CHAPTER XXIV. ROBERT MEETS HIS EMPLOYER.

 ROBERT RUDD had been in New York more than once, and he therefore had no difficulty in finding out the fine hotel on Broadway known as the St. Nicholas.

He entered it, and, walking up to the desk, inquired, "Is Mr. John Fitzgerald staying here?"

"Yes," answered the clerk. "Do you wish to see him?"

"If you please."

"Then write your name on a card and I will send it up."

Robert did so.

"See if No. 35 is in," said the clerk, calling a hall boy, and handing him the card.

In five minutes the hall boy came back, saying: "Mr. Fitzgerald wants the young gentleman to come up."

Robert followed him to a room on the third floor and knocked at the door.

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"Come in," was heard from the interior.

On entering Robert looked with some curiosity at the solitary¹ occupant of the room, who was to be his future employer. He saw a tall, dark-complexioned man neatly² dressed in a suit which appeared to be new, since it had not lost its first gloss³.

Fitzgerald, for it was he, rose promptly⁴, and advanced to meet Robert with an air of great cordiality.

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Rudd," he said, extending his hand. "You were perhaps surprised to receive my letter."

"I was still more pleased," answered Robert, politely.

"I am glad to hear it, since it gives me the assurance that you regard my offer favorably."

"Yes sir, I could not well do otherwise. It is of a tempting⁵ character. I am only surprised that you should make me such an offer, knowing so little of me."

"Perhaps I know more of you than you imagine," said Fitzgerald to himself, with a peculiar⁶ look which, however, Robert did not notice.

"I judge of persons quickly!" he said aloud,195 "and when first I saw you in the ring it occurred to me that you were just the young person I should like to have travel with me. Of course, I didn't dream then that there was any possibility of my securing you, for I was not prepared to pay a sum as large as you were doubtless paid at the circus. However, when you were injured by the dastardly trick of some scoundrel, and I subsequently learned that you would be unable to ride for the remainder of the season, it occurred to me that perhaps you would accept my proposal."

"I am very glad to do so, and I am very much obliged to you for giving me such a chance. Do you think I can fulfil the duties of the post?"

"Oh, I should think so. Favor me by writing a line or two from this newspaper. I wish to judge of your handwriting."

There were writing materials on the table, and Robert complied with the request.

Though not a handsome writer, he wrote a plain and legible hand, and with considerable readiness.

Fitzgerald scanned it hastily, and said, "Oh, that will suit me very well."

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"Do you think I shall be competent to do all you desire?"

"I feel sure of it. You have travelled considerably⁷, I presume?"

"Yes, with the circus."

"Precisely⁸. Then you know something about hotels, trains, etc. A boy who had always lived at home would not suit me so well. Where is your luggage?"

"I have only a gripsack—I mean valise—with me."

"That is better. Travellers should not be encumbered⁹ with too much baggage. It is a great nuisance. Where is it?"

"I left it below."

"You can bring it up to my room. I won't hire a room for you, for I intend to start this very night for the West by a night train from the Grand Central depot¹⁰. That won't be too sudden for you, will it?"

"O no, sir; I am entirely¹¹ at your service. I have nothing to detain me in New York."

"Go down and get your valise and bring it up here, and I will give you my instructions."

"The boy has walked into the trap," said Fitzgerald,197 thoughtfully, when Robert left him. "He is a fine boy, and seems a thorough little gentleman in spite of the way in which he has been brought up. It is a pity to harm him, but my interests and that scoundrel Hugo's require it."

1 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

2 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

3 gloss   

n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰

参考例句：

• John tried in vain to gloss over his faults.约翰极力想掩饰自己的缺点，但是没有用。
• She rubbed up the silver plates to a high gloss.她把银盘擦得很亮。

4 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

5 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

6 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

7 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

8 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

9 encumbered   

v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters. 警方的行动被成群的记者所妨碍。
• The narrow quay was encumbered by hundreds of carts. 狭窄的码头被数百辆手推车堵得水泄不通。 来自辞典例句

10 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。