“I remembered your weakness, you see,” said Talbot.

“Toll, you’re a jewel,” said Mr. Belcher, drawing out one of the fragrant rolls and lighting it.

“Now, before we go a step,” said Talbot, “you must agree to come to my house to-morrow night to dinner, and meet some of my friends.  When you come to New York, you’ll want to know somebody.”

“Toll, I tell you you’re a jewel.”

“And you’ll come?”

“Well, you know I’m not rigged exactly for that sort of thing, and, faith, I’m not up to it, but I suppose all a man has to do is to put on a stiff upper lip, and take it as it comes.”

“I’ll risk you anywhere.”

“All right!  I’ll be there.”

“Six o’clock, sharp;—­and now let’s go and find a broker.  I know the best one in the city, and I’ll show you the inside of more fine houses before night than you have ever seen.”

Talbot took the proprietor’s arm and led him to a carriage in waiting.  Then he took him to Pine street, and introduced him, in the most deferential manner, to the broker who held half of New York at his disposal, and knew the city as he knew his alphabet.

The broker took the pair of house-hunters to a private room, and unfolded a map of the city before them.  On this he traced, with a well-kept finger-nail, a series of lines,—­like those fanciful isothermal definitions that embrace the regions of perennial summer on the range of the Northern Pacific Railroad,—­within which social respectability made its home.  Within certain avenues and certain streets, he explained that it was a respectable thing to live.  Outside of these arbitrary boundaries, nobody who made any pretense to respectability should buy a house.  The remainder of the city, was for the vulgar—­craftsmen, petty shopkeepers, salaried men, and the shabby-genteel.  He insisted that a wealthy man, making an entrance upon New York life, should be careful to locate himself somewhere upon the charmed territory which he defined.  He felt in duty bound to say this to Mr. Belcher, as he was a stranger; and Mr. Belcher was, of course, grateful for the information.

Then he armed Mr. Talbot, as Mr. Belcher’s city friend and helper, with a bundle of permits, with which they set off upon their quest.

They visited a dozen houses in the course of the afternoon, carefully chosen in their succession by Mr. Talbot, who was as sure of Mr. Belcher’s tastes as he was of his own.  One street was too quiet, one was too dark; one house was too small, and one was too tame; one house had no stable, another had too small a stable.  At last, they came out upon Fifth avenue, and drove up to a double front, with a stable almost as ample and as richly appointed as the house itself.  It had been built, and occupied for a year or two, by an exploded millionaire, and was an elephant upon the hands of his creditors.  Robert Belcher was happy at once.  The marvelous mirrors, the plate glass, the gilded cornices, the grand staircase, the glittering chandeliers, the evidences of lavish expenditure in every fixture, and in all the finish, excited him like wine.