? ? ? ? " 'Are you Mr. Hall Pycroft?' he asked.
? ? ? ? " 'Yes,' said I.
? ? ? ? " 'Oh! I was expecting you, but you are a trifle before your time. I had a note from my brother this morning in which he sang your praises very loudly.'
? ? ? ? " 'I was just looking for the offices when you came.'
? ? ? ? " 'We have not got our name up yet, for we only secured these temporary premises 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 under the slates, were a couple of empty, dusty little rooms, uncarpeted and uncurtained, into which he led me. I had thought of a great office with shining tables and rows of clerks, such as I was used to, and I daresay I stared rather straight at the two deal chairs and one little table, which with a ledger and a waste-paper basket, made up the whole furniture.
? ? ? ? " 'Don't be disheartened, Mr. Pycroft,' said my new acquaintance, seeing the length of my face. 'Rome was not built in a day, and we have lots of money at our backs, though we don't cut much dash yet in offices. Pray sit down, and let me have your letter.
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