"Well, perhaps so," replied the actor, "but you have no idea how fast money melts away. What are your plans?"
"I am afraid I haven't any," answered Jed, looking perplexed. "I want to make a living, but I don't know what I am fit for."
"Where do you mean to go?"
"I think I should like to go to New York," answered Jed. "I have never been there."
"You will find the city very dull at this time of year. Business is very quiet in August."
"But there must be a good many chances in a city of over a million inhabitants."
"Well, perhaps you may as well find out for yourself. I am afraid you will be disappointed."
Jed attached considerable importance to the opinion of his friend Bertram, but in his own mind there was a conviction that the other exaggerated the chances of failure. He was of a sanguine temperament himself, and this made him hopeful.
There were two ways of reaching New York from Sea Spray. One was a combination of cars and boat, the other took one all the way by steamer. This, on the whole, Jed preferred.
With his modest gripsack in his hand he passed over the gang-plank and took a seat forward. Next to him was a tall, thin man, dressed in shabby attire, who did not appear to have shaved for several days. Though the weather was warm, he had his coat buttoned tight across his chest, possibly to conceal the lack of a vest.