In my old firm there is a vacancy; they call themselves Italian Warehousemen now," he continued, regarding me with a twinkle of humour; "so you may think yourself in luck: we were only grocers in my day.

I shall place you there to-morrow." "Stop a moment, Uncle Adam," I broke in.

"This is not at all what I am asking.

I ask you to pay Pinkerton, who is a poor man.

I ask you to clear my feet of debt, not to arrange my life or any part of it." "If I wished to be harsh, I might remind you that beggars cannot be choosers," said my uncle; "and as to managing your life, you have tried your own way already, and you see what you have made of it.