"You want the letters for the Spiral department, Thomas ?" Paul resented being called "Thomas".

But he took the letters and returned to his dark place, where the counter made an angle, where the great parcel-rack came to an end, and where there were three doors in the corner.

He sat on a high stool and read the letters--those whose handwriting was not too difficult.

They ran as follows: "Will you please send me at once a pair of lady's silk spiral thigh-hose, without feet, such as I had from you last year; length, thigh to knee, etc." Or, "Major Chamberlain wishes to repeat his previous order for a silk non-elastic suspensory bandage." Many of these letters, some of them in French or Norwegian, were a great puzzle to the boy.

He sat on his stool nervously awaiting the arrival of his "boss".