 I never meet acquaintances in the streets of
London; but, if I happen to be abroad, as likely as not I encounter the last
person I should expect to find. Why, you remember, I rush over to America for
scarcely a week's stay, and there I come across a man who has disappeared
astonishingly from the ken of all his friends!«
    Christian looked at Marcella. She was leaning forward, her lips slightly
parted, her eyes wide as if in gaze at something that fascinated her. He saw
that she spoke, but her voice was hardly to be recognised.
    »Are you quite sure of that instance, Mr. Malkin?«
    »Yes, I feel quite sure, Miss Moxey. Undoubtedly it was Peak!«
    Buckland Warricombe, who had been waiting for a chance of escape, suddenly
wore a look of interest. He rapidly surveyed the trio. Christian, somewhat out
of countenance, tried to answer Malkin in a tone of light banter.
    »It happens, my dear fellow, that Peak has not left England since we lost
sight of him.«
    »What? He has been heard of? Where is he then?«
    »Mr. Warricombe can assure you that he has been living for a year at
Exeter.«
    Buckland, perceiving that he had at length come upon something important to
his purposes, smiled genially.
    »Yes, I have had the pleasure of seeing Peak down in Devon from time to
time.«
    »Then it was really an illusion!« cried Malkin. »I was too hasty. Yet that
isn't a charge that can be often brought against me, I think. Does Earwaker know
of this?«
    »He has lately heard,« replied Christian, who in vain sought for a means of
checking Malkin's loquacity. »I thought he might have told you.«
    »Certainly not. The thing is quite new to me. And what is Peak doing down
there, pray? Why did he conceal himself?«
    Christian gazed appealingly at his sister. She returned the look steadily,
but neither stirred nor spoke. It was Warricombe's voice that next sounded:
    »Peak's behaviour seems mysterious,« he began, with ironic gravity. »I don't
pretend to understand him. What's your view of his character, Mr. Malkin?«
    »I know him very slightly indeed, Mr. Warricombe. But I have a high opinion
of his powers. I wonder he does so little. After that article of his in The
Critical« -
    Malkin
