~Smith~ (_shaking hands with Jones_). How are you? I say, Arabella, then that was one of _my_ stockings? ~Arabella~ (_to her boy_.) When I saw you on the stairs you seemed to dimly remind me---- ~Jones.~ To remind you dimly, mother. ~Smith.~ No, my boy. In future, nothing but split infinitives will appear in our paper. Please remember that. ~Jones~ (_with emotion_). I will endeavour to always remember it, dad. CURTAIN. SUCCESSFUL MEN [_This series is designed to assist parents in choosing a career for their sons. The author has devoted considerable time to research among the best authorities, and the results are now laid before the public in the hope that they will bring encouragement to those who are hesitating at the doors of any of the great professions._] XLVI. THE SOLICITOR The office was at its busiest, for it was Friday afternoon. John Blunt leant back in his comfortable chair and toyed with the key of the safe, while he tried to realise his new position. He, John Blunt, was junior partner in the great London firm of Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton & Macnaughton. He closed his eyes, and his thoughts wandered back to the day when he had first entered the doors of the firm as one of two hundred and seventy-eight applicants for the post of office-boy. They had been interviewed in batches, and old Mr. Sanderson, the senior partner, had taken the first batch. "I like your face, my boy," he had said heartily to John. "And I like yours," replied John, not to be outdone in politeness. "Now I wonder if you can spell 'mortgage'?" "One 'm,'" said John tentatively. Mr. Sanderson was delighted with the lad's knowledge, and engaged him at once. For three years John had done his duty faithfully. During this time he had saved the firm more than once by his readiness--particularly on one occasion, when he had called old Mr. Sanderson's attention to the fact that he had signed a letter to a firm of stockbrokers, "Your loving husband, Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton & Macnaughton." Mr. Sanderson, always a little absent-minded, corrected the error, and promised the boy his articles. Five years later John Blunt was a solicitor. And now he was actually junior partner in the firm--the firm of which it was said in the City, "If a man has Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton & Macnaughton behind him he is all right." The City is always coining pithy little epigrams like this. There was a knock at the door of the enquiry office and a prosperous-looking gentleman came in. "Can I see Mr. Macnaughton?" he said politely to the office-boy. "There isn't no Mr. Macnaughton," replied the latter. "They all died years ago." "Well, well, can I see one of the partners?"