“And—you are staying at the Fifth Avenue Hotel?”
“Certainly. Didn’t you send this boy with a message?” said Mr. Perkins, rather impatiently.
“Ye-es.”
“How did you know that I was coming to New York? That’s what beats me.”
Mullins began to appreciate the situation, and he was cudgeling his brains for an explanation. Finally one came.
“I may be misinformed, but I learned from a friend of yours that you were coming here with an intention of locating in our city. Now, as we are in the real estate business, I thought we would offer our services to find you a suitable house.”
“Some friend of mine notified you of my coming to New York? Why, I started off on a sudden without consulting anyone. I don’t see how anyone could give you the information.”
“I won’t undertake to explain it,” said the bookkeeper. “I will only say that I am glad to meet you.”
“Thank you! You are very polite. What was the name of the friend who spoke about me and my plans?”
“I have a poor memory for names, but I believe I have the gentleman’s card in my desk.”