Suddenly he received an inspiration.
"How much did you say them shanties rents for, Mr. Williams?" he said.
"Twenty dollars a month," Williams replied.
"You don't tell me!" Scharley exclaimed solemnly. "I wonder if I could give a look at the inside of one of 'em—this one here, for instance."
"I don't think there'd be any objection," Williams said, and no sooner were the words out of his mouth than Scharley started off on a half trot for the miniature veranda on the ocean side of the little house.
"Perhaps I'd better inquire first if it's convenient for them to let us in now," Williams said, as he bounded after his prospective customer and knocked gently on the doorjamb. There was a sound of scurrying feet within, and at length the door was opened a few inches and the bewigged head of Mrs. Lesengeld appeared in the crack.
"Nu," she said, "what is it?"
"I represent the Bognor Park Company," Williams replied, "and if it's perfectly convenient for you, Mrs.——"
"Lesengeld," she added.
"Used to was Lesengeld & Schein in the pants business?" Scharley asked, and Mrs. Lesengeld nodded.