ay that you get--and here is the nub of the thing--you get
your first hen on tick. Anybody will be glad to let you have the hen on
tick. Well, then, you let this hen--this first, original hen, this
on-tick-hen--you let it set and hatch chickens. Now follow me closely.
Suppose you have a dozen hens. Very well, then. When each of the dozen
has a dozen chickens, you send the old hens back to the chappies you
borrowed them from, with thanks for kind loan; and there you are,
starting business with a hundred and forty-four free chickens to your
name. And after a bit, when the chickens grow up and begin to lay, all
you have to do is to sit back in your chair and endorse the big
cheques. Isn't that so, Millie?"

"Yes, dear."

"We've fixed it all up. Do you know Combe Regis, in Dorsetshire? On the
borders of Devon. Bathing. Sea-air. Splendid scenery. Just the place
for a chicken farm. A friend of Millie's--girl she knew at school--has
lent us a topping old house, with large grounds. All we've got to do is
to get in the fowls. I've ordered the first lot. We shall find them
waiting for us when we arrive."

"Well," I said, "I'm sure I wish you luck. Mind you let me know how you
get on."

"Let you know!" roared Ukridge. "Why, my dear old horse, you're coming
with us."

"Am I?" I said blankly.

"Certainly you are. We shall take no refusal. Will we, Millie?"

"No, dear."

"Of course not. No refusal of any sort. Pack up to-night and meet us at
Waterloo to-morrow."

"It's awfully good of you ..."

"Not a bit of it--not a bit of it. This is pure business. I was saying
to Millie as we came along that you were the very man for us. A man
with your flow of ideas will be invaluable on a chicken farm.
Absolutely invaluable. You see," proceeded Ukridge, "I'm one of those
practical fellows. The hard-headed type. I go straight ahead, following
my nose. What you want in a business of this sort is a touch of the
dreamer to help out the practical mind. We look to you for suggestions,
laddie. Flashes of inspiration and all that sort of thing. Of course,
you take your share of the profits. That's understood. Yes, yes, I must
insist. Strict business between friends. Now, taking it that, at a
conservative estimate, the net profits for the first fiscal year amount
to--five thousand, no, better be on the safe side--say, four thousand
five hundred pounds ... But we'll arrange all that end of it when we
get down there. Millie will look after t