"You are Batchelor," said Mr Barnacle, when I had entered and carefully closed the door behind me. I noticed he held in his hand my original letter of application. "You are Frederick Batchelor. How is it you are late?"
"I'm sorry, sir," faltered I, at this rather discouraging beginning, "but--"
And here I stuck. What was the use of trying to explain what still remained the fact?
Mr Barnacle eyed me keenly, and continued, "You are fourteen, you say, have just left school, and are good at arithmetic. What school were you at?"
"Do you know what our work is?" said Mr Barnacle.
"Generally speaking," mildly put in Mr Merrett, "you've a sort of idea."
"Yes," said I, not quite sure whether I was telling the truth or not.
Mr Barnacle touched his bell, and the clerk appeared.
Mr Doubleday returned directly with a large account-book, which he deposited on the table before the junior partner.
"I want a list made out of all the goods sent to Mr Walker, of Bombay, since the beginning of the year. Let me see you make it out." Then touching his bell again, he said to Mr Doubleday, the clerk, "Here, Doubleday, give this boy some invoice paper and a pen, and let him write at your desk. He is to make a copy of all Walker's invoices since the beginning of this year."
"Be particular that he receives no assistance, and bring me the sheets when completed. Batchelor, take this book and follow Mr Doubleday to the counting-house."
"Do it as well as you can, without any help," mildly put in Mr Merrett, by way of encouragement.
I followed my conductor in a state of terrible trepidation, feeling that all this wasn't a bit like what I had expected my interview with Messrs. Merrett, Barnacle, and Company to be.
"Here, hop up, young fellow," said Mr Doubleday, pointing to a high stool at one of the desks, "and pull up your boot."
I concluded this last expression meant make haste, and I accordingly pulled up my boot, and lost no time in setting myself to my task.
I was to make out a list of all that Walker of Bombay had had since the beginning of the year. I opened the big account-book; it contained a great many accounts, some long, some short. I began at the beginning, and searched through for any belonging to Walker of Bombay.