"So, so."
Then came a pause.
"Business rather dull," remarked Jenkins.
"Very," replied Gooding, with a serious face, and more serious tone of voice. "Nothing at all doing. I never saw business so flat in my life."
"Flat enough."
Another pause.
"Ahem! Mr. Jenkins," began Gooding, after a few moments, "do you think you can do any thing for me to-day?"
"If there is any thing I can do for you, it shall be done with pleasure," said Jenkins, in a cheerful way. "In what can I oblige you?"
"You remember, you said that in all probability you would be able to spare me as much as fifty dollars to-day?"
"I said so?" Jenkins asked this question with an appearance of real surprise.