Alton glanced towards it with a comprehensive gesture.  “What a place this will be by and by,” he said.  “Sometimes I’m proud I was born in this country.  Now I might have been raised back there at Carnaby, and taught it was every man’s chief duty to dress and talk nicely, chase foxes, and think about his dinner.”

“I fancy there are men who would not have thought that a great misfortune,” said Seaforth dryly.  “You could also, if you liked it, do so still.”

Alton laughed a little grimly.  “There are two kinds of men in this world, Charley, and which of them makes it go?” said he.  “The ones who have too much to eat and too little to do, or the others who have to keep on doing something because they’re hungry?  Well, I needn’t ask you, because the conundrum was answered long ago, and that kind of talking’s no great use to anybody.  That was a very fine mill, and I picked up a good deal down there.  Still, we will scarcely want such a big one at Somasco.”

“No,” said Seaforth, smiling.  “I don’t quite see how we are going to keep the one we have busy.”

“Well,” said Alton, “you will by and by, and I’m going to buy three or four new saw-fixings to-day.  You don’t know anything about bookkeeping, Charley?”

“You have surmised correctly,” said Seaforth.  “I don’t know that I want to.”

Alton laughed, and presently stopped in front of a building on which a brass plate was inscribed, “Bookkeeping and Shorthand taught efficiently.”

“I think you’re wrong, and this is the place,” said he.  “That’s a sensible man, and he just puts down what he can do.  Go right in, and ask how long he’ll take to make a business man of you.”

Seaforth stared at him in bewilderment.  “You took nothing with your breakfast, Harry?” said he.

Alton smiled a little grimly.  “I haven’t had any yet.  I’ve been too busy,” he said.  “Walk in, Charley, while I see whether they’ll lend me twenty thousand dollars at the bank yonder.”

Seaforth, who, however, knew that there was no use in arguing with his comrade, shook his head.  “It’s a long rest you want, Harry,” he said.

He went in, and Alton, proceeding down the street, presently entered the Bank of Montreal, where he left the manager divided between astonishment and admiration.  He, however, came out with just as many dollars as he carried into the building, and lighting a cigar, watched the passers-by gravely as he waited for his comrade.  They were of many and widely different types; men with keen, sallow faces from eastern cities hastening as though every moment lost was an opportunity wasted; others moving with the tranquillity which proclaimed them Englishmen; bronzed prospectors, and solemn axemen from the shadowy bush, with the stillness of the forest in their eyes; sailors, Japs, and Siwash sealermen.  All of them appeared well fed and prosperous, and Alton was wondering whether there was any one hungry in that city, when a girl came down the stairway of the building Seaforth had entered.