“It wasn’t worth mentioning,” said Herbert modestly.

Mr. Godfrey noticed his modest tone, and it pleased him—­modesty not being an unvarying characteristic of young America.

“My friend refers to it as an important service.  I should like to know the particulars.  Mr. Carroll is a connection of mine, and I am naturally interested in all that relates to him.”

In reply Herbert gave a brief, but clear and intelligent account of the attempted burglary, passing over his own achievement as lightly as possible.  But it was easy to infer, even from the little he said, that he had acted with bravery and self-possession,

“You behaved in a very creditable manner,” said Mr. Godfrey, approvingly.  “Many boys would have lost their self-possession.  You have come to New York in search of employment, Mr. Carroll writes me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I don’t, of course, know how you were situated in Ohio,” said the merchant, “but as a general rule I think boys make a mistake in leaving the country for the city.  Here the competition for work is sharp, and there is a surplus of laborers in every department of labor.  Still,” he proceeded, scanning Herbert’s earnest face, “you look like a boy capable of making his way if an opportunity offers.  You have but little money, Mr. Carroll writes.”

“I have lost nearly all I had,” said Herbert, “so that now I have very little left.”

“You have met with a loss?  Tell me about it.  Indeed, I should be glad if you would confide to me freely your situation and hopes, and then I shall be better able to help you.”

“I am almost ashamed to tell you how I was taken in,” said our hero.  “I suppose I ought to have been more prudent.”

He recounted the manner in which Greenleaf had robbed him.  Mr. Godfrey listened with interest, and so did Tom Stanton, who burst into a laugh when the narrative was concluded.

“What are you laughing at, Thomas?” asked the merchant, rather sharply.

“I was thinking how neatly he was taken in,” said Tom, a little abashed.

“I should apply a different word to it,” said Mr. Godfrey.  “It appears to me the height, or rather the depth of meanness, to take advantage of a boy’s confidence, and defraud him so scandalously.  How much money have you left, Herbert?”

“Forty cents, sir.”

“Only forty cents to begin life with in a great city!”

“Yes, sir; I have paid my board in advance for a week.”

“Where do you board?”

“In Stanton Street.”

Tom turned up his nose at the name of this street, which he knew was very far from fashionable, but this demonstration our hero did not observe.

“What board do you pay?”

“Three dollars a week, sir.”

“A poor place, probably.”

“Yes, sir, but I could afford no better.”

“You are sensible to accommodate yourself to circumstances.  Well, my young friend, it appears that you can’t wait long for employment.  Mr. Carroll has asked me to do something for you, and I am disposed to oblige him, not wholly for his sake, but partly for your own, for you seem to me a very modest and sensible boy.  Mr. Pratt, do we need another boy?”