When he had dined at one of the many little restaurants, he wandered back into the business section of the city. He failed to recognize any of the places he had once known, which proved conclusively that Attalia had progressed. He found himself on Plum street again, through which he walked and reentered Walthill, and, after seeing many of the sights, entered a large book store, where he inquired for a volume he had long desired to read--rather, he inquired of a large, fat man, whether he had it. The other looked around a spell, then replied: "We sho God has," and stood waiting undecidedly. Presently he held it toward Wyeth, who, somewhat hesitatingly, looked irrelevantly through the pages. He was not sure, whether it was customary to take it in his hands. "All right," he said, and reached in his pocket for the money. "Do you-ah--wish it?" the other inquired, still hesitating. "Sure," Sidney replied. "That's why I called for it." He was obviously surprised, and expressed the fact in his eyes. The other observed this, and made haste to apologize: "Ce'tainly, ce'tainly. Beg yo' pa'don. Not many cullud people buy works of fiction, or anything besides an occasional Bible, school books and stationery. That is why I was undecided whether you wanted to buy it or not." "Indeed!" echoed Sidney, taken suddenly aback. Then said: "I read a great deal myself." The clerk observed him closely for a moment, and then said: "You don't live in these parts?" "No." "And you read a great deal? Where are you from?" He was told. "That accounts for it," said the other, proceeding to wrap up the book. "Accounts for what?" curiously. "Your being a reader." "I don't understand.... Don't the colored people down here read a great deal also?" "No," said the other simply. "Well, I declare!" said Sidney in surprise. "I have only two hours or less ago, been told by a book-seller that they do." "Lordy me! Who told you that?" "Tompkins. The--" "Tompkins is a booster. He's all right, though," said the other, with a low, amused laugh. But Sidney's curiosity was aroused, and he continued: "There's a multitude of teachers and preachers, and I should think they would buy lots of current literature to keep themselves informed for their work; but perhaps they are not so well paid, and get it from the library." The other appeared perplexed for a moment, but said presently, without looking up: "They have no library of their own, and the city library is not open to colored people, but they do not seem to be very anxious for books. The teachers, and the preachers--" He threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. "You'll find out for yourself. You are, I see, a keen observer, and you'll find out."