sell yourself--body, soul, brains, legal knowledge,
everything--for money?"

"I've sold myself already at a smaller price, and I don't mind
withdrawing from the contract for a better."

Mr. Belcher summoned a servant, and ordered something to eat for his
visitor. While the man eagerly devoured his food, and washed it down
with a cup of tea, Mr. Belcher went to his room, and wrote an order on
his tailor for a suit of clothes, and a complete respectable outfit for
the legal "dead beat" who was feasting himself below. When he descended,
he handed him the paper, and gave him money for a bath and a night's
lodging.

"To-morrow morning I want you to come here clean, and dressed in the
clothes that this paper will give you. If you drink one drop before that
time I will strip the clothes from your back. Come to this room and get
a decent breakfast. Remember that you can't fool me, and that I'll have
none of your nonsense. If you are to serve me, and get any money out of
it, you must keep sober."

"I can keep sober--for a while--any way," said the man, hesitatingly and
half despairingly.

"Very well, now be off; and mind, if I ever hear a word of this, or any
of our dealings outside, I'll thrash you as I would a dog. If you are
true to me I can be of use to you. If you are not, I will kick you into
the street."

The man tottered to his feet, and said: "I am ashamed to say that you
may command me. I should have scorned it once, but my chance is gone,
and I could be loyal to the devil himself--for a consideration."

The next morning Mr. Belcher was informed that Yates had breakfasted,
and was awaiting orders. He descended to the basement, and stood
confronted with a respectable-looking gentleman, who greeted him in a
courtly way, yet with a deprecating look in his eyes, which said, as
plainly as words could express; "don't humiliate me any more than you
can help! Use me, but spare the little pride I have, if you can."

The deprecatory look was lost upon Mr. Belcher. "Where did you get your
clothes?" he inquired. "Come, now; give me the name of your tailor. I'm
green in the city, you see."

The man tried to smile, but the effort was a failure.

"What did you take for a night-cap last night, eh?"

"I give you my word of honor, sir, that I have not taken a drop since I
saw you."

"Word of honor! ha! ha! ha! Do you suppose I want your word of honor? Do
you suppose I want a man of honor, anyway? If you have come here to