s some time since he had indulged in anything beyond a
common steak, and he greatly enjoyed the more luxurious meal. He
didn't go back to selling papers, for he felt that it would hardly be
consistent with the position of a classical teacher--the post for which
he was about to apply.

Half past seven found him at the door of Mr. John Sargent. The house was
of brown stone, high stoop, and four stories in height. It was such a
house as only a rich man could occupy.

He was ushered into the parlor and presently Mr. Sargent came in from
the dining room.

"Are you Mr. Ropes?" he asked, looking at Rodney's card.

It is not usual for newsboys to carry cards, but Rodney had some left
over from his more prosperous days.

"Yes, sir. I bring you a note of introduction from Mrs. Harvey."

"Ah yes, my sister. Let me see it."

The note was of some length. That is, it covered three pages of note
paper. Mr. Sargent read it attentively.

"My sister recommends you as tutor for my little son, Arthur," he said,
as he folded up the letter.

"Yes, sir; she suggested that I might perhaps suit you in that
capacity."

"She also says that you found and restored to her a valuable box of
jewelry which she was careless enough to drop near Tiffany's."

"Yes, sir."

"I have a good deal of confidence in my sister's good judgment. She
evidently regards you very favorably."

"I am glad of that sir,"

"Will you tell me something of your qualifications? Arthur is about to
commence Latin. He is not old enough for Greek."

"I could teach either, sir."

"And of course you are well up in English branches?"

"I think I am."

"My sister hints that you are poor, and obliged to earn your own living.
How, then, have you been able to secure so good an education?"

"I have only been poor for a short time. My father left me fifty
thousand dollars, but it was lost by my guardian."

"Who was your guardian?"

"Mr. Benjamin Fielding."

"I knew him well. I don't think he was an unprincipled man, but he was
certainly imprudent, and was led into acts that were reprehensible. Did
he lose all your money for you?"

"Yes, sir."

"What did you do?"

"Left the boarding school where I was being educated, and came to this
city."

"Did you obtain any employment?"

"Yes, sir; I have been employed for a short time by Otis Goodnow, a
merchant of Reade Street."

"And why did you leave?"

"Because Mr. Goodnow missed some articles from his stock, a