“ ‘Quite so.’

“ ‘Well,’ said he, ‘the fact is that I have heard some really extraordinary stories about your financial ability. You remember Parker, who used to be Coxon’s manager? He can never say enough about it.’

“Of course I was pleased to hear this. I had always been pretty sharp in the office, but I had never dreamed that I was talked about in the City in this fashion.

“ ‘You have a good memory?’ said he.

“ ‘Pretty fair,’ I answered, modestly.

“ ‘Have you kept in touch with the market while you have been out of work?’ he asked.

“ ‘Yes. I read the stock exchange list every morning.’

“ ‘Now that shows real application!’ he cried. ‘That is the way to prosper! You won’t mind my testing you, will you? Let me see. How are Ayrshires?’