though you were one of his victims.'

"'One of his victims?' he repeated, with a look of astonishment.

"'Yes. Did you not refuse to accept composition at the meeting of
creditors until he undertook privately to pay you your debt in full;
and did he not give you bills accepted by the insolvent firm; and
then, when he set up in business again, did he not pay you the
dividend upon those bills of yours, signed as they were by the
bankrupt firm?'

"'He was a sharp one, but I had it out of him.'

"'Then have you some bills to protest? To-day is the 30th, I
believe.'

"It was the first time I had spoken to him of money. He looked
ironically up at me; then in those bland accents, not unlike the husky
tones which the tyro draws from a flute, he answered, 'I am amusing
myself.'

"'So you amuse yourself now and again?'

"'Do you imagine that the only poets in the world are those who print
their verses?' he asked, with a pitying look and shrug of the
shoulders.

"'Poetry in that head!' thought I, for as yet I knew nothing of his
life.