"You look smart."
"Thank you," said Walter, laughing. "I am afraid you won't think so much of my ability when I tell you I have been working for the last three months for my board."
"It's a shame. You'd better come with us. We'll do much better by you than that."
"I am going to consult some friends about my future plans. If you are willing to tell me a little of your business, I will think of what you propose."
"I have with me our latest publication. It's going like wildfire. Just the thing to please the people. I'll show it to you."
Walter looked with interest while his new acquaintance drew out from a carpet-bag, which he had beneath the seat, a good-sized parcel wrapped in brown paper. Untying it, he produced a bulky octavo, in flashy binding, and abounding in illustrations. He opened the book and turned over the leaves rapidly.
"It's stuffed full of illustrations, you see," said he. "The expense of the pictures alone was absolutely e-nor-mous!" he added, dwelling upon the last word by way of emphasis. "But we're going to make it pay. The sale will be immense. Our agents already in the field report remarkable sales."
"What's the title of the book?" asked Walter, who had yet been unable to determine this point, by reason of the rapid turning of the pages.
"'Scenes in Bible Lands.' We include other countries besides Palestine, and we've made a book that'll sell. Most every family will want one."
"What terms do you offer to agents?"