a manner that his thoughts were elsewhere had nearly traversed the hall when two persons before him caught his attention one of these a gentleman in elegant attire carried in his hand a cane which he in a manner as he on the other an crouching figure listened to what he said � at times throwing in a humble word himself � and with his shoulders shrugged up to his ears rubbed his hands or answered at intervals by an inclination of the head half way between a nod of acquiescence and a bow of most profound respect in the abstract there was nothing very remarkable in this pair for waiting on a handsome suit of clothes and a cane � not to speak of gold and silver sticks or of office � is common enough but there was that about the well dressed man yes and about the other likewise which struck mr with no pleasant feeling he hesitated stopped and would have stepped aside and turned out of his path but at the moment the other two faced about and stumbled upon him before he could avoid the with the cane lifted his hat and had begun to tender an apology which mr had begun as hastily to acknowledge and walk away when he stopped short and cried bless me this is strange indeed it is he returned impatiently yes � a � my dear friend cried the other him why such great speed one minute for the sake of old acquaintance i am in haste he said neither of us has sought this meeting let it be a brief one good night replied sir john for it was he how very we were speaking of you your name was on my lips � perhaps you heard me mention it no i am sorry for that i am really sorry � you know our friend here this is really a most remarkable meeting the friend plainly very ill at ease had made bold to press sir john s arm and to give him other significant hints that he was desirous of this introduction as it did not suit sir john s purpose however that it should be he appeared quite unconscious of these silent and inclined his hand towards him as he spoke to call attention to him more particularly the friend therefore had nothing for it but to muster up the smile he could and to make a bow as mr turned his eyes upon him seeing that he was recognised he put out his hand in an awkward and embarrassed manner which was not mended by its contemptuous mr said coldly it is as i have heard then you have left the darkness for the light sir and hate those whose opinions yon formerly held with all the bitterness of a you are an honour sir to any cause i wish the one you at present much joy of the acquisition it has made the secretary rubbed his hands and bowed as though he would his adversary by himself before him sir john again exclaimed with an air of great gaiety now really this is a most remarkable meeting and took a pinch of snuff with his usual self possession mr said stealthily raising his eyes and letting them drop again when they met the other s steady gaze is too conscientious too honourable too manly i am sure to attach unworthy motives to an honest of opinions even though it a doubt of those he holds himself mr is too just too generous too in his moral vision to � yes sir he rejoined with a sarcastic smile finding that the secretary stopped you were saying � meekly shrugged his shoulders and looking on the ground again was silent no but let us really interposed sir john at this juncture let us really for a moment contemplate the very remarkable character of this meeting my dear mend pardon me if i think you are not sufficiently impressed with its here we stand by no previous appointment or arrangement three old in westminster hall three old in a remarkably dull and shady at st s where you being and of necessity educated out of england were brought up and where i being a promising young at that time was sent to learn the french tongue from a native of paris add to the sir john said mr that some of you of promise are at this moment in yonder building to prevent our having the surpassing and unheard of privilege of teaching our children to read and write � here � in this land where thousands of us enter your service every year and to preserve the freedom of which we die in bloody battles abroad in heaps and that others of you to the number of some thousands as i learn are led on to look on all men of my creed as wolves and beasts of prey by this man add to it besides the bare fact that this man lives in society walks the streets in broad day � i was about to say holds up his head but that he does not � and it will be strange and very strange i grant you oh you are hard upon our friend replied sir john with an engaging smile you are really very hard upon our friend let him go on � ir john said with his gloves let him go on i can make sir john i am honoured with yo or good opinion and i can dispense with mr s mr is a from the laws and i can t expect his favour you have so much of my favour sir retorted mr with a bitter glance at the third party in their s that i am glad to see you in such good company you are the essence of your great association in yourselves now there you said sir john 