"Engaged, or likely to be?"

The young man blushed deeply as he replied: "I hope to be shortly."

"You can't marry on two pound a week."

"I am hoping to get promotion in the office, and then----"

"Do you understand how to get promotion?"

"Of course, sir. I intend to work hard and study the details of the
business outside my own department, and learn Spanish as well as
French----"

Lars Larssen flicked thumb and finger together contemptuously. "The men
I pay real money to are not that kind of men."

Arthur Dean looked in surprise.

"Now see here," pursued the shipowner, fixing his eyes deep into the
young man's, "why did you lie to me just now?"

Dean went deathly white, and began to falter a denial.

"Don't lie any further! Something happened last night that you haven't
told me of. I know, because you brought in no report last night. Out
with it!"

Under that merciless look the young clerk made a clean breast of the
matter. His voice shook as he realized that it probably meant instant