d of the race. They will not even allow, sir, that I am an
American. I am received with scorn, and denied my birthright, not only
by those to whom I apply for work, but by the Arabs of the street and
the public press. I am not complaining; I am merely stating the facts of
the case. They even cast Ike in my teeth,--Ike the imperious,
beautifully ugly Ike," he added, stooping down to pat the bull-terrier,
who showed his teeth and growled affectionately. "Now, Mr. Chelm, you
have my story. I am in earnest. Will you help me?"

"I can understand your difficulties to some extent, Mr. Prime, and am
not altogether without sympathy for you," began the lawyer gravely,
after a short reflection. "The times are hard for everybody undeniably,
and especially for young men in your position. It is a comparatively
easy matter to draw a cheque to alleviate distress, but finding work for
anybody to-day is next to impossible. However, as one can never tell
what may turn up, let me ask you a blunt question. What are you fit for?
What can you do?"

"Here again, sir, the world would tell you that I was fit for nothing
except to play the lute beneath a lady's window. But if you will believe
me, I am not without business knowledge. Gentleman as I am, I have long
cherished an ambition to become a merchant prince (it is well to aspire
high),--a genuine merchant-prince, however, and not the counterfeit
article who accumulates millions for his children to squander. I have
views upon the subject. I am an idealist, as I have told you, and there
was a time when I thought my father very rich, and that I should be able
to carry out my theories. Since then I have resolved to win back before
I die the fortune he lost; and with a view to that I devote several
hours in each day (if this should be breathed abroad, my reputation for
consummate emptiness might suffer) to the study of exports and imports,
markets and exchanges, and all that relates to commercial affairs. You
asked me what I am fit for, Mr. Chelm. My father was a banker. I should
like to follow in his footsteps. But supplicants cannot be choosers.
Procure me a clerkship in any line of business, and I shall try to prove
myself worthy of your patronage."

"Humph! I wish I could help you, with all my heart. But, frankly, I know
of nothing at the moment. Bankers are discharging their clerks, not
engaging new ones. I will make inquiries however, and see if it is
possible to do anything for you. You