New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14

BY WALTER HERRIEs POLLOCK.

BY WALTER HERRIES POLLOCK.
Darse Latiiner as he sat one afternoon in his
rooms on Campden Hill. resembled the party in
a parlor crammed," in that he drinking
tea and was silent Let us hope that the re-
semblance did not extend to the less enviable
quality attaching to those good folk To him
presently entered, to disturb or enven his med-
tations, his friend Mr.. Peregrine, 1.-THE Agent,
TO whom few words of commented descrip-
ton may not be amiss for those who have not
yet made his acquaintance. Mr.. PereSrlne,
then, was n man of slight but extremely slgnlh-
cant appearance. with a curiously Oriental cast
Of cOuntenance and with a singular charm oil
manner. the almost silky suavness OF when
emphasized rather than concealed an obvious
habit of sef-reance and Of command. The
brass plate outside his Office (Which was more
like deicately appointed library than an ordl-
Strand bore the inscription, "Mr. Peregrine
Agent" with no further clew to his special call
ing What this was, however, may be inferred
from the facts that when Morton, an intimate
friend OF Latimer's, found himself saddled with
badly haunted house. Peregrine had with the
assistance OF one of his clients known as The
Green Lady, cleared the mansion OF all superfu-
Gus and annoying ghosts. and that on another
occasion when the same Morton was IN great
straits to find actors for theatrical entertain
ment which he had promised at another house
Of his, Peregrine had come to the rescue with
complete company of players VINO had the pest
reasons for knowing the first-literally the htst-
traditions of the business and so on OF Ihe
Rivals" as designed by Sheridan himself, ana
who appeared and disappeared IN strange m|s-
terry.
Such briefly was the person who entered
Latimer's rooms, and with graceful bow ana
smile accepted the cigar and cup OF tea Whch
Darsie knowing his ways, silently onered MN.
1t WAS so seldom that Peregrine called upon any
one-even his most intimate frends-without APP
pointment that his presence alone, without
certain look on his face which beied ms smile
told his host that the Agent had some matter
of import to communicate.
Peregrine catching the look OF interrogation
which Darsie alf-unconsciously turned upon
him broke the silence by saying, In the distinct
voice which could be soft as lovers vows or
impressive as the silver trumpets in Aida
mo l have not come to ask anything. You
know it's not my way. Too commonplace alto-
gether both for you and for me.
ITO tell me something them answered OAR
sic
YES" rejoined Peregrine with elaboration
Eyes. The thing is really so curious that, con-
siderlng the creditably intelligent interest you
take in such matters. ! have yielded, against my
rule to an impulse to share my impressions
with friend And. indeed, don't mind telling
you that am really glad to do So
We'll" inquired Darsc. subdung as best he
could any appearance Of eagerness. what is it,?
II think" Peregrine replied. Il had better tell
you the whole matter exactly as ii occurred
straight off | trust TO your tried discretion
about interrupting me-.
80 be it," said Darsie. go on"
"Three days ago" Peregrine continued, II was
as usual busy in the morning sorting the letters
that reached me by the first post at my office.
Most OF them were letters of quite the usual
kind from people who wanted explanations OF
mysterious sounds and sights which they de-
tailed: others from people in trouble about what
they called their souls Gas If could help them
there0; many from earnest people. some denOunc-
ing me as a miscreant in league with persons
not lawful to mention and huntington, rather,
asserting-that | ought to be burned shot
with a silver bullet: some again praying pathet-
caIly to serve an apprenticeship with me and be
introduced to some of my clients" Peregrine
paused for a nome and added "rhese letters
are sometimes tryins hen they are not merely
silly
"Ah" said Darsie; you get them, of course,
OF ali sorts.
II certainly do" replied the other But I
R5n't mean now, at any rate, to bore you with
fssd OF precis OF my correspondence. / always
&c through ii myself in the first instance on
this occasion, generally, ii contained all kinds
of letters from all kinds of people, asking for a
personal interview, with more or ess-generally,
as you will imagine, less-reason. One of these
81 that particular morning caught my atten-
Son. | cannot tell you why, but you know per-
ssctly well that never neglect an instinct, how
Hser baseless il may seem. This letter in a
Handwriting that for some subtle characterize
S0n that it possessed, induced me to read 1t
carefully. 1t was excellently written, and it
Yhas signed Jean Marie de Sartorys.' | sup
posed OF course. that the name was assumed
and probably borrowed from a play as well
known to you il is to me. curious letter
Certainly"
Peregrlne paused, and seemed for a moment or
two lost in musing. Darse, watchful of his
moods interrupted with:
what was in the body Of the letter? You
have told me thus far only the impression pro-
&uced upon you by. so to speak, its spirit"
"For a very good reason" replied Peregrine,
etarousing himself to speech. There was moth