Rodrigo wondered if the white-haired, dignified gentleman who stood just inside the door as they entered and who now advanced smilingly to greet John was Madison, the man who disliked foreigners. He was rather sorry to hear John address him by another name, for he seemed a pleasant, if slightly gone-to-seed sort. Other clerks became aware of John's return and gathered about to welcome him. There was about them none of the fawning, artificial pleasantry which subordinates in many establishments lavish upon those in authority over them. These men were more than salesmen, and they were attached to John Dorning both by a personal liking for him and by the common bond of a genuine love for the beautiful.
Attracted by the buzz of conversation and sallies of laughter outside, a tall, gray man opened the door of one of the offices and looked out. Then his rather severe face softened into a smile and he came forward to take both of Dorning's hands in his.
"It's good to see you, John," he said. "We've missed you."
"Thanks, Mr. Madison," John replied. He loved this old friend of his father's. His boyish respect for the man's honesty and uncanny knowledge had not lessened with his own growth of experience. The manager would always be "Mr. Madison" to John Dorning.
"I want you to meet Count Rodrigo Torriani, about whom I cabled and wrote you," said John. Rodrigo bowed and took Madison's outstretched hand. He felt the elderly man's sharp, scrutinizing glance upon him and he returned the glance with a disarming smile.
"I understand from John that you are to be associated with us," said Henry Madison, and the clerks looking on showed a renewed interest in the newcomer. "You can rest assured I shall do all I can to make things pleasant for you." Behind this perfunctory promise the manager seemed to be warning that whether or not things were made pleasant depended largely upon Rodrigo. This, the Italian said to himself, was fair enough. Madison turned to John and said in a lower voice, "When you have a moment, if I could talk with you privately—there are some matters——"
"I HAD NO IDEA I WAS TO MEET A GIRL LIKE YOU SO QUICKLY," RODRIGO SMILED.
But John had turned away and was shaking hands with the girl who, coming out of Madison's office with a sheaf of papers, had diverted her course at the sight of Dorning and invaded the group about him. Rodrigo, who had stepped politely aside to let her pass to his friend, was struck at once with her. In spite of the pallor with which office work had bleached her fair complexion, she was beautiful. Silken blond hair arranged skillfully around her well-shaped head, large, expressive blue eyes, lips that were innocent of rouge—all this feminine daintiness contrasted with the brisk, business-like manner in which she walked and the crisp tones of her voice.