"You don't know what at, do you?
I'm a statistician." "What's that ?" "I make reports on properties, on financial ventures, for the firm I'm with, Benson & Honaton.

They're brokers.

When they are asked to underwrite a scheme--" "Underwrite?
I never heard that word." The boy laughed.
"You'll hear it a good many times if our acquaintance continues." Then more gravely, but quite parenthetically, he added: "If a firm puts up money for a business, they want to know all about it, of course.

I tell them.

I've just been doing a report this afternoon, a wonder; it's what made me late.