No, a man of the middle age, and rather above the middle height dressed in a plain suit of black, made his appearance, and sat down in a chair at some distance from me, but near to the table, and appeared to be lost in thought.
"The weather is very warm, sir," said I.
"Very," said the stranger, laconically, looking at me for the first time.
"Would you like to see the newspaper ?" said I, taking up one which lay upon the window seat.
"I never read newspapers," said the stranger, "nor, indeed--." Whatever it might be that he had intended to say he left unfinished.

Suddenly he walked to the mantel-piece at the farther end of the room, before which he placed himself with his back towards me.

There he remained motionless for some time; at length, raising his hand, he touched the corner of the mantel-piece with his finger, advanced towards the chair which he had left, and again seated himself.
"Have you come far ?" said he, suddenly looking towards me, and speaking in a frank and open manner, which denoted a wish to enter into conversation.

"You do not seem to be of this place." "I come from some distance," said I; "indeed I am walking for exercise, which I find as necessary to the mind as the body.

I believe that by exercise people would escape much mental misery." Scarcely had I uttered these words when the stranger laid his hand, with seeming carelessness, upon the table, near one of the glasses; after a moment or two he touched the glass as if inadvertently, then, glancing furtively at me, he withdrew his hand and looked towards the window.
"Are you from these parts ?" said I at last, with apparent carelessness.
"From this vicinity," replied the stranger.