“You’ve got the regular Leonard nose,” he at length said. “Look enough like Jake to be his cousin.”
The merchant pushed back his chair in great annoyance.
“You will excuse me, sir,” he said, “but I am engaged on important business. My clerks can attend to you.”
“I think not,” said the visitor.
“Why not?”
“Because I wouldn’t like to post them in my business. You wouldn’t like me to ask them if there’s anything new in the custom-house robbery.”
Mr. Leonard rose hastily to his feet, and stood looking with alarmed visage at the speaker.
“Who are you?” he asked, in anxious tones.
“Not the bird whose feathers I wear, you can be sure of that,” said the man, laughing. “I called on you yesterday, and told you then that I would be here this morning.”
“Not Mr. Fitler! That is not possible!”