and advanced to the bed as if to take the hand of the stranger, who, however, neither by word or sign responded to his salutation. “Perhaps I'm intruding?” said Mr. Wiles blandly. “Perhaps you are,” said Red Beard dryly. Mr. Wiles forced a smile on his right cheek, which he turned to the smiter, but permitted the left to indulge in unlimited malevolence. “I wanted merely to know if you have looked into that matter?” he said meekly. “I've looked into it and round it and across it and over it and through it,” responded the man gravely, with his eyes fixed on Wiles. “And you have perused all the papers?” continued Mr. Wiles. “I've read every paper, every speech, every affidavit, every decision, every argument,” said the stranger as if repeating a formula. Mr. Wiles attempted to conceal his embarrassment by an easy, right-handed smile, that went off sardonically on the left, and continued: “Then I hope, my dear sir, that, having thoroughly mastered the case, you are inclined to be favorable to us?” The gentleman in the bed did not reply, but apparently nestled more closely beneath the coverlids. “I have brought the shares I spoke of,” continued Mr. Wiles, insinuatingly. “Hev you a friend within call?” interrupted the recumbent man gently. “I don't quite understand!” smiled Mr. Wiles. “Of course any name you might suggest--” “Hev you a friend, any chap that you might waltz in here at a moment's call?” continued the man in bed. “No? Do you know any of them waiters in the house? Thar's a bell over yan!” and he motioned with his eyes towards the wall, but did not otherwise move his body. “No,” said Wiles, becoming slightly suspicious and wrathful. “Mebbe a stranger might do? I reckon thar's one passin' in the hall. Call him in,--he'll do!”