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 Bondy, found this scene very pleasant and touching.

"I'll send my secretary to Marek," he resolved; "to-morrow without fail. And what shall I do today? It's a holiday; I'm not going to the works. My time's my own a wretched state things are in! Nothing to do all day long! Suppose I went round to-day myself."

G. H. Bondy hesitated. It would be a bit of an adventure to go and see for oneself how that queer fellow was struggling along in Břevnov.

"After all, we were such chums! And old times have their claim on one. Yes, I'll go!" decided Mr, Bondy. And he went.

He had rather a boring time while his car was gliding all over Břevnov in search of a mean hovel bearing the number 1651. They had to inquire at the police-station.

"Marek, Marek," said the inspector, searching his memory. "That must be Marek the engineer, of Marek and Co., the electric lamp factory, 1651, Mixa Street."

The electric lamp factory! Bondy felt disappointed, even annoyed. Rudy Marek wasn't living up in a garret, then! He was a manufacturer and wanted to sell some invention or other "for personal reasons." If that didn't smell of bankruptcy, his name wasn't Bondy.