Books entertained an excellent opinion of himself, and was in high favor with the customers, for he was witty, musical, and talkative.

More than that, he was a stately little man, and well informed in all the great political movements of the day, and would entertain customers on the condition of the nation while counting their money.

It was evident that Mr.Books was not in sympathy with the great enterprise his employers were developing, for he was continually saying witty but malicious things about Gusher, and would even point significantly with his thumb over his right shoulder.

When a more than ordinarily verdant customer would come with his money, Mr.Books would shrug his shoulders, drum with his fingers on the desk, and hum a tune to the words-- "Fortunes made, and fortunes lost; Fools seek the phantom here at last," &c., &c.
Books had several times intimated an intention to set up a great enterprising banking and miscellaneous firm of his own.

Indeed, his popularity with the patrons of the house was doing Mr.Books no good, especially as it entailed the necessity of his taking so great a number of drinks during the day that he would offer to bet the reputation of the firm that he was the tallest man in the establishment, and a politer man than Gusher.