said Tetlow impatiently. "I want to talk with you."

"All right, if it bores you." He sent the waiter out for enough
lodging-house tickets to provide for all. He distributed them himself,
to make sure that the proprietor of the restaurant did not attempt to
graft. Then he roused Gaskill and bundled him into the car and sent it
away to his address. The tramps gathered round and gave Norman three
cheers--they pressed close while four of them tried to pick his and
Tetlow's pockets. Norman knocked them away good-naturedly, and he and
Tetlow climbed into Tetlow's hansom.

"To my place," suggested Tetlow.

"No, to mine--the Knickerbocker," replied Norman.

"I'd rather you went to my place first," said Tetlow uneasily.

"My wife isn't with me. She has left me," said Norman calmly.

Tetlow hesitated, extremely nervous, finally acquiesced. They drove a
while in silence, then Norman said, "What's the business?"

"Galloway wants to see you."

"Tell him to come to my office to-morrow--that means to-day--at any time
after eleven."

"But that gives you no chance to pull yourself together," objected
Tetlow.

Norman's face, seen in the light of the street lamp they happened to be
passing, showed ironic amusement. "Never mind about me, Billy. Tell him
to come."

Tetlow cleared his throat nervously. "Don't you think, old man, that
you'd better go to see him? I'll arrange the appointment."

Norman said quietly: "Tetlow, I've dropped pretty far. But not so far
that I go to my clients. The rule of calls is that the man seeking the
favor goes to the man who can grant it."

"But it isn't the custom nowadays for a lawyer to deal that way with a
man like Galloway."

"And neither is it the custom for anyone to have any self-respect. Does
Galloway need my brains more than I need his money, or do I need his
money more than he needs my brains? You know what the answer to that is,
Billy. We are partners--you and I. I'm training you for the position."

"Galloway won't come," said Tetlow curtly.

"So much the worse for him," retorted Norman placidly. "No--I've not
been drinking too much, old man--as your worried--old-maid look
suggests. Do a little thinking. If Galloway doesn't get me, whom will he
get?"

"You know very well, Norman, there are scores of lawyers, good ones,
who'd crawl at his feet for his business. Nowadays, most lawyers are
always looking round for a pair of rich man's boots to lick."

"But I am not 'most lawyer