"Better stay in to-night, Buzzy," he said.
Bosworth looked at him in haughty surprise.
"You think I'm tight," he retorted. "There, forgive me, old chap; I didn't mean to snap you off like that. Le' me tell you about those cocktails. I took 'em to brace me up. I'm going to do it to-night." This in a whisper.
"I don't know just who yet, but I certainly know what. I'm going to ask some one to become Mrs. Van Pycke. There are three of 'em who are eligible, according to the governor. He's ding-donged 'em at me for three months. I've got a taxicab waiting for me out there. The chances are that it'll get stuck in the snow somewhere. That's why I can't say which one I'm going to ask. It all depends on which one lives nearest to the snowdrift in which we get stuck. They're all the same to me. And I think they are to the governor. But, see here, George, I'm not going to ask more than one of 'em. If I get turned down to-night, that ends it. I'm going to work!"
"I don't wish you any bad luck, Buzzy, but I hope you'll be turned down," said his friend, earnestly.
Van Pycke was staring straight before him. His brain seemed clearer when he replied. There was a distinctly plaintive note in his voice.
"I wonder if I _could_ make good at work of any kind. Do you suppose any one would give me a trial?"
"In a minute, Buzzy! And you would make good. Better stay in to-night. Let the--"
"No," said Buzzy, resolutely. "I'm going to try the other thing first. That's what I've been trained for. Good night, George. Don't tell the fellows, will you? They'll guy me to death. I just wanted you to understand that I can't go on as I'm going on twelve thousand a year."
Buzzy held his hand for a moment, looking quite steadily into his eyes. "You don't think I'm as useless as the rest of 'em think I am, do you, George?"
"God bless you, no! No one thinks that of you!"
"George, I hate a liar," said Buzzy, but his face glowed with a happy smile.
"Where the devil have you been?" demanded Van Pycke, senior. "Damitall, I've wasted half an hour waiting for you."
"I didn't know you were waiting, dad. Why didn't you send in your card?"
"Send in my--why, confound you, Bosworth, I'm a member of this club. Why should I send in--"
