Short Fiction · Chapter
The Romance of a Busy Broker explained
Harvey Maxwell, a frenzied New York broker, is so consumed by his work that he forgets he married his stenographer, Miss Leslie, the previous evening.
What happens
Harvey Maxwell, a frenzied New York broker, is so consumed by his work that he forgets he married his stenographer, Miss Leslie, the previous evening. Amid a chaotic day of trading, he abruptly proposes to her, only to be reminded by her that they are already married.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it captures the precise moment the protagonist’s humor shifts f…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Romance
The story's central irony: Maxwell's love for Miss Leslie is genuine but buried under his obsession with work, leading him to propose to his own wife.
- Humor and Irony
The comedic twist that Maxwell forgets his own marriage, highlighting the absurdity of his single-minded devotion to business.
- Ambition and Failure
Maxwell's relentless ambition in finance causes a personal failure—forgetting his own wedding—yet his love ultimately prevails.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Third-person narrator who observes the hectic office and the broker's obliviousness.
- Mr. Peters
Pitcher, the confidential clerk, who notes the broker's forgetfulness and handles the agency call.
- Annie Williams
Miss Leslie, the stenographer and Maxwell's wife, who patiently endures his work-driven amnesia.
Key passages
“The machine sitting at that desk was no longer a man; it was a busy New York broker, moved by buzzing wheels and uncoiling springs.”
Maxwell had become a mechanical extension of the stock market, devoid of human feeling.
Highlights the dehumanizing effect of his work.
“Don't you remember, Harvey? We were married last evening at 8 o'clock in the Little Church Around the Corner.”
Miss Leslie reminds Maxwell that they are already husband and wife.
The climactic revelation that undercuts the entire proposal scene.
