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original； and the most energetic man I have ever known connected
with Life Assurance。'
I spoke strongly； for I had a high esteem and admiration for
Meltham； and my gentleman had indefinitely conveyed to me some
suspicion that he wanted to sneer at him。 He recalled me to my
guard by presenting that trim pathway up his head； with its
internal 'Not on the grass； if you please … the gravel。'
'You knew him； Mr。 Slinkton。'
'Only by reputation。 To have known him as an acquaintance or as a
friend； is an honour I should have sought if he had remained in
society； though I might never have had the good fortune to attain
it； being a man of far inferior mark。 He was scarcely above
thirty； I suppose？'
'About thirty。'
'Ah！' he sighed in his former consoling way。 'What creatures we
are！ To break up； Mr。 Sampson； and become incapable of business at
that time of life！ … Any reason assigned for the melancholy fact？'
（'Humph！' thought I； as I looked at him。 'But I WON'T go up the
track； and I WILL go on the grass。'）
'What reason have you heard assigned； Mr。 Slinkton？' I asked；
point…blank。
'Most likely a false one。 You know what Rumour is； Mr。 Sampson。 I
never repeat what I hear； it is the only way of paring the nails
and shaving the head of Rumour。 But when YOU ask me what reason I
have heard assigned for Mr。 Meltham's passing away from among men；
it is another thing。 I am not gratifying idle gossip then。 I was
told； Mr。 Sampson； that Mr。 Meltham had relinquished all his
avocations and all his prospects； because he was； in fact； broken…
hearted。 A disappointed attachment I heard； … though it hardly
seems probable； in the case of a man so distinguished and so
attractive。'
'Attractions and distinctions are no armour against death；' said I。
'O； she died？ Pray pardon me。 I did not hear that。 That； indeed；
makes it very； very sad。 Poor Mr。 Meltham！ She died？ Ah； dear
me！ Lamentable； lamentable！'
I still thought his pity was not quite genuine； and I still
suspected an unaccountable sneer under all this； until he said； as
we were parted； like the other knots of talkers； by the
announcement of dinner：
'Mr。 Sampson； you are surprised to see me so moved on behalf of a
man whom I have never known。 I am not so disinterested as you may
suppose。 I have suffered； and recently too； from death myself。 I
have lost one of two charming nieces； who were my constant
companions。 She died young … barely three…and…twenty； and even her
remaining sister is far from strong。 The world is a grave！'
He said this with deep feeling； and I felt reproached for the
coldness of my manner。 Coldness and distrust had been engendered
in me； I knew； by my bad experiences； they were not natural to me；
and I often thought how much I had lost in life； losing
trustfulness； and how little I had gained； gaining hard caution。
This state of mind being habitual to me； I troubled myself more
about this conversation than I might have troubled myself about a
greater matter。 I listened to his talk at dinner； and observed how
readily other men responded to it； and with what a graceful
instinct he adapted his subjects to the knowledge and habits of
those he talked with。 As； in talking with me； he had easily
started the subject I might be supposed to understand best； and to
be the most interested in； so； in talking with others； he guided
himself by the same rule。 The company was of a varied character；
but he was not at fault； that I could discover； with any member of
it。 He knew just as much of each man's pursuit as made him
agreeable to that man in reference to it； and just as little as
made it natural in him to seek modestly for information when the
theme was broached。
As he talked and talked … but really not too much； for the rest of
us seemed to force it upon him … I became quite angry with myself。
I took his face to pieces in my mind； like a watch； and examined it
in detail。 I could not say much against any of his features
separately； I could say even less against them when they were put
together。 'Then is it not monstrous；' I asked myself； 'that
because a man happens to part his hair straight up the middle of
his head； I should permit myself to suspect； and even to detest
him？'
（I may stop to remark that this was no proof of my sense。 An
observer of men who finds himself steadily repelled by some
apparently trifling thing in a stranger is right to give it great
weight。 It may be the clue to the whole mystery。 A hair or two
will show where a lion is hidden。 A very little key will open a
very heavy door。）
I took my part in the conversation with him after a time； and we
got on remarkably well。 In the drawing…room I asked the host how
long he had known Mr。 Slinkton。 He answered； not many months； he
had met him at the house of a celebrated painter then present； who
had known him well when he was travelling with his nieces in Italy
for their health。 His plans in life being broken by the death of
one of them； he was reading with the intention of going back to
college as a matter of form； taking his degree； and going into
orders。 I could not but argue with myself that here was the true
explanation of his interest in poor Meltham； and that I had been
almost brutal in my distrust on that simple head。
III。
On the very next day but one I was sitting behind my glass
partition； as before； when he came into the outer office； as
before。 The moment I saw him again without hearing him； I hated
him worse than ever。
It was only for a moment that I had this opportunity； for he waved
his tight…fitting black glove the instant I looked at him； and came
straight in。
'Mr。 Sampson； good…day！ I presume； you see； upon your kind
permission to intrude upon you。 I don't keep my word in being
justified by business； for my business here … if I may so abuse the
word … is of the slightest nature。'
I asked； was it anything I could assist him in？
'I thank you； no。 I merely called to inquire outside whether my
dilatory friend had been so false to himself as to be practical and
sensible。 But； of course； he has done nothing。 I gave him your
papers with my own hand； and he was hot upon the intention； but of
course he has done nothing。 Apart from the general human
disinclination to do anything that ought to be done； I dare say
there is a specially about assuring one's life。 You find it like
will…making。 People are so superstitious； and take it for granted
they will die soon afterwards。'
'Up here； if you please； straight up here； Mr。 Sampson。 Neither to
the right nor to the left。' I almost fancied I could hear him
breathe the words as he sat smiling at me； with that intolerable
parting exactly opposite the bridge of my nose。
'There is such a feeling sometimes； no doubt；' I replied； 'but I
don't think it obtains to any great extent。'
'Well；' said he； with a shrug and a smile； 'I wish some good angel
would influence my friend in the right direction。 I rashly
promised his mother and sister in Norfolk to see it done； and he
promised them that he would do it。 But I suppose he never will。'
He spoke for a minute or two on indifferent topics； and went away。
I had scarcely unlocked the drawers of my writing…table next
morning； when he reappeared。 I noticed that he came straight to
the door in the glass partition； and did not pause a single moment
outside。
'Can you spare me two minutes； my dear Mr。 Sampson？'
'By all means。'
'Much obliged；' laying his hat and umbrella on the table； 'I came
early； not to interrupt you。 The fact is； I am taken by surprise
in reference to this proposal my friend has made。'
'Has he made one？' said I。
'Ye…es；' he answered； deliberately looking at me； and then a bright
idea seemed to strike him … 'or he only tells me he has。 Perhaps
that may be a new way of evading the matter。 By Jupiter； I never
thought of that！'
Mr。 Adams was opening the morning's letters in the outer office。
'What is the name； Mr。 Slinkton？' I asked。
'Beckwith。'
I looked out at the door and requested Mr。 Adams； if there were a
proposal in that name； to bring it in。 He had already laid it out
of his hand on the counter。 It was easily selected from the rest；
and he gave it me。 Alfred Beckwith。 Proposal to effect a policy
with us for two thousand pounds。 Dated yesterday。
'From the Middle Temple； I see； Mr。 Slinkton。'
'Yes。 He lives on the same staircase with me； his door is
opposite。 I never thought he would make me his reference though。'
'It seems natural enough that he should。'
'Quite so； Mr。 Sampson； but I never thought of it。 Let me see。'
He took the printed paper from his pocket。 'How am I to answer all
these questions？'
'According to the truth； of course；' said I。
'O； of co