with a profusion of artificial flowers, the whole giving her an air of
extreme quaintness, was seen looking up doubtingly at the door opening
to the stairs at the top of which Topman and Gusher had their
counting-rooms. She had the appearance of a woman in good circumstances,
just from the country, where her style of dress might have been in
fashion at that day. Her age, perhaps, was in the vicinity of forty, for
her hair was changing to grey, and hung in neat braids down the sides of
her face, which was round and ruddy, and still gleamed with the
freshness of youth. Her shawl-pin was a heavy gold anchor and chain, and
her wrists were clasped with heavy gold bracelets, bearing a shield, on
which was inscribed a sailor with his quadrant poised, in the act of
taking the sun. I ought also to add that she carried a big umbrella in
her left hand, and a small leathern satchel in her right.

This quaint little woman's manner was exceedingly nervous and
hesitating. Twice or thrice she advanced up the passage to the foot of
the stairs, hesitated, returned to the door, and looked up at the
number, as if still uncertain about some project on trial in her mind.

Men were passing in and out, and up and down the stairs hurriedly, as if
some important business required all their attention. The little woman
took no heed of any of them, and indeed seemed confused in her own
thoughts. Drawing a newspaper from her leathern bag she read in a
whisper, at the same time tracing the lines with her finger, "Great Kidd
Discovery Company. Capital $150,000. All paid in. President, Luke
Topman. Corresponding Secretary, Philo Gusher. No. ---- Pearl street."
The little woman nodded her head, and looked up with an air of
satisfaction. "I'm right. This is the place," she muttered to herself.
Then putting the paper carefully into her pocket, and hugging the big
umbrella close to her side, she advanced with a more resolute step up