l know in a few moments, sir," said the old man, deliberately
taking a seat, and motioning to his son to do the same. "My business
could be transacted with yourself alone, and it would be useless
referring me to a secretary or a treasurer. I have come here with my
son--"

"Oh, the old story!" broke in Stocmar. "The young gentleman is
stage-struck; fancies that his Hamlet is better than Kean's or
Macready's; but I have no time for this sort of thing. The golden age
of prodigies is gone by, and, at all events, I have no faith in it. Make
an apothecary of him, clerk in a gas-works, or anything you please, only
don't come here to bother me, you understand; my time is too full for
these negotiations."

"Have you done?" said the old man, fiercely.

"Done with _you_, certainly," said Stocmar, moving towards the bell.

"That you have not. You have not even begun with me yet. I perceive you
do not remember me."

"Remember you! I never saw you before, and I trust most sincerely I may
never have that pleasure again. Anything wrong with the old party
here?" whispered he, as he turned to Alfred, and touched his finger
significantly to his forehead.

"Be quiet, boy!" cried Layton, fiercely, as his son started up to
resent the insolence; "he shall soon learn whether there be or not. Our
time, sir, if not so profitable as yours, has its value for ourselves,
so that I will briefly tell you what I came for. I want the addresses of
two persons of your acquaintance."

"This is beyond endurance. Am I to be the victim of every twaddling old
bore that requires an address? Are you aware, sir, that I don't keep an
agency office?"

With a calm self-possession which amazed his son, the old man quietly
said, "I want this address,--and this." And he handed Stocmar a card
with two names written in pencil.

"Clara Hawke'--and who is Clara Hawke? I never heard of her till now;
and 'Mrs. Hawke' too? My good friend, this is some self-delusion of
yours. Take him away quietly, young gentleman, or my patience will not
stand this any longer. I 'll send for a policeman."

"There is one already in waiting, sir," said old Layton, fiercely, "and
with a warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Hyman Stocmar. Ay, sir, our
laws give many a wide margin to rascality, but slave-dealing is not
legalized on our soil. Keep your laughter for the end, and see whether
it will be so mirthful. Of that crime I mean to accuse you in an open
court, the victim being myse