Hugo: A Fantasia on Modern Themes

aintly at Mr. Senior Polycarp-'wh

island refuge in the middle of that tossing ocean of business. It overlooked the court of fountains fro

ked his beautiful

ures, and for goodwill seven times your net annual profits. In addition, we should be anxious to secure

um

wished part of the pur

of estimate of my annual

ort of e

oked careful

, a little. This morning, for e

ou visit this morning?

cal, and-let me s

for that-too hot

id Mr. P

d what is your c

, I cannot

aid Hugo, interrupting: '

to himself, but he had the air of adding Hugo to the vast collection of h

s last year were ￡106,

mew

ted a high

di

epartment, for instance. I send charming costumes out on approval, and fetch them back in two days. And the pretty girls who have taken off the tickets, and worn the garments, and carefully restored the tickets, and lied to

unbusinesslik

e screw on all round I could quite justifia

endid prospect a limit

t it?' said

s so anxious to turn me

in hands, 'a legitimate opening for that joint-stock enterprise

ld make a

e formed to buy from you, and that syndicate wo

re do I

ceive over a million in cash. You would have your salary and your

presen

tal, which consists almost solely of buildings which you could not sell at anything like their cost price in open market, and of

inviting prosp

d about

y rate prepared to negotiate?' the law

must first give you a little infor

tain

close to him, and, lighting a ciga

I felt I had, and gradually I perceived that I would like to be the head of some large and complicated undertaking. I examined the latest developments of modern existence, and came to the conclusion that the direction of a thoroughly up-to-date stores would amuse me as well as anything. So I bought thi

go is no

But think of "Owen" on a flag, a

act

the course cost me a hundred a week for some months. But in two years I had proved that my theory of mys

arp n

cond incarnation as universal tradesman. And the fabric of my dream, Mr. Polycarp, you beho

p nodde

uncil of Ten. They know me; I know them. They are well paid; they are artists. A trade spirit must, of course, actuate a trade concern; but above that, controlling that, is another

sting,' said

stablishment is my life. In the midst of this lovely and interest

raised hi

t the beck and call of a board of directors-I, the supreme fount of authority? Do you suppose it would be my delight to consider eternally the interests of a pa

slowly, 'I am to underst

air, 'I would sooner see the whole blessed plac

rose in

n a peculiar tone, 'had set

ur clients will be di

mean-"for onc

r clients, M

cted, it would be useles

stated in a paper the other day that Louis Ravengar had successfully floated thirty-nine companie

I have noticed that what he wants he gets. The manner in which the United Coal Company, Limited, was bro

ways of compelling a private conce

at nothing and nobody could force you against your will. I was onl

ecision to Louis Ravengar, and give him

or seemed astonished i

ar

your decision

igar, Mr. Pol

epartment 42, and direct to the artist in hats. She stood pal

ink?' he began. (He well

s,

e trying-on room loo

man, with white moustache, came into

s,

did he

out a hat, sir,' she

a l

s,

nk y

d breathed a sigh. 'I have actually spoken to

him. If she was so obviously exhausted at 12

t it!' h

lic are respectfully informed that this est

l, and a mess

tly, and tell Mr. Waugh it must be poste

celebrating some obscure anniversary in his life. Many hundreds of persons were inconvenienced, and the internal economy of scores of polite homes se

was brought by Simon into Hugo's presence under the dome. This was Sim

' said Hug

t Shawn began impassively, 'the yar

ave

gazing carefully at his boots, 'that Mr. Hug

trained

r affectation of lightness, 'what nex

I know

t! What have y

the flats entrance, took the lift to the to

u say? Whose fl

cis Tudor

two thousand a year; he had a reputation for being artisti

haps she is a friend

f Miss Payne being on terms of equality with a

soon afterwards. Miss Payne was shown into his study. She had her tea there, and her dinner. The Hu

ith the dinner,' said Hugo grimly. It was a sub

leave,' continued Albert Sha

time did s

left,' said