came vaguely aware that some one was behind me 

 and that it was not the window but I that was 

 engaging this person's attention. Becoming un- 

 easy, I turned. It was the policeman. He said noth- 

 ing; he merely glared. His glare, none the less, 

 was more expressive than words. And I was im- 

 pelled to leave forthwith, which I did without a 

 murmur at what I indignantly regarded as an 

 unjust suspicion. 



It was on the following day that I found myself 

 engaged in the preliminaries which were to place 

 in my possession that tool which more than any 

 other is essential to the naturalist's workshop. 



"How much do you want for it?" I asked the 

 pawnbroker, with a forced nonchalance, mean- 

 while working the rack and pinion focusing adjust- 

 ment; trying by both means to hide my eagerness, 

 and to impress him by my feigned familiarity with 

 the fact that here was a knowing young man, one 

 who understands what he is buying and who can- 

 not be fooled in the matter of price. 



But the pawnbroker was not impressed. Indeed, 

 I soon discovered something: he had but one price 

 for his wares. He was tall, dark, intelligent; when 

 he spoke it was obvious that he was a person of 



[15] 



