The Office of Harvey Maxwell

The Office of Harvey Maxwell

• Harvey Maxwell is a busy New York broker who usually has a serious face, but today he looks surprised and interested.
• His young lady secretary, Miss Leslie, is very beautiful and simple in her appearance, with a gray dress and a gold-green wing on her hat.

The Busy Day

• The office is chaotic, with many papers and letters to be handled.
• Maxwell is busy with business news coming in from a machine, and men are constantly entering and leaving the office.
• Boys run in and out with letters for Maxwell to read and answer immediately.

The Unexpected Arrival

• A young lady arrives at the office, dressed in a grand hat with birds' wings and a long silver chain, seeking a job as a secretary.
• Pitcher explains that Maxwell requested someone for the job, but Maxwell denies this and says Miss Leslie is a perfect secretary.

Maxwell's Forgetfulness

• Pitcher comments that Maxwell is becoming more forgetful every day.
• Maxwell orders Pitcher not to send any more applicants and not to bring anyone else to see him.

The World of Business

• The office is a chaotic and fast-paced environment, where Maxwell works like a strong machine, making decisions quickly and efficiently.
• However, when the dinner hour approaches, things calm down, and Maxwell is momentarily distracted by the sweet smell of flowers, which reminds him of Miss Leslie.

The Proposal

• Maxwell rushes into the other room to ask Miss Leslie to be his wife, saying he loves her and wants to marry her.
• Miss Leslie is surprised and reveals that they were actually married the previous evening at the Little Church around the Corner.

Harvey Maxwell's Office

• The story takes place in the office of Harvey Maxwell, a busy stockbroker.
• He arrives at the office at 8:30 am with his stenographer, Miss Leslie.

Miss Leslie's Character

• Miss Leslie is described as being beautiful in an unadorned and plain way.
• She wears a black hat with a gold-green macaw wing, a grey dress, and has lilac-scented perfume.
• She is observed by Pitcher, the confidential clerk, who finds her beautiful.

Office Dynamics

• Pitcher notes that Miss Leslie lingers outside Maxwell's office instead of going straight to her desk.
• Miss Leslie asks Pitcher if Maxwell mentioned hiring a replacement stenographer the previous day.
• Pitcher confirms that Maxwell did and has contacted an agency to send potential replacements.

The Busy Day

• The office is busy due to market activity, and Maxwell works hard.
• A lady from the stenographer's agency arrives to enquire about the open position.
• Maxwell accuses Pitcher of losing his mind and denies ordering a replacement, saying Miss Leslie has given perfect satisfaction.

The Proposal

• Maxwell proposes marriage to Miss Leslie during a break in his work, apologizing for the suddenness of the proposal.
• Miss Leslie reveals that they were married the evening before, and Maxwell has forgotten due to his focus on work.

Understanding 'The Romance of a Busy Broker'

• The story requires a second reading to fully grasp the plot details and understand the twist that Harvey Maxwell and Miss Leslie (now Mrs. Maxwell) got married the evening before.
• Maxwell's temperament at work changes after the marriage, showing a spring in his step, which is revealed as a result of being a newlywed.
• Maxwell and Miss Leslie arrive at the office together, indicating they came in together, and their arrival at 9:30 am is unusual, possibly due to a late morning celebration of their nuptials.
• Miss Leslie is taken aback by Maxwell's sudden shift into work mode, forgetting their marriage, and treating her as his stenographer again.
• Miss Leslie lingers outside Maxwell's office, asking Pitcher if Maxwell has made plans to replace her, which initially appears as a worried employee inquiring about job security.
• Knowing the twist, Miss Leslie's question to Pitcher is actually a concerned wife wondering if Maxwell has plans to replace her, unaware of his intentions as a husband.

This quiz is about a scene in the office of Harvey Maxwell, a busy New York broker, where his young lady secretary, Miss Leslie, is working amidst a chaotic environment.