"If you will let me know your name, sir."
"I am Nathan Burton, of Albany. I have been an alderman," said the other, consequentially.
"I hope you may yet be mayor," answered Scott, amused.
"Stranger things have happened," rejoined Mr. Burton, complacently. "Did you come over with the earl?"
"A year earlier," returned Scott, gravely.
From this Mr. Burton inferred that they had been friends on the other side.
"And your name is——"
"Scott Walton."
"An aristocratic name!" thought the Albany alderman. "Are you related to the earl?"
"No, sir. We are only friends."