It was necessary with such an one to come to business with brutal directness.

George abandoned "Mr.X," and turning back to a previous page, took a sentence at random.

It was not a happy selection; it was a speech that would have been superfluous made to any bootmaker.

Under the present circumstances, threatened and stifled as we were on every side by boots, it possessed the dignity of positive imbecility.

It ran:--"One has told me that you have here boots for sale." For the first time the man put down his hammer and chisel, and looked at us.