"Oh no, Sir!—the rates have been in for a fortnight. If I might hazard a suggestion, I should say he was a literary gentleman."
I smiled, but was a little uncertain as to the better course of action. No doubt the man of letters was seeking an interview with a view to its subsequent reproduction. I am not altogether in favour of these public betrayals of private affairs, but considered that there could be no harm in this instance if I consented to see the journalistic intruder. To tell the truth, of late—much to my annoyance—reports have been in circulation rather prejudicial to my pecuniary credit. I am not a rich man. In these hard times who is? But for all that I am able to keep the wolf from the door, and maintain a position not derogatory to the status of barrister-at-law. It occurred to me, as I requested Portington to admit the visitor, that perhaps the meeting might lead to satisfactory results. If the caller happened to be an interviewer, I might "inspire" him.
"Mr. A. Briefless, Jun., I think," said the new comer, as he seated himself in a chair and referred to a pocket-book. I bowed. "This is not your private address—these are your chambers?"
"Certainly," I returned; "but perhaps, before we go further, you will be so good as to tell me what you want?"
"Well, briefly, a statement of your affairs for the last three years. I will not trouble you for anything of an earlier date."
I again inclined my head. I was not altogether pleased with my visitor's manner. He was certainly abrupt, and he adopted a tone of authority that jarred upon my nerves. Possibly he wished to give the account of our interview to our cousins across the Atlantic. If this were so, I need not be over-scrupulous in my statements. Americans are accustomed to the rouge of exaggeration on the cheek of fact. So I would convey a false impression if I omitted, so to speak, the magnifying cosmetic.
"You do not propose to make public anything in this country?"
"Assuredly not," he replied. "All you say will be treated confidentially, save with the necessary exceptions."
I was satisfied. Of course the exceptions would be the people in the Republic of the West. I told him that my practice was a large one.