"I don't like the offer, and I think it is an outrage that you are allowed to conduct business on such principles," replied Robert, and lost no time in quitting the place. The proprietor followed him to the door and shook his fist after him. The next place was a map-maker's office. Here there was a large force of clerks, and the youth was received very politely. "I am sorry to keep you waiting," said the clerk who advanced to see what the boy wanted. "But Mr. Ruggles is very busy at present. Will you sit down or call again?" "I'll wait a little while," said Robert, who was favorably impressed by the surroundings. "That is, if the place that was advertised is still open." "I can't say as to that. There have been several applicants, but the entire matter is in Mr. Ruggles' hands." The clerk turned away and Robert dropped on a long bench running up one side of the waiting room. Hardly had he settled himself than two men came in. One looked like an Englishman while the other was evidently French. The clerk greeted them as if they had been there before. "Mr. Stanhope will see you directly," he said. "We cannot wait too long," said the Englishman. "My friend--Jean Le Fevre, must get back to Michigan as soon as possible." "I will tell Mr. Stanhope," said the clerk, and vanished into an inner office. Left to themselves, the Englishman and the Frenchman began to converse rapidly, the subject of their talk being a certain tract of timber land in the upper section of Michigan. This interested Robert, who could not help but hear all that was said. "Ze map--zat is what we want," he heard the French Canadian--for such Jean Le Fevre was--say. "Once we have zat, and the land will be ours." "Right you are," answered the Englishman. "And then old Felix Amberton can whistle for his money. His claim won't be worth the paper it is written upon." Robert was startled at these words. He remembered that Felix Amberton was the name of Dick Marden's uncle, the Michigan lumberman. Were these the fellows who wished to get the lumberman's lands away from him? CHAPTER XVI. TWO DISAPPOINTMENTS. "I must hear all they have to say," thought Robert. Ordinarily he despised playing the part of an eavesdropper, but in the present instance he felt justified in doing so. "It ees a great pity zat man came to help Mistair Amberton," went on the Canadian. "Who is he, do you know, Mistair Hammerditch?" "His name is Marden and he is Amberton's nephew." "He seem to be verra smart, as you call heem." "Perhaps he is smart, Le Fevre. But I don't think he can outwit me," returned Oscar Hammerditch. He was one of the kind of men who hold a very exalted opinion of themselves. The French Canadian nodded his round head rapidly. "No, he cannot outwit you--nor Jean Le Fevre. Once we have ze map and all will be well." At that moment the clerk came forward again.