“Just before I came in.”

“And you hadn’t met him before?”

“No; I asked him the way to your house, and he told me he had just left it.”

John Simpson was relieved. He feared at first that Tom’s call was induced by a previous interview with his present visitor.

“He seems a fine boy,” repeated Darke.

“He is a very impertinent boy.”

“He doesn’t look like it. By the way, he tells me you have discharged him from your employment.”

“He forced me to it. I may take him on again after a time. Did you speak to Tom about his father?” asked John Simpson, uneasily.

“Yes. He says that you told him his father had only five thousand dollars.”

“Suppose I did.”