a few minutes after eight o'clock in the morning
Spare no expense . Dundas , Gray & Co. are my bankers and reference . `` JOHN TEMPLETON BURKE . '' On Monday , April 2d , a few minutes after eight o'clock in the morning , the card of Mr. John Templeton Burke was brought to Mr. Keen , Tracer of Lost Persons , and a moment later a well-built , wiry , sun-scorched young man was ushered into Mr. Keen 's private office by a stenographer prepared to take minutes of the interview . The first thing that the Tracer of Lost Persons noted in his visitor was his mouth ; the next his eyes . Both were unmistakably good -- the eyes which his Creator had given him looked people squarely in the face at every word ; the mouth , which a man 's own character fashions agreeably or mars , was pleasant , but firm when the trace of the smile lurking in the corners died out . There were dozens of other external characteristics which Mr. Keen always looked for in his clients ; and now the rapid exchange of preliminary glances appeared to satisfy both men , for they advanced toward each other and exchanged a formal hand clasp .