"Are you Mr. Hart, sir?"
"That is my name. How did you know me?"
"I didn't know you; but I guessed it was Mr. Hart."
They hurried along in silence for a few moments more. Leo was thinking, just then, how it would be possible for Mr. Hart to tell Mr. Checkynshaw that he had called that day, and that he would call at one the next day, if he was going to New York by the afternoon train. He was quite sure Mr. Hart could not get back in time to tell the banker that he had obeyed his mandate. He was a little perplexed, and he was afraid the mighty man would be angry with him for not keeping the appointment, and perhaps visit the neglect upon his foster-father. Being unable to solve the problem himself, he ventured to ask Mr. Hart for a solution.
"It won't make any difference. Mr. Checkynshaw will not think of the matter again till he sees you to-morrow," replied Mr. Hart. "He will have enough to think of when he gets to the office to-morrow without troubling his head about you."
"Perhaps, as you are his partner, Mr. Hart, you can do the business just as well," said Leo.
"Very likely I can. What did Mr. Checkynshaw want of you?" asked the partner.
"He is going to discharge Fitz, and—"
"Discharge Fitz! What is that for?" demanded Mr. Hart, as if very much astonished at the intelligence.
"I don't exactly understand what for; but he wants me to come in his place; or at least he wants to see me about coming."