pledge you my word of honour he’s never had a day’s illness, or made a single mistake, since he’s been with me.  He’s a quiet, steady-going, regular dragon at his work—­he is!  And then, so obliging in other things.  I’ve only got to say to him:  ’Here’s Margaret at home for the holidays;’ or, ’Here’s Margaret a little out of sorts, and going to be nursed at home for the half-year—­what’s to be done about keeping up her lessons?  I can’t pay for a governess (bad lot, governesses!) and school too.’—­I’ve only got to say that; and up gets Mannion from his books and his fireside at home, in the evening—­which begins to be something, you know, to a man of his time of life—­and turns tutor for me, gratis; and a first-rate tutor, too!  That’s what I call having a treasure!  And yet, though he’s been with us for years, Mrs. S. there won’t take to him!—­I defy her or anybody else to say why, or wherefore!”

“Do you know how he was employed before he came to you?”

“Ah! now you’ve hit it—­that’s where you’re right in saying he’s a mystery.  What he did before I knew him, is more than I can tell—­a good deal more.  He came to me with a capital recommendation and security, from a gentleman whom I knew to be of the highest respectability.  I had a vacancy in the back office, and tried him, and found out what he was worth, in no time—­I flatter myself I’ve a knack at that with everybody.  Well:  before I got used to his curious-looking face, and his quiet ways, I wanted badly enough to know something about him, and who his connections were.  First, I asked his friend who had recommended him—­the friend wasn’t at liberty to answer for anything but his perfect trustworthiness.  Then I asked Mannion himself point-blank about it, one day.  He just told me that he had reasons for keeping his family affairs to himself—­nothing more—­but you know the way he has with him; and, damn it, he put the stopper on me, from that time to this.  I wasn’t going to risk losing the best clerk that ever man had, by worrying him about his secrets.  They didn’t interfere with business, and didn’t interfere with me; so I put my curiosity in my pocket.  I know nothing about him, but that he’s my right-hand man, and the honestest fellow that ever stood in shoes.  He may be the Great Mogul himself, in disguise, for anything I care!  In short, you may be able to find out all about him, my dear Sir; but I can’t.”

“There does not seem much chance for me, Mr. Sherwin, after what you have said.”

“Well:  I’m not so sure of that—­plenty of chances here, you know.  You’ll see him often enough:  he lives near, and drops in constantly of evenings.  We settle business matters that won’t come into business hours, in my private snuggery up stairs.  In fact, he’s one of the family; treat him as such, and get anything out of him you can—­the more the better, as far as regards that.  Ah!  Mrs. S., you may stare, Ma’am; but I say again, he’s one of the family; may be, he’ll be my partner some of these days—­you’ll have to get used to him then, whether you like it or not.”