look at his visitor. He studied Phil from head to foot with his
usual scowl.

"Sit down!"

"On the ground, sir?"

"Ground? No, of course not. Where's that chair? Oh, my lazy
tent man didn't open it. I'll fire him the first place we get to
where he won't be likely to starve to death. I hear you've been
trying to put my show out of business."

"I wasn't aware of it, sir," replied Phil, looking squarely at
his questioner. "Perhaps I was not wholly blameless in attaching
myself to Emperor."

"Huh!" grunted Mr. Sparling, but whether or not it was a grunt of
disapproval, Phil could not determine.

"So you're not living at home?"

"I have no home now, sir."

"Just so, just so. Brought up in refined surroundings, parents
dead, crabbed old uncle turned you out of doors for reasons best
known to himself--"

Phil was amazed.

"You seem to know all about me, sir."