Simon Moore, the book-keeper in the broker’s office where Gilbert was employed, was a young man, somewhat under thirty. He understood his business very well, and thus far had given satisfaction to Mr. Sands. Personally, however, he was not agreeable. He was irritable and exacting, and had not been liked even by his cousin John, when the latter was office boy. Now, however, that John had been discharged, the book-keeper, as we have seen, made common cause with him, and John came to look upon him as a friend.

In this Moore was not altogether disinterested. John’s mother, who was his aunt, kept a boarding-house, and found it difficult to meet her expenses. John’s wages, though small, were important to her, and now that she was deprived of this resource, her 144nephew feared that he might be called on for assistance. It was in order to save his own purse that he desired to reinstate John in his old place. The readiest method that occurred to him was to prejudice Mr. Sands against Gilbert.

“Are you going out this evening, cousin Simon?” asked John, one evening.

“I may go out by and by.”

“May I go with you?”

“If you want to.”

Simon Moore was not always willing to be troubled with his cousin, but this evening he chanced to be in a pleasanter humor than usual.

“I have tickets to a concert, John,” he said. “Would you like to go?”

“Very much,” answered John, readily.

“The tickets were given me by a friend of mine, who is on the ‘Times,’” explained Moore.

“Where is the concert, cousin Simon?”

“At Steinway Hall.”

It was, in fact, the same concert to which Gilbert was invited by Mr. Vivian.

145The book-keeper was not remarkable for his liberality, and John had been not a little surprised at receiving the invitation, until he learned that the tickets had cost his cousin nothing.

Eight o’clock found them in their seats at Steinway Hall. The concert did not commence punctually, and they had some time to look about them.

“Do you see any one you know, cousin Simon,” asked John.

“Yes,” said the book-keeper, “I see a particular friend of yours.”

“A particular friend of mine!” repeated John, puzzled. “Where?”

“Five rows in front of this. There, near the centre of the hall.”

“I don’t see any body I know.”

“It is Gilbert Greyson, your successor in our office.”

“It is he, I declare. He is talking to a pretty girl beside him.”

“That girl is the daughter of Mr. Vivian, the great importer.”

146“You don’t say so. How on earth did he come to know her?”

“I can’t say,” answered Moore, coldly. “He is a very forward, pushing fellow. That may explain it.”

“I hate him,” said John.

“I don’t love him overmuch myself,” said Moore.

John and his cousin were not the only acquaintances who recognized Gilbert on that evening.

Randolph and his mother sat two rows behind the Vivians. Mr. Briggs had intended to come, but had a headache. He had suggested that the extra ticket be sent to Gilbert; but Mrs. Briggs had decisively objected.

“I don’t care about having that boy seen with us in Steinway Hall,” she said.

“Why not?” asked Mr. Briggs.

“I don’t fancy him. Besides, he would be presuming on our kindness.”

“I don’t think he is the kind of boy to do that,” said Mr. Briggs, who understood Gilbert much better than his wife. “It is a pity the ticket should not be used.”

147“If it were in a different part of the house, away from our seats, I should not care particularly,” said Mrs. Briggs. “If he went with us, he might be thought to be a near relative.”

“I don’t think he would do us any discredit, either in appearance or in manners,” said her husband.

“You are simply infatuated with that boy, Mr. Briggs. I am sure Randolph doesn’t want his company.”

“No, I don’t,” said Randolph.

“Like mother, like son,” thought Mr. Briggs; but for the sake of peace he did not think it best to press the matter.

Soon after Randolph and his mother took their seats, the former discovered Gilbert sitting nearly ............