Cradock, having stated his purpose, name, and qualifications, the traffic–manager looked at him with interest and reflection. Then he said impressively, “You can jump well, I should think?”
“I have never yet been beaten,” Crad answered, “but of course there are many who can beat me.”
“And run, no doubt? And your sight is accurate, and your nerves very good?”
“My nerves are not what they were, sir; but I can run fast and see well.”
“Why do you shiver so? That will never do. And the muscles of his calf are too prominent. We lost No. 6 through that.”
“It is only a little cold I have caught. It will go off in a moment with regular work.”
“You have no relation, I suppose, in any way connected with the law? No friends, I mean, of litigious tendencies?”
“Oh no. I have no friends whatever; none, I mean, in London, only one family, far in the country, to care at all about me.”
“No father or mother to make a fuss, eh? No wife to prevent your attending to business?”
“No, sir, nothing of the sort. I am quite alone in the world; and my life is of no importance.”