"I've seen some of it," he said, "right side up. Now I want to have a look upside-down. If I go into something of yours--as myself--I don't get a show. I'm marked. The other clerks would swipe to me, and the heads would credit me with brains before I showed whether I had any or not. I want you to get me a job in Wall Street--under any other name than my own--except Percy"--they both laughed--"your first name and mamma's maiden name would do--James Holden. And nobody here knows me by sight, I've been abroad so much; and it seems to me I'd get an honest point of view and find out if I was any good or not, and if I could get myself liked for myself or not." "Well," said his father; "well, that's an idea, anyhow." "I've had valets and carriages and luxuries all my life," said Fitz. "I think I like them. But I don't _know_--do I? I've never tried the other thing. I'm sure I don't want to be an underpaid clerk always. But I am sure I want to try it on for a while." "I was planning," said his father, "to take a car and run about the country with you and show you all the different enterprises that I'm interested in. I thought you'd make a choice, find something you liked, and go into it for a starter. If you're any good you can go pretty far with me pulling for you. You don't like that idea?" "Not for now," said Fitz. "I like mine better." "Do you want to live on what you earn?" "If I can stand it." "You'll be started with ten dollars a week, say. Can you do it?" "What did grandpa start on?" asked Fitz. "His board, two suits of clothes, and twenty-four dollars a year," said William senior with a proud ring in his voice. "And you?" "I began at the bottom, too. That was the old-fashioned idea. Father was rich then. But he wanted me to show that I was some good." "Did grandpa pull for you, or did you have to find yourself?" "Well," said the father diffidently, "I had a natural taste for business. But," and he smiled at his son, "I shouldn't live on what you earn, if I were you. You needn't spend much, but have a good time out of hours. You'll find yourself working side by side with other sons of rich men. And you can bet your bottom dollar _they_ don't live on what they can earn. Unless you make a display of downright wealth you'll be judged on your merits. That's what you're driving at, isn't it?" So they compromised on that point; and the next morning they went downtown and called upon Mr. Merriman, the great banker. He and Williams had been in many deals together, and on one historic occasion had supported prices and loaned so much ready money on easy terms as to avert a panic. "John," said Williams senior, "my son Fitz." "Well, sir," said Merriman, only his eyes smiling, "you don't look like a foreigner." "I'm not," said Fitz stoutly. "In that case," said Merriman, "what can I do for you?" "I want to be called James Holden," said Fitz, "and to have a job in your office."