Marley took a chair near Carman's desk. He looked at Carman once, and then looked instantly away; the eye that lacked the power of accommodation was fixed on him, and it made him nervous. "Do you remember me, Mr. Carman?" asked Marley; and then fearing the reply he hastened to add: "I'm Glenn Marley; Mr. Powell introduced me to you out at the fair-grounds last fall." "Yes, I remember," said Carman. "I suppose you know what I came for?" Carman's right eye widened somewhat in an expression of mild surprise. "You know," urged Marley, "the clerkship." "What clerkship was that?" "Why, don't you know? The chief clerkship, I reckon." "Here?" "Why, yes. Don't you remember?" Carman's right eye wore a puzzled look. "Don't you remember?" "Well, you've got me," said Carman, with a little laugh of apology. "Why, I understood," Marley went on, "that in the event of your election I was to have a position here." "What as?" "Why--as chief deputy." That right eye of Carman's was fixed on him questioningly. "Chief deputy?" he said finally. "Here--in my office?" "Why, yes," said Marley. "Don't you remember?" The question in the right eye had given way to a surprise that was growing in Carman's mind, and spreading contagiously to a surprise, deeper and more acute, in Marley's mind. The eye had something reproachful in its steady stare. Marley leaned over impulsively. "Why, surely you haven't forgotten--that day out at the fair-grounds, when Mr. Powell introduced me to you? I understood, I always understood that I was to have the place. I never mentioned it to you afterward, I didn't like to bother you, you know. I waited along, feeling that everything was all right. But when election was over--and afterward, when you took your office, and I didn't hear anything--I thought I'd come around and see you." Despite the sinister left eye, Marley leaned close to Carman and waited. Carman was long in bringing himself to speak. Even then he did not seem to be sure of the situation he was dealing with. "You say you understood you was to have a job under me as chief clerk?" "Why, yes," replied Marley. "Who'd you understand it from, me or Wade Powell?" "Well--" Marley hesitated, "I thought I understood it from you; I certainly understood it from Mr. Powell." "You say you got the idea from something I said out at the fair-grounds?" "Yes, sir, at the fair-grounds." Carman turned away and knitted his brows. "At the fair-grounds," he said presently, as though talking more to himself than to Marley. "The fair-grounds, h-m. Yes, I do remember--" Marley's heart stirred with a little hope. "I do remember seeing you there, and talking to you. But I don't remember making you any promises. Did you ask me?" "No; Mr. Powell did that." "And what did I say?" "Well," Marley answered, "I can't recall your exact words, but I got the impression, and so did Mr. Powell, I'm sure, that it was all right, I--I counted on it."