HANS JOSEF WILHELM GORGONZOLA, AUTHOR.
"'Hans Josef Wilhelm Gorgonzola,' he replied.
"'A good name for an author,' sneered the lawyer. 'What is your business?'
"'I am an author,' said Gorgonzola, with tears in his eyes.
"'He confesses it! he confesses it!' cried Bingenburg and Rheinfels, overjoyed, while the Board of Trade looked blue, and the Judge called the firm to order.
"'Author of what?' asked the lawyer, triumphantly.
"Gorgonzola hesitated, and Bingenburg and Rheinfels held their breath.
"'Of—what I have written,' said Gorgonzola, sadly.
"'And what is that?' insisted the lawyer.
"'I cannot tell,' said Gorgonzola, 'because it—it is my secret. If I told what I have written, some one else might steal it and publish it over his name, and all my work would be gone for nothing, which is hardly fair.'