“Ha!” said the visitor, interested. “Could he enter your office without suspicion?”
“He could. I have employed him as a messenger.”
“Every confidence in him, too?”
“I think him thoroughly honest.”
“You have too much trust in human nature, Mr. Leonard,” said his visitor, with a shrug. “If you were in my profession you would have very little. I would like to see this new hand. Can you call him in on some pretense?”
“You have seen him. He is the messenger I sent for you.”
“What? That boy? He in your employment? Well, that beats!” Mr. Fitler leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily but silently.
“Do you know him?” asked Mr. Leonard, with some displeasure.
“Know him? I should think so. Who don’t know Willful Will? That is his street name. Why, I thought you had picked him up at your door and sent him after me. He did look strange at me. I never saw him in a whole suit of clothes before. The idea of his settling down to steady business! Just call him in; I would like to talk with him.”
“He is not in at present. I sent him, this morning, out to my residence, near Germantown.”