'All right, sir,' said Hill, a jaunty, devil-may-care looking fellow, with a sallow, sickly face, evidently the result of excess and dissipation.' If the young gentleman will tell me where he stops. I will call for him this evening.'
'At the Franklin House,' responded Hiram.
'The devil!' exclaimed Joslin. 'Tall quarters, I should say.'
'Ain't it a good place, sir? I was told it was a good house on board the boat.'
'Good! I should think it was. The best in New York. A dollar and a half a day: did you understand that?'
'No, sir; I did not ask the price.'
'Green, that's a fact,' said Joslin to himself.' Never mind,' he continued, 'Hill will recommend you to his boarding place, if you like. Good day;' and Hiram took his leave.
'I say, Hill, I want to find out how matters stand with Burns. You've got just the chance now. Put this chap through generally. His mother don't seem to know he's out. Don't mind a few dollars: you understand? And recollect, pump him dry.'
'Dry as a sandbank,' said Hill, who was already chuckling over the sport in prospect.
Mr. Joslin continued his instructions, which, as they were of a strictly private nature, we should be violating confidence to record.