My heart beat quicker—­was he, unasked, about to disclose the mystery which evidently hung over his early life?  No:  he dropped the subject at once, when he continued.  I longed to ask him to resume it, but could not.  I feared the same repulse which Mr. Sherwin had received:  and remained silent.

“What I was,” he proceeded, “matters little; the question is what can I do for you?  Any aid I can give, may be poor enough; but it may be of some use notwithstanding.  For instance, the other day, if I mistake not, you were a little hurt at Mr. Sherwin’s taking his daughter to a party to which the family had been invited.  This was very natural.  You could not be there to watch over her in your real character, without disclosing a secret which must be kept safe; and you could not know what young men she might meet, who would imagine her to be Miss Sherwin still, and would regulate their conduct accordingly.  Now, I think I might be of use here.  I have some influence—­perhaps in strict truth I ought to say great influence—­with my employer; and, if you wished it, I would use that influence to back yours, in inducing him to forego, for the future, any intention of taking his daughter into society, except when you desire it.  Again:  I think I am not wrong in assuming that you infinitely prefer the company of Mrs. Sherwin to that of Mr. Sherwin, during your interviews with the young lady?”

How he had found that out?  At any rate, he was right; and I told him so candidly.

“The preference is on many accounts a very natural one,” he said; “but if you suffered it to appear to Mr. Sherwin, it might, for obvious reasons, produce a most unfavourable effect.  I might interfere in the matter, however, without suspicion; I should have many opportunities of keeping him away from the room, in the evening, which I could use if you wished it.  And more than that, if you wanted longer and more frequent communication with North Villa than you now enjoy, I might be able to effect this also.  I do not mention what I could do in these, and in other matters, in any disparagement, Sir, of the influence which you have with Mr. Sherwin, in your own right; but because I know that in what concerns your intercourse with his daughter, my employer has asked, and will ask my advice, from the habit of doing so in other things.  I have hitherto declined giving him this advice in your affairs; but I will give it, and in your favour and the young lady’s, if you and she choose.”

I thanked him—­but not in such warm terms as I should have employed, if I had seen even the faintest smile on his face, or had heard any change in his steady, deliberate tones, as he spoke.  While his words attracted, his immovable looks repelled me, in spite of myself.

“I must again beg you”—­he proceeded—­“to remember what I have already said, in your estimate of the motives of my offer.  If I still appear to be interfering officiously in your affairs, you have only to think that I have presumed impertinently on the freedom you have allowed me, and to treat me no longer on the terms of to-night.  I shall not complain of your conduct, and shall try hard not to consider you unjust to me, if you do.”