"I believe that is my name," said I, although not quite certain yet whether I were an "XZ" or an "XY."
"I have been detailed to investigate your case," he declared, in such a businesslike manner that I had a momentary tremor, imagining him to be a detective. "I do not know why the Government has overlooked you so long; I understand, sir, that you have been illegally living in a state of unemployment."
"Illegally—living in a state of unemployment?" I gasped.
"So I am told!" he continued, with unsmiling severity. "Do you not realize, sir, that unemployment is a crime? That is to say, in all except First Class citizens, who are paid a salary by the State for being unemployed."
Fearing that I was about to be punished, I remained silent and anxiously regarded my visitor.
"However, we do not wish to be severe with you," he conceded, still scowling. "This is, after all, your first dereliction, and I have been instructed to let you off with a reprimand. But we must immediately end your unemployment."
"Very well," I assented, vastly relieved.
"The question is, what valuable labor can you perform?" asked the chalk-face, taking a chart out of his pocket and withdrawing across the room so as to examine it through an instrument that looked like a pair of opera glasses. "Fortunately, owing to the unusual turnover of the present war, an exceptional number of positions are vacant just now."
"Good! What are they?"
My visitor drew up his lean, white face into a puzzled frown, and answered in a drawl.