never could sleep at night, and used to wander about alone in the
park. I suppose he had things on his conscience."

They strolled away; and the Major's flood-gates of gossip were
opened. There was an old merchant in New York, who had been Havens's
private secretary. And Havens was always in terror of assassination,
and so whenever they travelled abroad he and the secretary exchanged
places. "The old man is big and imposing," said the Major, "and it's
funny to hear him tell how he used to receive the visitors and be
stared at by the crowds, while Havens, who was little and
insignificant, would pretend to make himself useful. And then one
day a wild-looking creature came into the Havens office, and began
tearing the wrappings off some package that shone like metal--and
quick as a flash he and Havens flung themselves down on the floor
upon their faces. Then, as nothing happened, they looked up, and saw
the puzzled stranger gazing over the railing at them. He had a
patent churn, made of copper, which he wanted Havens to market for
him!"

Montague could have wished that this party might last for a week or
two, instead of only two days. He was interested in the life, and in
those who lived it; all whom he met were people prominent in the
social world, and some in the business world as well, and one could
not have asked a better chance to study them.

Montague was taking his time and feeling his way slowly. But all the
time that he was playing and gossiping he never lost from mind his
real purpose, which was to find a place for himself in the world of
affairs; and he watched for people from whose conversation he could
get a view of this aspect of things. So he was interested when Mrs.