leeves, and equally according to custom, the inevitable cigar was
between his lips. Seeing that he had a gentleman, and one who was also a
stranger to the country, to deal with, he invited Max to be seated, at
the same time pushing a box of cigars towards him.

"What may I have the pleasure of doing for you?" he inquired in English,
and with a courtesy that Max attributed to the anticipation of a large
order, but which was in reality habitual to him.

"Well," said Max, "to tell the truth, I have come to see you in the hope
that you may be able to give me something to do. I arrived from England
this morning in the steamship _Diamintina_, and as I've not much money,
I want to find employment as soon as I possibly can. I've tried a number
of offices, but cannot hear of anything."

The other glanced at his visitor's well-cut clothes, elegant boots, and
general air of refined dandyism. He was not accustomed to receiving
applications for employment from young men who looked like princes in
disguise.

"I'm afraid I have nothing to offer you," he said after a momentary
pause. "Things are very quiet in Rio just now, and we are more inclined
to discharge our clerks than to take fresh ones on. What were you doing
before you came out here?"

This was the question Max had been dreading. It had brought him to grief
so many times that day.

"I was in the English army," he replied. "I held a commission in a
cavalry regiment. I'm afraid I do not know much about business, but I am
fairly quick at picking up things, and if you will give me a chance, I
fancy you will not find me wanting in diligence."

The other drummed with his fingers on the desk before him, and as he did
so he pulled almost savagely at his cigar. It was a trick he had when
thinking.

"I don't ask you any questions as to why you gave up the army and came
out to take a clerkship in Rio," he said at last; "but if I were you I
should keep that part of my history to myself. An officer from a crack
regiment seldom develops into a good clerk."

"You are probably right. I must try to remember it. And now to return to
my request. Is it quite impossible for you to do anything for me?"

"I am afraid I can do nothing personally," the other replied. "That is
to say, I cannot take you into my office, but I rather fancy I can help
you in another direction. Do you speak Spanish?"

"I speak Spanish, German, Pannonian, and English, with equal fluency,"
Max answered, feeling