"Certainly," was the reply. Then, looking at Tony: "Your face looks very familiar. Where have I seen you before?"
"Perhaps at the St. Nicholas, sir," said Tony; "I am stopping there."
"No; I never go to the St. Nicholas. Bless me! You're the very image of a boy I have seen somewhere."
"Am I?" said Tony. "I hope he was good-looking?"
"He was; but he was not dressed like you. In fact--I remember now--he was employed as stable-boy in a country hotel."
"A stable boy!" exclaimed Tony, with comic horror. "I hope you don't think I am the boy."
"Of course not. But really the resemblance is striking."
"Mr. Spencer," said Tony, "this gentleman has met a stable boy who looks like me."
"I really beg your pardon," said the gentleman; "I meant no offense."
"My ward would not think of taking offense," said Mr. Spencer, courteously.
Tony smiled to himself; he had a strong sense of humor, and was much amused.
It is needless to say that he enjoyed the performance--all the more so from his luxurious seat and nearness to the stage.
"It's a good deal better than sitting in the gallery," he said, in a whisper to his companion.
"I should think so. I never sat up there, Tony."
As they were leaving the house, they found themselves close to the ladies whom they had noticed at breakfast.
Elvira chanced to drop her handkerchief, probably intentionally.
Tony stooped and picked it up. Though he had led the life of a tramp, he had the instincts of a gentleman.
"Thank you, young gentleman," said Elvira. "You are very polite."
"Really, Mamma, he is a born gentleman," said Elvira, later, to her mother. "How could we make such a mistake."
"His clothes were certainly very shabby, my dear."
"Very likely he had been out hunting or something. We must not judge so hastily next time."
The ladies were foiled in their intentions of cultivating the acquaintance of Tony and his guardian, as two days later they left the hotel, and installed themselves in an elegant boarding-house on Madison avenue.
"Now," said Mr. Spencer, "we must go to work."
"I have received a proposal to invest a part of my money--only one-fourth--in a business down town, and shall accept. I don't need to increase my income, but I think I shall be less likely to yield to temptation if I have some fixed employment. I shall be so situated that I can do as much or as little as I please. As to yourself I have put an advertisement in a morning paper for a teacher, and expect some applicants this morning. I want you to choose for yourself."