He strove, however, to behave
with friendliness, for it was Michael's desire that he should do so.
That Joseph was using every opportunity of prying into his thoughts,
of learning the details of his history, he soon became perfectly
conscious; but he knew of nothing that he need conceal.
It was impossible that Sidney should not have reflected many a time
on Michael Snowdon's position, and have been moved to curiosity by
hints of the mysterious when he thought of his friends in Hanover
Street. As it happened, he never saw those newspaper advertisements
addressed to Joseph, and his speculation had nothing whatever to
support it save the very few allusions to the past which Michael had
permitted himself in the course of talk. Plainly the old man had
means sufficient for his support, end in all likelihood this
independence was connected with his visit to Australia; but no act
or word of Michael's had ever suggested that he possessed more than
a very modest competency. It was not, indeed, the circumstances, so
much as the character and views, of his friend that set Kirkwood
pondering. He did not yet know Michael Snowdon; of that he was
convinced.
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