“You are a stranger in Brookville, sir?” observed Wesley Elliot, politely.

He had already decided that the man was neither a colporteur nor a clerical mendicant; his clothes were too good, for one thing.

The man laughed, a short, unpleasant sound which ended in a fit of coughing.

“A stranger in Brookville?” he echoed.  “Well; not precisely....  But never mind that, young man.  Now, you’re a clergyman, and on that account supposed to have more than ordinary good judgment:  what would you advise a man to do, who had—­er—­been out of active life for a number of years.  In a hospital, we’ll say, incapacitated, very much so.  When he comes out, he finds himself quite pleasantly situated, in a way; good home, and all that sort of thing; but not allowed to—­to use his judgment in any way.  Watched—­yes, watched, by a person who ought to know better.  It’s intolerable—­intolerable!  Why, you’ll not believe me when I tell you I’m obliged to sneak out of my own house on the sly—­on the sly, you understand, for the purpose of taking needful exercise.”

He stopped short and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, the fineness of which the minister noted mechanically—­with other details which had before escaped him; such as the extreme, yellowish pallor of the man’s face and hands and the extraordinary swiftness and brightness of his eyes.  He was conscious of growing uneasiness as he said: 

“That sounds very unpleasant, sir; but as I am not in possession of the facts—­”

“But I just told you,” interrupted the stranger.  “Didn’t I say—­”

“You didn’t make clear to me what the motives of this person who tries to control your movements are.  You didn’t tell me—­”

The man moved his hand before his face, like one trying to brush away imaginary flies.

“I suppose she has her motives,” he said fretfully.  “And very likely they’re good.  I’ll not deny that.  But I can’t make her see that this constant espionage—­this everlasting watchfulness is not to be borne.  I want freedom, and by God I’ll have it!”

He sprang from his chair and began pacing the room.

Wesley Elliot stared at his visitor without speaking.  He perceived that the man dragged his feet, as if from excessive fatigue or weakness.

“I had no thought of such a thing,” the stranger went on.  “I’d planned, as a man will who looks forward to release from—­from a hospital, how I’d go about and see my old neighbors.  I wanted to have them in for dinners and luncheons—­people I haven’t seen for years.  She knows them.  She can’t excuse herself on that ground.  She knows you.”

He stopped short and eyed the minister, a slow grin spreading over his face.

“The last time you were at my house I had a good mind to walk in and make your acquaintance, then and there.  I heard you talking to her.  You admire my daughter:  that’s easy to see; and she’s not such a bad match, everything considered.”