Page 192 of 896

They went into a dingy room lined with books and littered with

papers, where there was a blazing fire. A kettle steamed upon the

hob, and in the midst of the wreck of papers a table shone, with

plenty of wine upon it, and brandy, and rum, and sugar, and

lemons.

"You have had your bottle, I perceive, Sydney."

"Two to-night, I think. I have been dining with the day's client;

or seeing him dine--it's all one!"

"That was a rare point, Sydney, that you brought to bear upon the

identification. How did you come by it? When did it strike you?"

"I thought he was rather a handsome fellow, and I thought I

should have been much the same sort of fellow, if I had had any

luck."

Mr. Stryver laughed till he shook his precocious paunch.

"You and your luck, Sydney! Get to work, get to work."