"I've come back to stay, 'Gene," said Joe.
Bantry had dropped his book and raised himself on an elbow."Exceedingly interesting," he said.
"I suppose you'll try to find something to do.Idon't think you could get a place here; Judge Pike owns the Tocsin, and I greatly fear he has a prejudice against you.""I expect he has," Joe chuckled, somewhat sadly."But I don't want newspaper work.I'm going to practice law.""By Jove! you have courage, my festive prodigal.
VRAIMENT!"
Joe cocked his head to one side with his old look of the friendly puppy."You always did like to talk that noveletty way, 'Gene, didn't you?" he said, impersonally.
Eugene's color rose."Have you saved up anything to starve on?" he asked, crisply.
"Oh, I'm not so badly off.I've had a salary in an office for a year, and I had one pretty good day at the races--""You'd better go back and have another," said his step-brother."You don't seem to comprehend your standing in Canaan.""I'm beginning to." Joe turned to the door.
"It's funny, too--in a way.Well--I won't keep you any longer.I just stopped in to say good-day--" He paused, faltering.
"All right, all right," Eugene said, briskly.
"And, by-the-way, I haven't mentioned that I saw you in New York.""Oh, I didn't suppose that you would.""And you needn't say anything about it, Ifancy.""I don't think," said Joe,--"I don't think that you need be afraid I'll do that.Good-bye.""Be sure to shut the door, please; it's rather noisy with it open.Good-bye." Eugene waved his hand and sank back upon the divan.
Joe went across the street to the "National House." The sages fell as silent as if he had been Martin Pike.They had just had the pleasure of hearing a telephone monologue by Mr.Brown, the clerk, to which they listened intently: "Yes.This is Brown.Oh--oh, it's Judge Pike? Yes indeed, Judge, yes indeed, I hear you--ha, ha! Of course, I understand.Yes, Judge, I heard he was in town.No, he hasn't been here.Not yet, that is, Judge.Yes, I hear.No, I won't, of course.