I thought that was a good omen . I went to Clark 's office , found he had left , and followed him to his rooms . The minute I saw him I experienced the same nasty feeling of lost or bewildered individuality which always overcame me in his presence . He was so absurdly like me . I felt as if I were looking into a mirror where my reflection persisted in doing things I did n't do , thereby producing a most uncanny sensation . Clark pretended he was glad to see me . He really could n't have been , because his Great Idea had n't struck him then , and we had always disliked each other . `` Hello , Elliott , '' he said , shaking me by the hand with a twist he had learned in election campaigns , whereby something like heartiness was simulated . `` Glad to see you , old fellow . Gad , you 're as like me as ever . Where did you drop from ? '' I explained my predicament and we talked amiably and harmlessly for awhile about family gossip . I abhor family gossip , but it is a shade better than politics , and those two subjects are the only ones on which Clark can converse at all . I described Mary Alice 's wedding , and Florence 's new young man , and Tom-and-Kate 's twins . Clark tried to be interested but I saw he had something on what serves him for a mind . After awhile it came out . He looked at his watch with a frown . `` I 'm in a bit of a puzzle , '' he said . `` The Mark Kennedys are giving a dinner to-night . You do n't know them , of course .
They 're the big people XXXXX Broughton .
because by for from in like of than to with