"'Precisely what I don't want you to do. I had a row over you withMawson's manager. I had gone up to ask him about you, and he was veryoffensive; accused me of coaxing you away from the service of the firm,and that sort of thing. At last I fairly lost my temper. "If you wantgood men you should pay them a good price," said I.'
"'He would rather have our small price than your big one,' said he.
"'I'll lay you a fiver,' said I, 'that when he has my offer you'll neverso much as hear from him again.'
"'Done!' said he. 'We picked him out of the gutter, and he won't leaveus so easily.' Those were his very words."
"'The impudent scoundrel!' I cried. 'I've never so much as seen him inmy life. Why should I consider him in any way? I shall certainly notwrite if you would rather I didn't.'
"'Good! That's a promise,' said he, rising from his chair. 'Well, I'mdelighted to have got so good a man for my brother. Here's your advanceof a hundred pounds, and here is the letter. Make a note of the address,126b Corporation Street, and remember that one o'clock to-morrow isyour appointment. Good-night; and may you have all the fortune that youdeserve!'
"That's just about all that passed between us, as near as I canremember. You can imagine, Dr. Watson, how pleased I was at such anextraordinary bit of good fortune. I sat up half the night huggingmyself over it, and next day I was off to Birmingham in a train thatwould take me in plenty time for my appointment. I took my things toa hotel in New Street, and then I made my way to the address which hadbeen given me.
"It was a quarter of an hour before my time, but I thought that wouldmake no difference. 126b was a passage between two large shops, whichled to a winding stone stair, from which there were many flats, let asoffices to companies or professional men. The names of the occupantswere painted at the bottom on the wall, but there was no such name asthe Franco-Midland Hardware Company, Limited. I stood for a few minuteswith my heart in my boots, wondering whether the whole thing was anelaborate hoax or not, when up came a man and addressed me. He was verylike the chap I had seen the night before, the same figure and voice,but he was clean shaven and his hair was lighter.
"'Are you Mr. Hall Pycroft?' he asked.
"'Yes,' said I.
"'Oh! I was expecting you, but you are a trifle before your time. I hada note from my brother this morning in which he sang your praises veryloudly.'
"'I was just looking for the offices when you came.
"'We have not got our name up yet, for we only secured these temporarypremises last week. Come up with me, and we will talk the matter over.'
"I followed him to the top of a very lofty stair, and there, right underthe slates, were a couple of empty, dusty little rooms, uncarpeted anduncurtained, into which he led me. I had thought of a great office withshining tables and rows of clerks, such as I was used to, and I dare sayI stared rather st
raight at the two deal chairs and one little table,which, with a ledger and a waste paper basket, made up the wholefurniture.
"'Don't be disheartened, Mr. Pycroft,' said my new acquaintance, seeingthe length of my face. 'Rome was not built in a day, and we have lots ofmoney at our backs, though we don't cut much dash yet in offices. Praysit down, and let me have your letter.'
"I gave it to him, and he read it over very carefully.
"'You seem to have made a vast impression upon my brother Arthur,' saidhe; 'and I know that he is a pretty shrewd judge. He swears by London,you know; and I by Birmingham; but this time I shall follow his advice.Pray consider yourself definitely engaged."
"'What are my duties?' I asked.
"'You will eventually manage the great depot in Paris, which will poura flood of English crockery into the shops of a hundred and thirty-fouragents in France. The purchase will be completed in a week, andmeanwhile you will remain in Birmingham and make yourself useful.'
"'How?'
"For answer, he took a big red book out of a drawer.
"'This is a directory of Paris,' said he, 'with the trades after thenames of the people. I want you to take it home with you, and to markoff all the hardware sellers, with their addresses. It would be of thegreatest use to me to have them.'
"'Surely there are classified lists?' I suggested.
"'Not reliable ones. Their system is different from ours. Stick at it,and let me have the lists by Monday, at twelve. Good-day, Mr. Pycroft.If you continue to show zeal and intelligence you will find the companya good master.'
"I went back to the hotel with the big book under my arm, and with veryconflicting feelings in my breast. On the one hand, I was definitelyengaged and had a hundred pounds in my pocket; on the other, the lookof the offices, the absence of name on the wall, and other of the pointswhich would strike a business man had left a bad impression as to theposition of my employers. However, come what might, I had my money, so Isettled down to my task. All Sunday I was kept hard at work, and yet byMonday I had only got as far as H. I went round to my employer, foundhim in the same dismantled kind of room, and was told to keep atit until Wednesday, and then come again. On Wednesday it was stillunfinished, so I hammered away until Friday--that is, yesterday. Then Ibrought it round to Mr. Harry Pinner.
"'Thank you very much,' said he; 'I fear that I underrated thedifficulty of the task. This list will be of very material assistance tome.'
"'It took some time,' said I.
"'And now,' said he, 'I want you to make a list of the furniture shops,for they all sell crockery.'
"'Very good.'