Part 35 (2/2)
He appeared to be between fifty and sixty years of age, of hly plebeian air; he was dressed in black, and had a bunch of large seals dangling from beneath his waistcoat His face was round and fleshy, his eyes were seneral expression of his face was that of good-natured siht of Brandon a frank smile of welcome arose on his broad, fat face
[Illustration: ”YOU ARE, SIR JOHN POTTS OF POTTS HALL”]
Brandon rose and bowed ”A Mr John Potts?”
”You are, Sir John Potts of Potts Hall”
”Potts of Potts Hall!” repeated Brandon Then, drawing a card from his pocket he handed it to Potts He had procured some of these in London
The card read as follows:
BEAMISH & HENDRICKS, FLOUR MERCHANTS & PROVISION DEALERS, 88 FRONT STREET, CINCINNATI, OHIO
”I, Sir,” said Brandon, ”am Mr Hendricks, junior partner in Beamish & Hendricks, and I hope you are quite well”
”Very well, thank you,” answered Potts, s down ”I am happy to see you”
”Do you keep your health, Sir?”
”Thank you, I do,” said Potts ”A touch of rheumatism at odd times, that's all”
Brandon's manner was stiff and forht nasal intonation Potts had evidently looked on hier
”I hope, Sir, that I a up your valuable time You British noblemen have your valuable time, I know, as well as we business men”
”No, Sir, no, Sir, not at all,” said Potts, evidently greatly delighted at being considered a British nobleman
”Well, Sir John--or is ithily at Potts
”Sir John'll do,” said Potts
”Well, Sir John Being in England on business, I came to ask you a few questions about a matter of soreat dignity
”There's a young man that came into our employ last October e took a fancy to, or ratherhi hter He calls himself Brandon--Frank Brandon”
At this Potts started fro to ”do” the British noble, and with startling intensity of gaze looked Brandon full in the face
”I think the youngextraordinary He is industrious and sober, but he ain't quick, and he never had any real business experience till he came to us Now, ave hiht to be cautious, he wants tohim partner next year And so bent on this is he that I knoould dissolve partnershi+p with hter, and leave him all his money when he dies That's no small sum, for old Mr Beamish is worth in real estate round Cincinnati over two ht to feel anxious,you, Sir John, who understand these ood chance hter”
Brandon spoke all this very rapidly, and with the air of one as trying to conceal his feelings of dislike to the clerk of who smile, and asked, as he stopped,
”And how did you happen to hear of me?”