"Oh mama, how lovely! Is it a present for me? You know my birthday comes in eight months."
"My dear child, even if it came to-morrow I should hardly pay a thousand dollars for a birthday gift for you."
"A thousand dollars? It seems even more lovely now that I know the price."
"Remain here, Florence, and entertain Mr. Mason while I go to the library and write a check for the purchase money."
"All right, mama! Mr. Mason, why didn't you tell me what business you had with mama?"
"I shouldn't have minded telling you, but if some one else had heard, your clerical friend for instance, I might have been robbed."
"That is true. I hope I shall never see him again."
"Perhaps you may. I have seen him."
"You have seen him?" ejaculated Florence in surprise. "Where?"
"At the dinner table at my hotel."