"Yes. I had never heard of him as a boxer. Still, he seems very anxious to go down, and he certainly has one remarkable testimonial, and as there's no one else—"
"And what shall I do?" asked O'Hara.
"I want you, if you will, to give him a trial in the dinner-hour. Just see if he's any good at all. If he isn't, of course, don't hit him about a great deal. But if he shows signs of being a useful man, extend him. See what he can do."
"Very well, sir," said O'Hara.
"And you might look in at my house at tea-time, if you have nothing better to do, and tell me what you think of him."
At five o'clock, when he entered Mr Spence's study, O'Hara's face wore the awe-struck look of one who had seen visions.
"Well?" said Mr Spence. "Did you find him any good?"
"Good?" said O'Hara. "He'll beat them all. He's a champion. There's no stopping him."
"What an extraordinary thing!" said Mr Spence.