Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

150 ADVICE—ONE DOLLAR A MINUTE. “Good! Delighted to do business with such a precise man; wouldn’t mind sitting up all night.”’ ‘“At one dollar a minute—excuse me. Pardon—pay attention, monsieur—lI relate a little experience to get ze opinion of a man who saves millions.’’ ‘‘Ror others, and almost starves himself.”’ “At one dollar a minute—MVon Dieu! ‘such star- ing I would like to do for a year—I should feast ze rest of my life. ‘To business, as time flies, and ze dollars with it. Zere is one man we will call John ) ‘‘John—who?”’ asks the professor, quickly. “Oh—John Smith will do to distinguish him.”’ “Ts there any Pocohontas in this game?’’ “Not zat I know of—you, too, are a man of humor. So much ze better—you will live long. Zis John Smith is in my employ—I am a merchant—lI have ze great counting-rooms with one dozen clerks. I import ze champagne, zat makes ze young man’s head whirl if he takes too much. ‘“‘T receive a note without a name—it tell me zat John Smith is living beyond his means. I am aroused —I set ze detective on his track—what do I find— begar! Ze young man ees married on ze sly—he has a fine establishment and a carriage. All zis on fifteen hundred a year in New York. Bah! impossible; but perhaps he marry a rich girl. I am unable to find zat out—ze detective can learn nothing. ‘‘So I change ze game; I have an expert examine ze books. Zey balance, but he is puzzled over cer- tain figures. What I desire to find out, in plain language, is zis. If figures have been alter a long-time CEORMMIE OOO KS. Conn)