A collector of curiosities would
have found material in that window to delay him for half-an-hour--but
Lauriston only gave one glance at it before hastening down a dark side-
passage to a door, over which was a faintly-illuminated sign, showing the
words: PLEDGE OFFICE.
He pushed open that door and found himself before several small, boxed-off
compartments, each just big enough to contain one person. They were all
empty at that moment; he entered one, and seeing nobody about, tapped
gently on the counter. He expected to see some ancient and Hebraic figure
present itself--instead, light steps came from some recess of the shop,
and Lauriston found himself gazing in surprise at a young and eminently
pretty girl, who carried some fancy needle-work in her hand, and looked
over it at him out of a pair of large, black eyes. For a moment the two
gazed at each other, in silence.
"Yes?" said the girl at last. "What can I do for you?"
Lauriston found his tongue.
"Er--is Mr. Multenius in?" he asked. "I--the fact is, I want to see him."
"Mr. Multenius is out," answered the girl. "But I'm in charge--if it's
business.
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