o bring him in at one o'clock sharp a
large boiled beef underdone, with carrots and turnips, and a pint of "s.
and b." (whatever that might mean). Then he suddenly became aware of
the fact that he had visitors, and turned inquiringly to the two boys.

"Mr Richmond--" began Horace, in answer to his look.

But the manager cut him short.

"Oh, ah! yes," he said. "Nuisance! Go to the composing-room and ask
for Mr Durfy."

Saying which he sat down again at his desk, and became absorbed in his
papers.

It was hardly a flattering reception, and gave our heroes very little
chance of showing off their classical proficiency. They had at least
expected, as Mr Richmond's nominees, rather more than a half glance
from the manager; and to be thus summarily turned over to a Mr Durfy
before they had as much as opened their mouths was decidedly
unpromising.

Reginald did make one feeble effort to prolong the interview, and to
impress the manager at the same time.

"Excuse me," said he, in his politest tones, "would you mind directing
us to the composing-room? My brother and I don't know the geography of
the place yet."

"Eh? Composing-room? Get a boy to show you. Plenty outside."

It was no go, evidently; and they turned dismally from the room.

The errand-boy was coming up the passage as they emerged--the same
errand-boy they had seen half an hour ago in the manager's room; but, as
their classical friends would say--

"Quantum mutatus ab illo Hectore!"

His two arms were strung with the handles of frothing tin cans from the
elbow to the wrist. He carried two tin cans in his mouth. His apron
was loaded to bursting with bread, fish, cheese, potatoes, and other
edibles; the necks of bottles protruded from all his pocket's,--from the
bosom of his jacket and from the fob of his breeches,--and round his
neck hung a ponderous chain of onions. In short, the errand-boy was
busy; and our heroes, even with their short experience of business life,
saw that there was little hope of extracting information from him under
present circumstances.

So they let him pass, and waited for another. They had not to wait
long, for the passage appeared to be a regular highway for the junior
members of the staff of the _Rocket_ Newspaper Company, Limited. But
though several boys came, it was some time before one appeared whose
convenience it suited to conduct our heroes to the presence of Mr
Durfy. Just, however, as their patience w