"I am glad to see you once more, Scott," said the young man, cordially. "Why haven't you called upon me?"
"I did call once, but I did not find you in."
"It must have been when I was making a short visit to Philadelphia. But now come in, and give an account of yourself. How does it happen that you are in the streets at this hour?"
"Because, Mr. Wood," answered Scott, gravely, "I have lost my place."
"Then you have a story to tell. Come in, and tell me all about it."
He led the way into the hotel, and Scott followed him into the reading room.
"Now take a seat at the window," said Justin Wood, pointing to an armchair, "and tell me why you were discharged."
Scott told the story in as few words as possible.
"This money which Mr. Little wished you to give up was a part of what you recovered from that swindler at Staten Island, I presume?"