"Take me to some good book-shop," he said to the cabby.
Instanter he was whirled around into Winter Street, where stands one of Boston's most famous literary distributing centers.
"Have you 'The City of Credit'?" he asked the salesman.
"I think we have a copy in stock," replied the latter. "If we haven't, we can get it for you."
"Do so, please," said Van Buren. "I want a dozen copies—send them by express to Charles H. Harney, The Helicon Club, New York. How much?"
"It's a dollar and a half book, I think," said the clerk. "The discount will make it $1.20—a dozen, did you say? Twenty-five cents expressage—that will make it $14.65."
Van Buren paid up without a whimper. Once in the hansom again, he called up through the little hole in the top.
"Isn't there any other book-shop in town where I can get what I want?" he demanded.
"There's a dozen of 'em," replied the cabby.
"Then go to them all," said Van Buren.