t effect; and I jumped at it. That was
conduct unworthy _of_ a gentleman. Now, I will not deceive you. The
ordinary commission on transactions in wheels is 25 per cent. I am going
to sell the Manitou retail at twenty English pounds apiece. You shall
hev your 25 per cent on all orders.'

'Five pounds for every machine I sell?' I exclaimed, overjoyed.

He nodded. 'That's so.'

I was simply amazed at this magnificent prospect. 'The cycle trade must
be honeycombed with middlemen's profits!' I cried; for I had my
misgivings.

'That's so,' he replied again. 'Then jest you take and be a
middlewoman.'

'But, as a consistent socialist----'

'It is your duty to fleece the capitalist and the consumer. A mutual
benefit--triangular this time. I get the order, the public gets the
machine, and you get the commission. I am richer, you are richer, and
the public is mounted on much the best wheel ever yet invented.'

'That sounds plausible,' I admitted. 'I shall try it on in Switzerland.
I shall run up steep hills whenever I see any likely customers looking
on; then I shall stop and ask them the time, as if quite accidentally.'

He rubbed his hands. 'You take to business like a young duck to the
water,' he exclaimed, admiringly. 'That's the way to rake 'em in! You go
up and say to them, "Why not investigate? We defy competition. Leave the
drudgery of walking uphill beside your cycle! Progress is the order of
the day. Use modern methods! This is the age of the telegraph, the
telephone, _and_ the typewriter. You kin no longer afford to go on with
an antiquated, ante-diluvian, armour-plated wheel. Invest in a
Hill-Climber, the last and lightest product of evvolootion. _Is_ it
common-sense to buy an old-style, unautomatic, single-geared,
inconvertible ten-ton machine, when for the same money or less you can
purchase the self-acting Manitou, a priceless gem, as light as a
feather, with all the most recent additions and improvements? Be
reasonable! Get the best!" That's the style to fetch 'em!'

I laughed, in spite of myself. 'Oh, Mr. Hitchcock,' I burst out, 'that's
not _my_ style at all. I shall say, simply "This is a lovely new
bicycle. You can see for yourself how it climbs hills. Try it, if you
wish. It skims like a swallow. And I get what they call five pounds
commission on every one I can sell of them!" I think that way of dealing
is much more likely to bring you in orders.'

His admiration was undisguised. 'Well, I _do_ cal