“I’m afraid not.  But for the failing I have mentioned, you could hardly find a more capable, useful, or pleasant man in the neighbourhood; but this mars all.”

“It mars all for me, and for reasons I have just mentioned,” said Mr. Willet; “so we will have to pass him by.  Is there any other available man about here, who would make a trusty overseer?”

“I do not think of one, but will make it my business to inquire,” returned Mr. Markland.  “How soon will you move out?”

“In about a week.  On Monday we shall send a few loads of furniture.”

“Cannot you hire Mr. Ashton’s gardener?  He is trusty in every respect.”

“Some one has been ahead of me,” replied Mr. Willet.  “He is already engaged, and will leave to-morrow.”

“I’m sorry for that.  Mr. Ashton spoke highly of him.”

“His work speaks for him,” said Mr. Willet.  “The whole place is in beautiful order.”

“Yes, it has always been the pride of its owner, and admiration of the neighbourhood.  I don’t know how Mr. Ashton could make up his mind to part with it.”

“I am certainly much obliged to him for yielding it to me,” said Mr. Willet.  “I regard myself as particularly fortunate.  But I will not detain you.  If you should think or hear of any one who will suit my purpose, I shall be under particular obligations if you will let me know.”

“If I can serve you in the matter, be sure that I will do so,” replied Mr. Markland.

Mr. Willet thanked him warmly for the proffered kindness, and then the two men separated, each strongly and favourably impressed by the other.

“That startling mystery is solved,” said Mr. Markland, taking a deep breath.  “This is the other Dromio.  I don’t wonder that Mr. Allison and Mr. Lamar were deceived.  I was, for a moment.  What a likeness he bears to Mr. Lyon!  Ah, well!—­the matter has worried me, for a short time, dreadfully.  I was sure that I knew my man; but this strange affirmation in regard to him threw me into terrible doubts.  Thank fortune! the mystery is completely solved.  I must go back to the city this very afternoon, and see Brainard.  It will not do for him to remain long in doubt.  His mind might take a new direction, and become interested in some other enterprise.  There is no other man with whom, in so important a business as this, I would care to be associated.”

And Mr. Markland, thus communing with himself, moved onward, with light and rapid footsteps, toward his dwelling.  A mountain had been lifted from his heart.

CHAPTER XIV.

“You had a visitor this afternoon,” said Mr. Markland, as he sat conversing with his wife and daughter, soon after his arrival from the city.

“I believe not,” returned Mrs. Markland.  “Oh, yes.  I met a gentleman coming from this direction, and he said that he had been here.”

“A gentleman?  Who?”