"That's his own business, not yours," said Ezra curtly. "He, he! but it is my business--they'll love him, and love means presents--that means money--my money--I can't trust him." "That's rather severe, isn't it?" said Keith, speaking for the first time. "You can't tell a man's character altogether by his face--good looks do not invariably mean libertine principles." "Ah! I know, I know!" muttered Lazarus, rubbing his hands together; "well, well, can you keep books?" "Yes, I have been accustomed to do so." "Are you honest?" Keith laughed. "I'm generally considered so." "He, he! that's not saying much. What wages do you want?" "Three pounds a week," said Stewart modestly. "Oh, my dear, my dear, what a large sum; say two, my dear, two pounds, or forty shillings, it's very large; you can save out of two pounds." "I'm glad you think so," said Keith dryly. "I've got my doubts on the subject; however, beggars must not be choosers, so I agree." "On trial, mind on trial," muttered the old man cautiously. "I'm quite agreeable," replied Keith complacently, hoping that by the time his trial is over he would be on the staff of some paper. "What are the hours?" "Nine, my dear," said Lazarus, stroking his beard, "nine till six, with half-an-hour for something to eat in the day--a bun and a cup of coffee--don't be extravagant." "I can't very well be, on such a salary," replied Stewart. "Well, Mr. Lazarus, as it's all settled, I'll come at nine o'clock to-morrow morning." "Yes! yes! quite right; but no horse-racing, no gambling, no women--they're the devil, my dear, the devil." "You're rather hard on the sex, father," said Ezra satirically, "considering how useful they are to you." "Aha! quite right, quite right," chuckled the old man. "Oh, I know fine ladies; they come to old Lazarus for money--to sell diamonds--ah, my dear, there's lots of diamonds in that safe, he, he!" "I wonder you're not afraid of being robbed," said Keith. The old man looked up with a sudden gleam of suspicion in his eyes. "No, no; I keep the keys under my pillow, and I've got a pistol. I can fire it, oh, yes, I can fire it, then the neighbours, my dear, all round; oh, I'm quite safe--yes, yes, quite safe; no one would hurt old Lazarus. How's Esther, my dear?" turning suddenly to his son. Esther was the girl to whom Ezra was engaged. "Oh, she's all right," he replied. "I took her the other night to see Caprice." "Aha!" cried old Lazarus, lifting up his hands. "Oh, dear, dear, what a woman. I know her, oh, I know her." "Personally?" asked Keith, whereupon Mr. Lazarus suddenly became deaf. "Yes, yes, a fine woman; ruins everybody, ruins 'em body and soul, and laughs at 'em, like the fiend she is." Ezra looked at his paternal relative in disgust, and took Keith's arm. "Come along," he said, "I've got an engagement."