Guy was gratified by this tribute.
“I am pleased to have you say so,” he replied. “I have a special object in wishing to succeed.”
“What is that?”
“My father is a minister, dependent upon a small salary for support. He is now fifty, and there is a movement to oust him from the place. Should that succeed, I want to be able to free him from pecuniary anxiety.”
“That is highly commendable in you.”
A part of the time Guy was employed upon the books of the firm. One day he pointed out an incorrect entry which would have entailed a considerable loss.
“You are sharp,” said the merchant. “Do you know that you have saved me five hundred pounds? Besides, you have opened my eyes. I have reason to think that my former bookkeeper—the one whose place you have taken—was in league with the customer in whose account you have found an error. Our transactions are so large that I should have suspected nothing. Now I shall make an investigation.”
“My predecessor may have been simply careless,” suggested Guy.
“True; but I can’t afford to employ men who are careless.”