“By the way, Mr. Travers, I wish you would call at my office to-morrow morning at or about eleven o’clock, if you can make it convenient to do so.”
“I will do so,” I replied, wondering what he could want of me.
At the appointed hour the next day I was on hand at his office. He motioned to me to be seated and then said,—
“Yesterday morning I met John K. Blunt, of Blunt Brothers & Company, at my club, and he told me that their cashier had defaulted. An account of the affair is in this morning’s papers. They want a new cashier. I have mentioned your name, and if you will go around to their office with me, we will talk with Blunt.”
“Mr. Desmond—” I began, but he stopped me.
“Don’t let’s have any talk but business,” he said. “The figures will be satisfactory, I am confident.”
Satisfactory! They were munificent! Blunt liked me, and only a few short and sharp sentences from such a man as Desmond finished the business. I saw a future of opulence before me. My head was almost turned. I tried to thank Mr. Desmond, but he would not listen to my earnest expressions of gratitude.
“I have engaged passage for the 6th,” he told me when we were parting; “I will try to call at your cottage before I get off. I am busy settling up some details now. Good day.”
I hastened home with my good news. Bessie’s eyes glistened when she heard it, and even my mother-in-law showed a faint sign of pleasure at my good luck.
The following Saturday evening Mr. Desmond came out to see us.