"He is clever; he is the cleverest man I knew," commented Mr. Werner.
"I dare say he is," agreed Mr. Benning; "but you remember those who live longest see most of the game, and some one, I doubt not, will live to know how many trumps our little friend really holds."
Mr. Werner laughed—not pleasantly.
"You try to see the cards of all other men, Benning, but you do not show your own."
"I have none to show," was the reply. "A man in my position cannot afford to play at pitch and toss with fortune. Great gains and great losses, great risks and great successes I am forced to leave to—well, say Kleinwort. His name is as good as that of any other man with which to finish the sentence."
"And yet to look at his office," began Mr. Werner.
Mr. Benning had been in it a dozen times before, and knew every article it contained. Nevertheless, he apparently accepted his companion's remark as an invitation to have still another glance, and his eyes wandered slowly and thoughtfully over every object in the room.
When he had quite finished his scrutiny, he said,
"You are quite right. To look around his office, Mr. Kleinwort ought never to have had a transaction with the General Chemical Company, and if I had any young client in whom I was interested, I should advise him never to have a transaction with Mr. Kleinwort."
"Indeed, you are mistaken," remarked Mr. Werner eagerly. "I never meant to imply anything of the kind."