He went in with his best, “Well, what can I do for you?” air, which he, as well as any man living, knew how to assume; a friendly air enough, but not encouraging.  The gentleman rose and extended his hand.

“How are you, Mr. Clemens?” he said.

Of course this was the usual thing with men who had axes to grind or goods to sell.  Clemens did not extend a very cordial hand.  He merely raised a loose, indifferent hand—­a discouraging hand.

“And how is Mrs. Clemens?” asked the uninvited guest.

So this was his game.  He would show an interest in the family and ingratiate himself in that way; he would be asking after the children next.

“Well—­Mrs. Clemens is about as usual—­I believe.”

“And the children—­Miss Susie and little Clara?”

This was a bit startling.  He knew their names!  Still, that was easy to find out.  He was a smart agent, wonderfully smart.  He must be got rid of.

“The children are well, quite well,” and (pointing down at the pictures) —­“We’ve got plenty like these.  We don’t want any more.  No, we don’t care for any more,” skilfully working his visitor toward the door as he talked.

The man, looking non-plussed—­a good deal puzzled—­allowed himself to be talked into the hall and toward the front door.  Here he paused a moment: 

“Mr. Clemens, will you tell me where Mr. Charles Dudley Warner lives?”

This was the chance!  He would work him off on Charlie Warner.  Perhaps Warner needed pictures.

“Oh, certainly, certainly!  Right across the yard.  I’ll show you.  There’s a walk right through.  You don’t need to go around the front way at all.  You’ll find him at home, too, I’m pretty sure”; all the time working his caller out and down the step and in the right direction.

The visitor again extended his hand.

“Please remember me to Mrs. Clemens and the children.”

“Oh, certainly, certainly, with pleasure.  Good day.  Yes, that’s the house Good-by.”

On the way back to the billiard-room Mrs. Clemens called to him.  She was ill that day.

“Youth!”

“Yes, Livy.”  He went in for a word.

“George brought me Mr. B——­’s card.  I hope you were very nice to him; the B——­s were so nice to us, once last year, when you were gone.”,

“The B——­s—­Why, Livy——­”

“Yes, of course, and I asked him to be sure to call when he came to Hartford.”

He gazed at her helplessly.

“Well, he’s been here.”

“Oh, Youth, have you done anything?”

“Yes, of course I have.  He seemed to have some pictures to sell, so I sent him over to Warner’s.  I noticed he didn’t take them with him.  Land sakes, Livy, what can I do?”

“Which way did he go, Youth?”

“Why, I sent him to Charlie Warner’s.  I thought——­”

“Go right after him.  Go quick!  Tell him what you have done.”