The servant who bore the card returned, saying,—
"He says, 'Send the gentleman up.'"
I waited till the clumsy steps of William sounded as from on the second flight, when I quietly followed, increasing my pace as I neared him; so that I was near upon him when the door opened.
"Halloo, Wilson! Here all right! Well, I'm more than glad to see you!" exclaimed the inmate, as Wilson entered, and the door closed.
Tripping to the door, I listened, and heard William quite distinctly, his cups having added emphasis to his somewhat gruff voice.
"Well, Mr. Roberts, my very legs tremble, for I feared it might not be you here after all. I'd most forgot the name we'd agreed on for the register, but I knew your handwriting. Was it Hyde? I thought it was Hood we'd fixed on. But no matter now. Here you are, and that's enough."
Instantly that I heard the name Roberts, I knew it must be the attorney's chief clerk, for he had spoken of this clerk as having been longest in his employ, and you can well understand how I became at once all ears.
"But you have that important paper all secure?"
"Of course I have, or I wouldn't have advertised. I feared you might have left New York, and wouldn't get the notice in time."
"But how did you get it—and when? Tell me the story, my brave boy," said William, with the patronizing voice of a new-made millionnaire.