The evidence, however, that he had endeavored to hide his life, had
been revealed by my first superficial examination; and here, I
reflected, was a singular opportunity to test both his degree of
success and my own power of constructing a coherent history out of
the detached fragments. Unpromising as is the matter, said I, let
me see whether he can conceal his secret from even such unpractised
eyes as mine.
I went through the papers again, read each one rapidly, and
arranged them in separate files, according to the character of
their contents. Then I rearranged these latter in the order of
time, so far as it was indicated; and afterwards commenced the work
of picking out and threading together whatever facts might be
noted. The first thing I ascertained, or rather conjectured, was
that the man's life might be divided into three very distinct
phases, the first ending in Breslau, the second in Poland, and the
third and final one in America. Thereupon I once again rearranged
the material, and attacked that which related to the first phase.
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