him to earn his bread. On the other side of the desk there was a
little boy copying letters. These were Mr Sextus Parker,--
commonly called Sexty Parker,--his clerk. Mr Parker was a
gentleman very well known and at the present moment favourably
esteemed on the Stock Exchange. 'What, Lopez!' said he.
'Uncommon glad to see you. What can I do for you?'

'Just come inside,--will you?' said Lopez. Now within Mr
Parker's very small office there was a smaller office, in which
there were a safe, a small rickety Pembroke table, two chairs,
and an old washing-stand with a tumbled towel. Lopez led the way
into this sanctum as though he knew the place well, and Sexty
Parker followed him.

'Beastly day, isn't it?' said Sexty.

'Yes,--a nasty east wind.'

'Cutting one in two, with a hot sun at the same time. One ought
to hybernate at this time of the year.'

'Then why don't you hybernate?' said Lopez.

'Business is too good. That's about it. A man has to stick to
it when it does come. Everybody can't do like you;--give up
regular work, and make a better thing of an hour now and an hour
then, just as it pleases you. I shouldn't dare go in for that
kind of thing.

'I don't suppose you or any one else know what I go in for,' said