“Before I could make any reply, or even guess at [pg 423] his meaning, he was called away, and Mr. Lummocks stepped up and supplied his place.
“ ‘You had better buy 'em, colonel,’ said Mr. Lummocks; ‘they will sell like hot cakes. Did you say you bought for cash?’
“ ‘Of course,’ I said, ‘if I buy at all.’
“He took a memorandum out of his pocket, and looked in it for a moment.
“ ‘Let me see,’ said he, ‘Franco, Franco—what did you say your firm was? Something and Franco, or Franco and Somebody? The name has escaped me.’
“ ‘I have no firm,’ I replied.
“ ‘O, you haven't, hain't ye? all alone, eh? But I don't see that I've got your first name down in my “tickler.” ’
“ ‘My first name is Harry,’ said I.
“ ‘Right—yes—I remember,’ said Mr. Lummocks, making a memorandum; ‘and your references, colonel, who did you say were your references?’
“ ‘I have no reference,’ I replied; ‘indeed I know of no one to whom I could refer, except my father.’