e office from point to point, as if the fellow were
endeavoring to fix in his mind every feature of the room. But most
often, Martin noticed, his gaze rested upon the door to Smatt's private
office, through which came at intervals the hoarse murmur of Smatt's
voice. Once, atop the murmur, came a few words in Dr. Ichi's clipped
and even tones----

"Plan--good--have caution--proceed----"

The hunchback ceased talking. Martin attributed his satisfied smile to
assurance of a sale; the chap evidently had confidence in his musical
patter. Martin felt almost sorry as he declined the greatest offer of
the century. His brain was already overburdened, he kindly explained,
and he dare not risk brain fag by delving into the matchless
Compendium. Of course, some other day, when finances...

The purveyor of knowledge took the refusal easily. Martin had expected
him to lose his smile, but it grew wider. So Martin braced himself to
receive the assault of facts and figures he was sure was preparing.
Instead, however, came a raucous command from the other room.

"Blake, come here!"

It was characteristic of Josiah Smatt that his offices had few of the
modern business accoutrements. No conventional stenographer powdered
her nose and received clients in an ante-room, no traditional
office-boy harried the janitor or played in the corner upon a
mouth-organ, no call-buzzers frazzled the nerves.

Smatt was a prominent legal light in shipping circles, and he was not
parsimonious. But he was eccentric. He carried his secrets and most
of his bookkeeping beneath his hat; Martin, his one employee, was
admitted to only partial confidence. And whenever Mr. Smatt wished his
clerk to attend upon him, he lifted up his voice and bellowed.

It was this bellow that checked the book agent's flow of words, and
startled Martin into activity. Mr. Smatt did not like to be kept
waiting.

"Sorry," Martin said to the hunchback, "but I'm called in there.
You'll have to get out. Couldn't use your book anyway."

"Oh, that's all right," responded the other airily. "You will observe
I do not depart downcast! It has really, sir, helped me a lot, just to
visit you--helped me a very great deal. You are a pleasant chap!"

Martin entered the inner office, and he had a last glimpse of the
queer, deformed little figure, book under arm, velvet hat cocked over
one ear, in the act of negotiating the outer exit.

Martin, standing docilely before Sm