With sensations of horror which I could not then, and cannot now analyse, I turned to the next day’s paper; but found in it no further reference to the object of my search.  In the number for the day after, however, the subject was resumed in these words: 

“The mystery of the accident in Westwood Square thickens.  The sufferer is restored to consciousness; he is perfectly competent to hear and understand what is said to him, and is able to articulate, but not very plainly, and only for a moment or so, at a time.  The authorities at the hospital anticipated, as we did, that, on the patient’s regaining his senses, some information of the manner in which the terrible accident from which he is suffering was caused, would be obtained from him.  But, to the astonishment of every one, he positively refuses to answer any questions as to the circumstances under which his frightful injuries were inflicted.  With the same unaccountable secrecy, he declines to tell his name, his place of abode, or the names of any friends to whom notice of his situation might be communicated.  It is quite in vain to press him for any reason for this extraordinary course of conduct—­he appears to be a man of very unusual firmness of character; and his refusal to explain himself in any way, is evidently no mere caprice of the moment.  All this leads to the conjecture that the injuries he has sustained were inflicted on him from some motive of private vengeance; and that certain persons are concerned in this disgraceful affair, whom he is unwilling to expose to public odium, for some secret reason which it is impossible to guess at.  We understand that he bears the severe pain consequent upon his situation, in such a manner as to astonish every person about him—­no agony draws from him a word or a sigh.  He displayed no emotion even when the surgeons informed him that the sight of one of his eyes was hopelessly destroyed; and merely asked to be supplied with writing materials as soon as he could see to use them, when he was told that the sight of the other would be saved.  He further added, we are informed, that he was in a position to reward the hospital authorities for any trouble he gave, by making a present to the funds of the charity, as soon as he should be discharged as cured.  His coolness in the midst of sufferings which would deprive most other men of all power of thinking or speaking, is as remarkable as his unflinching secrecy—­a secrecy which, for the present at least, we cannot hope to penetrate.”

I closed the newspaper.  Even then, a vague forewarning of what Mannion’s inexplicable reserve boded towards me, crossed my mind.  There was yet more difficulty, danger, and horror to be faced, than I had hitherto confronted.  The slough of degradation and misery into which I had fallen, had its worst perils yet in store for me.