"You have a fine color this morning. Rutledge agrees with you."
"Famously," I replied, applying myself with great satisfaction to my breakfast; "and as I have so much to do before ten o'clock, there's no time to lose."
"Not a minute; but I should be uncomfortable to think you were starved; don't hurry so frantically."
"There! I'm ready now," I exclaimed, in a few minutes following him into the library with a light step, and singing snatches of a gay tune.
"I see you do not dread work," he said, as I sat down before the writing-table, and took up a pen with alacrity.
"Not when I can see daylight through it, sir, and a reasonable prospect ahead of getting it done. Now, sir."
And Mr. Rutledge dictated, and I wrote for an hour, without the slightest intermission. At the end of that time he said:
"Do you think you are equal to the task of answering those two letters by yourself, of which I will give you a general idea, while I look over those accounts with Maurice and Ruthven, to be added to the New Orleans letter? It is important that they should all be dispatched to-day."
"If you are willing to trust me, I am willing to try."
And I immediately began the task. It was by no means an easy one; but by referring to the letters to be answered, and by keeping before my mind the synopsis Mr. Rutledge had briefly given me, I was able to finish them to his satisfaction; added the memoranda he had been making to the other letter, sealed and addressed them all, and had the package ready for Michael when he appeared at the door at ten o'clock.