his fair one in disguise. Of
course he, on his side, gave vent, through the same medium, to his
complaints and reproaches, which led to excuses and new appointments.
But he never met the long-sought-for one.

This went on for some weeks, and Specht fell into a state of excitement
which even the basses found reprehensible.

One morning Pix was standing as usual on the ground floor, when a plump,
pretty lady, with nut-brown eyes, and enveloped in beautiful furs,
entered the house, and in an irate tone of voice inquired for Mr.
Schroeter.

Pix informed her that he was not then at home, adding, with the air and
tone of a field-marshal, that he was his representative.

After some reluctance to tell her tale to any other than Mr. Schroeter
had been overcome by the polite decision of Mr. Pix, the lady preferred
her complaint against one of the clerks in that office who persecuted
her with letters and poems, and unworthily made her name public in the
daily papers.

The whole thing flashed upon Pix at once. "Can you give me the
gentleman's name?"

"I do not know his name," said the widow; "he is tall and has curly
hair."

"Gaunt in figure and a large nose, eh?" inquired Pix. "Very well, madam;
from this day forth you shall have no further annoyance. I will be
answerable for that."

"Still," recommenced the lady in the furs, "I should wish Mr. Schroeter
himself--"

"Better not, madam. The young man has behaved toward you in a manner for
which I can find no adequate terms. Yet your kind heart will remember
that he did not mean to offend. He wanted sense and tact, that was his
offense. But he was really in earnest; and since I have had the honor to
know you, I find it natural." He bowed. "I condemn him, as I said
before, but I find it natural."

The pretty widow stood there embarrassed, and Pix proceeded to say that
her forgiveness would be a source of happiness to the whole
establishment.

"I never meant to make the establishment responsible for the
ungentlemanlike behavior of one of its members."

"I thank you with my whole heart for your gracious conduct," said Pix,
triumphantly, and then skillfully proceeded to lead the conversation to
the goods with which they were surrounded, pointing out the
peculiarities of different coffees, and stating that, although the firm
had left off retail dealings, yet that in her case they would, at any
time, be much flattered to receive an order, however small, and to
furnish he