the crowd.

When the car came the old man was still so shaky that it seemed to Evan
only the part of common humanity to accompany him. But on the step
Deaves turned sharply.

"You needn't come," he said. "I can take care of myself."

"That's all right," said Evan politely. "It's no inconvenience."

"I won't pay your fare," said Deaves.

Evan laughed. "I'll pay the fares," he said. To himself he thought:
"It's not often one has a chance of standing treat to a millionaire."

Deaves did allow Evan to pay the fares, and indeed seemed quite pleased
as if he had got the better of him in a deal. But something about Evan
disconcerted him. He continued to glance at him sideways out of his
restless, furtive little grey eyes. Finally he said:

"I'm not going to give you anything for coming with me."

"Don't expect it," said Evan.

"What are you coming for then?" Deaves demanded.

Evan laughed in an annoyed way. "Well, now that you put it to me, I
don't exactly know. I suppose I owe it to myself not to let an old man
fall down in the street."

Deaves thought over this quite a long while. Along with his shrewdness
there was something childish in the old man. "You're a good boy!" he
announced at last.

Evan appreciated that this was an immense concession. "Much obliged,"
he said dryly.

"Just the same, you needn't think you're going to get anything out of
me," the old man quickly added.

"I don't."

Having established this point to his satisfaction Deaves seemed
disposed to become friendly. "What are you doing out on the street in
the middle of the morning?" he asked.

"I might ask the same of you," returned Evan good-naturedly.

"I'm retired. I've a right to take my ease. But all young fellows
ought to be at work. Haven't you got any work to do?"

"I'm an artist."

"Pooh! Waste of time!"

Evan laughed. It was useless to get angry at the old boy.

"Why aren't you working at it now?" Deaves demanded to know.

"It wouldn't come to-day," said Evan.

"Stuff and nonsense! You'll never get on that way! Look at me!"

Evan did so, thinking: "I wouldn't be like you for all your millions!"

Deaves went on: "Keep everlastingly at it! That's my motto. That's
what's brought me to where I am to-day. I've retired now--though I
still have my irons in the fire--but when I was your age I worked early
and late. I didn't waste _my_ time fooling round like young men do.
No, sir! My only thought wa