Toppleton's client Author:John Kendrick Bangs Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. MR. HOPKINS TOPPLETON ENCOUNTERS A WEARY SPIRIT. It was well along in October when Hopkins returned to London, and he got back to his office ... more »in the Temple none too soon. The agent had fully made up his mind that he was gone for good, and was about taking steps to remove his effects from Number 17, and gain an honest penny by sub-letting that light and airy apartment for his own benefit, a vision of profit which Toppleton redivivus effectually dispelled. The return, for this reason, was of course a grave disappointment to Mr. Stubbs, but he rose to the occasion when the long lost lessee appeared on the scene, and welcomed him cordially. " Good morning, sir," he said. " Glad to sec you back. Didn't know what had become of you or should have forwarded your mail. Have a pleasant trip ? " " Very," said Toppleton, shortly. " It seems to have agreed with you,—you've a finer colour than you had." "Yes," replied Hopkins, drily. "That's natural. I've been to Norway. The sun's been working day and night, and I'm tanned." " I hope everything is—er—everything was all right with the room, .;,j?" the agent then said somewhat anxiously. " I found nothing wrong with it," said Hopkins ; " did you suspect that anything was wrong there?" " Oh, no !—indeed not. Of course not," returned the agent with some confusion. " I only asked—er—so that in case there was anything you wanted, you know, it might be attended to at once. There's nothing wrong with the room at all, sir. Nothing. Absolutely nothing." " Well, that's good," said Toppleton, turning to his table. " I'm glad there's nothing the matter. It will take a very small percentage of the rental to remedy that. Good morning, Mr. Stubbs." " Good morning, sir," said Mr. Stubbs, and then he departed. ...« less