"That's the way, then? Have you got much money?" "My uncle has." "So has my uncle." "I don't believe it." "That don't alter the fact." "How much is he worth?" "Over a hundred thousand dollars--I don't know how much more." "Where does he live." "He used to live in this city, but he's gone farther West." Maurice was not decided whether to believe this statement or not. He wanted to disbelieve it, but was afraid it might be true. He tried a different tack. "Where do you board? Are you at the Ohio Hotel? I hear it's a low place--third-class." "You're about right. It isn't first-class." "I suppose you had to go there because it was cheap?" "It was the first hotel I came across. But I'm not there now--I've moved." "Have you? Where are you now?" "No. 12 Crescent Place." Now Maurice knew that Crescent Place was in a fashionable quarter of the city. It astonished him that our hero, whose salary was but five dollars a week, should live in such a neighborhood. "Twelve Crescent Place?" he repeated. "How much board do you pay?" "That's a secret between me and the landlady," said Tom. "If you'll come round and see me this evening, you can judge for yourself." Having a strong curiosity about Tom's circumstances, Maurice accepted the invitation. "Perhaps there are two Crescent Places," he thought. "I don't believe he can afford to live in a fashionable boarding-house." "Mr. Mordaunt," said Tom, when they were getting ready for supper, "I've invited a friend to call this evening." "That's right. I shall be glad to see him." "It's that boy that loves me so much, Maurice Walton. He's awfully jealous of me--tries to snub me all the time." "Then why did you invite such a fellow to call?" "Because he thinks I live in a poor place, and it will make him mad to find me in such a nice room." "I see," said Mordaunt, laughing. "It isn't as a friend you invite him." "I'm as much his friend as he is mine." "What makes him dislike you." "I don't know, except because Bessie Benton is polite to me, and seems to like my company." Mordaunt laughed. "That explains it fully," he said. "So you are rivals for the young lady's hand?" "Not quite. I ain't quite ready to be married yet. I'll wait awhile. But Bessie's a tip-top girl." "You must introduce me some time." "All right. I'll try and get an invitation for you to call with me." About eight o'clock Maurice reached Crescent Place, and, scanning the numbers, found No. 12. "He can't live in such a house," thought he. "It's ridiculous." Still, he rang the bell, and, when the servant appeared, he asked, rather hesitatingly: "Does Gilbert Grey live here?" "Yes, sir," said the servant. "Will you go up to his room?" "I don't know where his room is. Will you ask him to come down?" "There is somebody to see you, Mr. Grey," said the servant, after mounting the stairs. "He's come," said our hero, in a low voice, to Mordaunt. "I'll go down and bring him up."