and he cast so benevolent a smile on the stenographer that
she bridled immediately.

"Mis-ter Lesengeld," she called, and in response B. Lesengeld projected
his torso from an adjacent doorway.

"Miss Schimpf," he said pleadingly, "do me the favour and don't make
such a _Geschrei_ every time somebody comes in the office. Goes through
me like a knife yet."

Max Schindelberger's smile took on the quality of indulgency as he
advanced slowly toward B. Lesengeld.

"How do you do, Mr. Lesengeld?" he said, proffering his hand; and after
glancing suspiciously at the extended palm Lesengeld took it in a limp
clasp.

"I already suscribed to that--now--asylum, ain't it?" Lesengeld began,
for his experienced eye had at once noted the fraternal society charm,
the I.O.M.A. lapel button, and the white tie that proclaimed Max to
be a philanthropist.

Max laughed as heartily as he could.

"Ain't it funny," he said, "how just so soon as anybody sees me they
think I am going to do something charitable? As a matter of fact, Mr.
Lesengeld, I am coming here to see you on a business matter which
really it ain't my business at all."

Lesengeld grudgingly held open the door, and Max squeezed past him.

"You got a comfortable place here, Mr. Lesengeld," he began, "plain and
old-fashioned, but comfortable."

Lesengeld removed some dusty papers from a chair.

"It suits me," he said. "Take a seat, Mr. ----"

"Schindelberger," Max said as he sat down.

"Used to was Schindelberger, Steinfeld & Company in the underwear
business?"

Max nodded and his smile began to fade.

"My partner Belz got a couple of the composition notes in the middle
compartment in our safe for six years already," Lesengeld continued.
"He keeps 'em for sowveneers, on account the feller he took 'em off
of--a relation from his wife's--was no good, neither. Which you was
telling me you wanted to see me about a business matter."

Max Schindelberger cleared his throat.

"Anybody could have reverses in business," he said.

"Sure, I know," Lesengeld commented. "Only there is two kinds of
reverses, Mr. Schindelberger, reverses from up to down and reverses
from down to up, like when a feller couldn't pay his composition notes,
Mr. Schindelberger, and two years later is buying elevator apartments
yet in his wife's name, Mr. Schindelberger." He tapped the desk
impatiently. "Which you was saying," he added, "that you wanted to see
me about a business matter."

Max co