When Patsy and the Major had both departed for work on Monday morning Uncle John boarded a car and rode downtown also. He might have accompanied them part of the way, but feared Patsey might think him extravagant¹ if she found him so soon breaking into the working fund of forty-two cents, which she charged him to be careful of.  
He seemed to be in no hurry, for it was early yet, and few of the lower Broadway establishments were open. To pass the time he turned into a small restaurant and had coffee and a plate of cakes, in spite of the fact that Patsy had so recently prepared coffee over the sheet-iron stove and brought some hot buns from a near-by bakery. He was not especially hungry; but in sipping² the coffee and nibbling³ the cakes he passed the best part of an hour.
 
He smiled when he paid out twenty-five cents of his slender store for the refreshment⁴. With five cents for car-fare he had now but twelve cents left of the forty-two Patsy had given him! Talk about the Major's extravagance: it could not be compared to Uncle John's.
 
Another hour was spent in looking in at the shop windows. Then, suddenly noting the time. Uncle John started down the street at a swinging pace, and presently paused before a building upon which was a sign, reading: "Isham, Marvin & Co., Bankers and Brokers⁵." A prosperous looking place, it seemed, with a host of clerks busily working in the various departments. Uncle John walked in, although the uniformed official at the door eyed him suspiciously.
 
"Mr. Marvin in?" he inquired, pleasantly.
 
"Not arrived yet," said the official, who wore a big star upon his breast.
 
"I'll wait," announced Uncle John, and sat down upon a leather-covered bench.
 
The official strutted⁶ up and down, watching the customers who entered the bank or departed, and keeping a sharp watch on the little man upon the bench.
 
Another hour passed.
 
Presently Uncle John jumped up and approached the official.
 
"Hasn't Mr. Marvin arrived yet?" he enquired⁷, sharply.
 
"An hour ago," was the reply.
 
"Then why didn't you let me know? I want to see him."
 
"He's busy mornings. Has to look over the mail. He can't see you yet."
 
"Well, he will see me, and right away. Tell him John Merrick is here."
 
"Your card, sir."
 
"I haven't any. My name will do."
 
The official hesitated, and glanced at the little man's seedy garb⁸ and countryfied air. But something in the angry glance of the shrewd eye made him fear he had made a mistake. He opened a small door and disappeared.
 
In a moment the door burst open to allow egress⁹ to a big, red-bearded man in his shirtsleeves, who glanced around briefly¹⁰ and then rushed at Uncle John and shook both his hands cordially.
 
"My dear Mr. Merrick!" he exclaimed, "I'm delighted and honored to see you here. Come to my room at once. A great surprise and pleasure, sir! Thomas, I'm engaged!"
 
This last was directed at the head of the amazed porter, who, as the door slammed in his face, nodded solemnly and remarked:
 
"Fooled ag'in, and I might 'a' known it. Drat these 'ere billionaires!
Why don't they dress like decent people?"
Uncle John had been advised by Patsy where to go for a good cheap luncheon¹¹; but he did not heed¹² her admonition. Instead, he rode in a carriage beside the banker to a splendid club, where he was served with the finest dishes the chef could provide on short notice. Moreover, Mr. Marvin introduced him to several substantial gentlemen as "Mr. John Merrick, of Portland"; and each one bowed profoundly and declared he was "highly honored."
 
Yet Uncle John seemed in no way elated by this reception. He retained his simple manner, although his face was more grave than Patsy had often seen it; and he talked with easy familiarity of preferred stocks and amalgamated¹³ interests and invested, securities and many other queer things that the banker seemed to understand fully¹⁴ and to listen to with respectful deference¹⁵.
 
Then they returned to the bank for another long session together, and there was quite an eager bustle¹⁶ among the clerks as they stretched their necks to get a glimpse of Mr. Marvin's companion.
 
"It's John Merrick" passed from mouth to mouth, and the uniformed official strutted from one window to another, saying:
 
"I showed him in myself. And he came into the bank as quiet like as anyone else would."
 
But he didn't go away quietly, you may be sure. Mr. Marvin and Mr. Isham both escorted their famous client to the door, where the Marvin carriage had been ordered to be in readiness for Mr. Merrick's service.
 
But Uncle John waived¹⁷ it aside disdainfully.
 
"I'll walk," he said. "There are some other errands to attend to."
 
So they shook his hand and reminded him of a future appointment and let him go his way. In a moment the great Broadway crowd had swallowed............