Finally, the man paused before a restaurant and, turning, looked carefully up and down the street.  For the first time he observed Mr. Rosenbaum and seemed to regard him with close attention, but the latter gentleman was absorbed in the contemplation of an assortment of diamonds and various gems displayed in a jeweller’s window, directly opposite the restaurant.  In the mirrored back of the show-case the restaurant was plainly visible, and Mr. Rosenbaum noted with satisfaction the other’s evident interest in himself, and continued to study the contents of the show-case till the man had entered the restaurant, seating himself at one of the unoccupied tables.  Having observed his man well started on the first course of dinner, Mr. Rosenbaum crossed the street slowly, entered the restaurant and with a pre-occupied air seated himself at the same table with Mr. Mannering.  After giving his order, he proceeded to unfold the evening paper laid beside his plate, without even a glance at his vis-a-vis.  His thoughts, however, were not on the printed page, but upon the man opposite, whom he had followed from city to city, hearing of him by various names and under various guises; hitherto unable to obtain more than a fleeting glimpse of him, but now brought face to face.

“Alias Henry J. Mannering at last!” he commented mentally, as he refolded his paper; “you have led me a long chase, my man, but you and I will now have our little game, and I will force you to show your hand before it is over!”

Glancing casually across at his neighbor, he found the dark glasses focused upon himself with such fixity that he responded with a friendly nod, and, making some trivial remark, found Mr. Mannering not at all averse to conversation.  A few commonplaces were exchanged until the arrival of Mr. Rosenbaum’s order, when the other remarked,-

“Evidently you do not find the cuisine of the Clifton House entirely satisfactory.”

“It is very good,” Mr. Rosenbaum answered, indifferently, “but an occasional change is agreeable.  By the way, sir, have I met you at the Clifton?  I do not remember to have had that pleasure.”

“We have not met,” replied the other.  “I saw you there last evening, however, as I happened in soon after your arrival.”

“Ah, so?  I am very deficient in remembering faces.”

Mr. Mannering hesitated a moment, then remarked with a smile, “I, on the contrary, am quite observant of faces, and yours seems somewhat familiar; have I not seen you elsewhere than here?”

Mr. Rosenbaum raised his eyebrows in amusement.  “It is very possible you have, my dear sir; I travel constantly, and for aught that I know you may have seen me in nearly every city on the globe.  May I inquire your business, sir?  Do you also travel?”

“No,” said Mr. Mannering, slowly, but apparently relieved by Mr. Rosenbaum’s answer, “I am not engaged in any particular line of business at present.  I am interested in mining to a considerable extent, and am out here just now looking after my properties.  How do you find business in your line?”