“A very nice place. Who directed you here?”
“No one. I strolled around until I found a street I liked, and looked around until I found a house I liked. The card in the window—”
“Of course. Well, Mr. Banneker, for the protection of the house I must have references.”
“References? You mean letters from people?”
“Not necessarily. Just a name or two from whom I can make inquiries. You have friends, I suppose.”
“No.”
“Your family—”
“I haven’t any.”
“Then the people in the place where you work. What is your business, by the way?”
“I expect to go on a newspaper.”