The young man, who had filled his box and also a black bag, was
ready to go. He ventured most respectfully to break in upon the
reflections of his employer.

"Is there anything more for me to do, sir?"

Trent woke from his day-dream into the present. He looked around
the room and saw that no papers had been omitted. Then he glanced
keenly into his clerk's face.

"Nothing more," he said. "You can go."

It was significant of the man that, notwithstanding his hour of
triumph, he did not depart in the slightest degree from the cold
gruffness of his tone. The little speech which his clerk had
prepared seemed to stick in his throat.

"I trust, sir, that you will forgive - that you will pardon the
liberty, if I presume to congratulate you upon such a magnificent
stroke of business!"

Scarlett Trent faced him coldly. "What do you know about it?" he
asked. "What concern is it of yours, young man, eh?"

The clerk sighed, and became a little confused. He had indulged
in some wistful hopes that for once his master might have relaxed,
that an opportune word of congratulation might awaken some spark of
generosity in the man who had just added a fortune to his great
store. He had a girl-wife from whose cheeks the roses were slowly
fading, and very soon would come a time when a bank-note, even the