The man Silver knew was named Klein.  At three o’clock Klein brought his Wall Street friend to see us in Silver’s room.  “Mr. Morgan” looked some like his pictures, and he had a Turkish towel wrapped around his left foot, and he walked with a cane.

“Mr. Silver and Mr. Pescud,” says Klein.  “It sounds superfluous,” says he, “to mention the name of the greatest financial—­”

“Cut it out, Klein,” says Mr. Morgan.  “I’m glad to know you gents; I take great interest in the West.  Klein tells me you’re from Little Rock.  I think I’ve a railroad or two out there somewhere.  If either of you guys would like to deal a hand or two of stud poker I—­”

“Now, Pierpont,” cuts in Klein, “you forget!”

“Excuse me, gents!” says Morgan; “since I’ve had the gout so bad I sometimes play a social game of cards at my house.  Neither of you never knew One-eyed Peters, did you, while you was around Little Rock?  He lived in Seattle, New Mexico.”

Before we could answer, Mr. Morgan hammers on the floor with his cane and begins to walk up and down, swearing in a loud tone of voice.

“They have been pounding your stocks to-day on the Street, Pierpont?” asks Klein, smiling.

“Stocks!  No!” roars Mr. Morgan.  “It’s that picture I sent an agent to Europe to buy.  I just thought about it.  He cabled me to-day that it ain’t to be found in all Italy.  I’d pay $50,000 to-morrow for that picture—­yes, $75,000.  I give the agent a la carte in purchasing it.  I cannot understand why the art galleries will allow a De Vinchy to—­”

“Why, Mr. Morgan,” says klein; “I thought you owned all of the De Vinchy paintings.”

“What is the picture like, Mr. Morgan?” asks Silver.  “It must be as big as the side of the Flatiron Building.”

“I’m afraid your art education is on the bum, Mr. Silver,” says Morgan.  “The picture is 27 inches by 42; and it is called ‘Love’s Idle Hour.’  It represents a number of cloak models doing the two-step on the bank of a purple river.  The cablegram said it might have been brought to this country.  My collection will never be complete without that picture.  Well, so long, gents; us financiers must keep early hours.”

Mr. Morgan and Klein went away together in a cab.  Me and Silver talked about how simple and unsuspecting great people was; and Silver said what a shame it would be to try to rob a man like Mr. Morgan; and I said I thought it would be rather imprudent, myself.  Klein proposes a stroll after dinner; and me and him and Silver walks down toward Seventh Avenue to see the sights.  Klein sees a pair of cuff links that instigate his admiration in a pawnshop window, and we all go in while he buys ’em.

After we got back to the hotel and Klein had gone, Silver jumps at me and waves his hands.

“Did you see it?” says he.  “Did you see it, Billy?”

“What?” I asks.