At that moment John entered. He naturally looked inquiringly at Paul, but he addressed himself to the book-keeper.
"Here is the mail, Mr. Manson," he said.
"Why weren't you gone a week for it?" snarled the book-keeper.
"I went as fast as I could, sir," said John, troubled.
"Didn't you stop to play on the way?"
"No, sir."
"Humph! When I was a boy I could do twice as much in a given time as you. Here is a boy who has been sent to take your place—for the present."
These last words were pronounced with an emphasis which Paul understood, though John did not. He only heard what he considered to be the intelligence of his own release.
"Then can I go?" he asked, eagerly.
"No; you are to remain through the day to instruct this new boy in his duties."