In Liverpool he had heard tidings of Mrs Hurtle, though it can hardly be said that he obtained any trustworthy information.  The lady after landing from an American steamer had been at Mr Ramsbottom’s office, inquiring for him, Paul; and Mr Ramsbottom had thought that the inquiries were made in a manner indicating danger.  He therefore had spoken to a fellow-traveller with Mrs Hurtle, and the fellow-traveller had opined that Mrs Hurtle was ‘a queer card.’  ’On board ship we all gave it up to her that she was about the handsomest woman we had ever seen, but we all said that there was a bit of the wild cat in her breeding.’  Then Mr Ramsbottom had asked whether the lady was a widow.  ‘There was a man on board from Kansas,’ said the fellow-traveller...