“I appreciate the courtesy. What is your income?”
The young man hesitated.
“Well—at present, sir——”
“Nothing, I suppose?” He was still keeping his end up, was well-satisfied with the tartness of that question. He nearly smiled as he watched the young man wriggle.
“I must confess, sir—but I have qualifications—and I am ambitious!”
“All young men are ambitious,” he replied, oracularly. “Let us hear the qualifications!”
“I graduated with honours at my university——”
“Pooh! So did the man who sells my paper at the corner of the street!”
“—and I have great hopes of getting a good job.”
“Indeed!—Where?”