A stout round-faced man, much marked by smallpox, dressed in a suit of tweed dittos, with an elaborate pin in his necktie resembling the dial of a good-sized watch, appeared to be the senior officer or "boss" of the party, as much in manner and bearing as he was in size. Addressing a small-featured, light-haired, thin young man, dressed in black-silk waistcoat, he said in a stentorian voice: "Have you done floating here, Mr. Ruffins?" "No, Mr. Staines; I've not done yet. I've quoted twice. My people won't let me sink." A third party, an older man, attired in gray, with hair to match, was busily engaged at one end of the room packing a quantity of small cases into a larger one, and continuing to hold converse with himself by means of the monosyllable "yes," differently intonated, at intervals of half-a-minute, "y-e-s--y-e-s." Having finished his packing, he advanced slowly towards me, and, scanning me from head to foot, resumed his affirmative expression, but at longer intervals. "Been round this way before--y-e-s? Bulk or samples--yes?" In answer to his first question I informed him that I was no stranger to the place, to which he replied: "Yes." Desks were now locked and stowed away. The table having been cleared, the stout man advanced, stirred the fire, and rang the bell. "Give your orders, gents. I am going to stand glasses round, for a slice of luck I've experienced to-day. _I_ call it luck, though it was no more than common honesty. But I was lucky in meeting an honest man instead of a rogue. When I was on this circuit six months ago I was settling a small account with one of my clients, taking a receipt for the amount, four pounds seventeen shillings. I inadvertently handed him a cheque for seventeen pounds, saying to the clerk to whom I paid it: 'You may keep the balance.' The other cheque having been paid in in due course, I was quite ignorant of the error I had made; until, on meeting the party to whom I paid it, in the street this morning, although now thrown out of employ, he handed me twelve pounds three shillings, the balance of my cheque, which I thought had been drawn for five pounds." "One bottom of brandy and two whiskies, with hot water." "Draw round to the fire, sir," he continued. "Though we have not met before we may often meet again. We travellers do run against each other in strange ways." (Here the gray old man groaned out another "Y-e-s.") "The commercial interest of this great country is entirely in our hands, and if we don't take care of ourselves it is our own fault." The smoking tumblers having been supplied, and the party seated round the fire, the conversation became gradually more brisk, chiefly led by the man in gray, whose opinion on all points seemed absolute.