"Very important, I suppose."
"Yes, it was important."
"Mr. Ferguson is very partial to you, that's all I can say. He wouldn't let me be away for a couple of hours, in the morning, even if I did have important business."
"I have no doubt he would. I hope you won't be disturbed if I tell you that I am going out again this afternoon."
"And you get twice as much pay as I," said Maurice, with dissatisfaction. "I say it's a shame."
"You must remember, Maurice, that I don't fix the salaries. If I could fix it so, your salary should be raised at once, so as to equal mine."
"It's easy to say that," said Maurice Walton, discontentedly.
Gilbert, in spite of the discontent of his fellow-clerk, took his hat at half-past two, and left the store. He reached the Burnet House about ten minutes of three, and went at once to the reading-room, where he was to meet his uncle.
Mr. Grey was already in waiting. He was seated in an arm-chair, looking over a file of the New York Herald.
"I have come, Mr. Grey," said Gilbert, "as you proposed."