“ ‘You are the same Percy Trevelyan who has had so distinguished a career and won a great prize lately?’ said he.
“I bowed.
“ ‘Answer me frankly,’ he continued, ‘for you will find it to your interest to do so. You have all the cleverness which makes a successful man. Have you the tact?’
“I could not help smiling at the abruptness of the question.
“ ‘I trust that I have my share,’ I said.
“ ‘Any bad habits? Not drawn towards drink, eh?’ “
‘Really, sir!’ I cried.
“ ‘Quite right! That’s all right! But I was bound to ask. With all these qualities, why are you not in practice?’
“I shrugged my shoulders.
“ ‘Come, come!’ said he in his bustling way. ‘It’s the old story. More in your brains than in your pocket, eh? What would you say if I were to start you in Brook Street?’
“I stared at
