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Of the person behind the desk Mr。 Clodd could see but the head and
shoulders。 It had black； curly hair； cut short。 It's only garment visible
below the white collar and red tie might have been a boy's jacket
designed more like a girl's； or a girl's designed more like a boy's；
partaking of the genius of English statesmanship； it appeared to be a
compromise。 Mr。 Clodd remarked the long； drooping lashes over the
bright； black eyes。
〃It's a girl；〃 said Mr。 Clodd to himself； 〃rather a pretty girl。〃
Mr。 Clodd； continuing downward； arrived at the nose。
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Clodd to himself； 〃it's a boya cheeky young beggar；
I should say。〃
The person at the desk； giving a grunt of satisfaction； gathered
together sheets of manuscript and arranged them； then； resting its elbows
on the desk and taking its head between its hands； regarded Mr。 Clodd。
〃Don't you hurry yourself；〃 said Mr。 Clodd； 〃but when you really
have finished； tell me what you think of me。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 apologised the person at the desk。 〃I have got
into a habit of staring at people。 I know it's rude。 I'm trying to break
myself of it。〃
〃Tell me your name；〃 suggested Mr。 Clodd； 〃and I'll forgive you。〃
〃Tommy；〃 was the answer〃I mean Jane。〃
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Tommy and Co。
〃Make up your mind；〃 advised Mr。 Clodd； 〃don't let me influence
you。 I only want the truth。〃
〃You see；〃 explained the person at the desk； 〃everybody calls me
Tommy； because that used to be my name。 But now it's Jane。〃
〃I see；〃 said Mr。 Clodd。 〃And which am I to call you？〃
The person at the desk pondered。 〃Well； if this scheme you and Mr。
Hope have been talking about really comes to anything； we shall be a
good deal thrown together； you see； and then I expect you'll call me
Tommymost people do。〃
〃You've heard about the scheme？ Mr。 Hope has told you？〃
〃Why； of course；〃 replied Tommy。 〃I'm Mr。 Hope's devil。〃
For the moment Clodd doubted whether his old friend had not started
a rival establishment to his own。
〃I help him in his work；〃 Tommy relieved his mind by explaining。
〃In journalistic circles we call it devilling。〃
〃I understand；〃 said Mr。 Clodd。 〃And what do you think； Tommy； of
the scheme？ I may as well start calling you Tommy； because； between
you and me； I think the idea will come to something。〃
Tommy fixed her black eyes upon him。 She seemed to be looking
him right through。
〃You are staring again； Tommy；〃 Clodd reminded her。 〃You'll have
trouble breaking yourself of that habit； I can see。〃
〃I was trying to make up my mind about you。 Everything depends
upon the business man。〃
〃Glad to hear you say so；〃 replied the self…satisfied Clodd。
〃If you are very clever Do you mind coming nearer to the lamp？ I
can't quite see you over there。〃
Clodd never could understand why he did itnever could understand
why； from first to last； he always did what Tommy wished him to do； his
only consolation being that other folks seemed just as helpless。 He rose
and； crossing the long room； stood at attention before the large desk；
nervousness； to which he was somewhat of a stranger； taking possession
of him。
〃You don't LOOK very clever。〃
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Tommy and Co。
Clodd experienced another new sensationthat of falling in his own
estimation。
〃And yet one can see that you ARE clever。〃
The mercury of Clodd's conceit shot upward to a point that in the
case of anyone less physically robust might have been dangerous to
health。
Clodd held out his hand。 〃We'll pull it through； Tommy。 The
Guv'nor shall find the literature； you and I will make it go。 I like you。〃
And Peter Hope； entering at the moment； caught a spark from the
light that shone in the eyes of William Clodd and Tommy； whose other
name was Jane； as； gripping hands； they stood with the desk between
them； laughing they knew not why。 And the years fell from old Peter；
and； again a boy； he also laughed he knew not why。 He had sipped
from the wine…cup of youth。
〃It's all settled； Guv'nor！〃 cried Clodd。 〃Tommy and I have fixed
things up。 We'll start with the New Year。〃
〃You've got the money？〃
〃I'm reckoning on it。 I don't see very well how I can miss it。〃
〃Sufficient？〃
〃Just about。 You get to work。〃
〃I've saved a little；〃 began Peter。 〃It ought to have been more； but
somehow it isn't。〃
〃Perhaps we shall want it；〃 Clodd replied； 〃perhaps we shan't。 You
are supplying the brains。〃
The three for a few moments remained silent。
〃I think； Tommy；〃 said Peter； 〃I think a bottle of the old Madeira… …〃
〃Not to…night；〃 said Clodd； 〃next time。〃
〃To drink success；〃 urged Peter。
〃One man's success generally means some other poor devil's
misfortune；〃 answered Clodd。
〃Can't be helped； of course； but don't want to think about it to… night。
Must be getting back to my dormouse。 Good night。〃
Clodd shook hands and bustled out。
〃I thought as much；〃 mused Peter aloud。
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Tommy and Co。
〃What an odd mixture the man is！ Kindno one could have been
kinder to the poor old fellow。 Yet all the while We are an odd mixture；
Tommy；〃 said Peter Hope； 〃an odd mixture； we men and women。〃
Peter was a philosopher。
The white…whiskered old dormouse soon coughed himself to sleep for
ever。
〃I shall want you and the missis to come to the funeral； Gladman；〃
said Mr。 Clodd； as he swung into the stationer's shop； 〃and bring Pincer
with you。 I'm writing to him。〃
〃Don't see what good we can do；〃 demurred Gladman。
〃Well； you three are his only relatives； it's only decent you should be
present；〃 urged Clodd。 〃Besides； there's the will to be read。 You may
care to hear it。〃
The dry old law stationer opened wide his watery eyes。
〃His will！ Why； what had he got to leave？ There was nothing but
the annuity。〃
〃You turn up at the funeral；〃 Clodd told him； 〃and you'll learn all
about it。 Bonner's clerk will be there and will bring it with him。
Everything is going to be done comme il faut； as the French say。〃
〃I ought to have known of this；〃 began Mr。 Gladman。
〃Glad to find you taking so much interest in the old chap；〃 said
Clodd。 〃Pity he's dead and can't thank you。〃 〃I warn you；〃 shouted old
Gladman； whose voice was rising to a scream； 〃he was a helpless
imbecile； incapable of acting for himself！ If any undue influence〃
〃See you on Friday；〃 broke in Clodd； who was busy。
Friday's ceremony was not a sociable affair。 Mrs。 Gladman spoke
occasionally in a shrill whisper to Mr。 Gladman； who replied with grunts。
Both employed the remainder of their time in scowling at Clodd。 Mr。
Pincer； a stout； heavy gentleman connected with the House of Commons；
maintained a ministerial reserve。 The undertaker's foreman expressed
himself as thankful when it was over。 He criticised it as the humpiest
funeral he had ever known； for a time he had serious thoughts of
changing his profession。
The solicitor's clerk was waiting for the party on its return from