Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 157: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ADVICE—ONE DOLLAR A MINUTE. 149 So the spider walks into the little parlor of his rival. He is made comfortable, and glances around. The air is thick with tobacco smoke. ‘“Do you object—I have a window a little way open, and I can throw it wide?”’ ‘“No, no, do not, I beg. Better the smoke than to catch the death of cold. Besides, this smoke is pleasant—you use good tobacco—and smoke two pipes at once,’’ as he sees the chibouque on the table still warm, for his fingers have touched it. Josh smiles and removes his clay pipe with thumb and finger. “Oh! I had company—an old friend popped in on me and we chatted over days gone by,’’ he remarks, in an off-hand way. ‘“Such meetings are charming—zere is so much to say. But, monsieur, I have one leetle business with you. I understand you are what you call ’em a professor of chirography—zat is, you know all about ze handwriting on ze wall.”’ ‘“T see you are a humorist, my friend. My business is in dealing with forgeries. If I do say it myself, I have made some hits in that line, and my prices are away up on that account. My testimony has been known to save a million.”’ ‘“‘Begar! all I want is one leetle advice you would 9 give zat for ‘Ten dollars for ten minutes’ time.”’ “Tt ees done, zere is ze money. Now, I note zat it just is twenty minutes after eleven. Until half past, Monsieur Geddings, you will talk and listen.’’ CONNIELOOOKS.E@ im