d fro carrying
various articles of furniture. Sir Charles's eyes greedily devoured
all that was to be seen--in particular some long, coffin-like wooden
cases.

He stood at the door for a minute; it seemed unnecessary to ring with
so many men about. Presently a man came up and stared at him, rather
offensively Sir Charles thought; but, remembering the delicate nature
of his mission, he adjusted his monocle and said politely:

"I--er--want to see one of the er--er--moving men."

"Certainly, sir," responded the man; "'ave you any choice?'"

Sir Charles fixed his monocle more firmly in his left eye, and stared
at the man in astonishment.

"We've got 'em from twenty-three to sixty-five. I'm forty-eight
meself, but p'r'aps you'd like a young 'un. Fair or dark, sir, tall or
short?"

Sir Charles gazed at the man as if dazed, then went very red, but
controlling his wrath he replied:

"I do not know his name, I'm afraid. He has a green baize apron and
is--er--bald, and--er--has a rather red nose."

The man smiled broadly, insolently, intolerably, Sir Charles thought.

"That won't 'elp us much, sir. Blessed if you 'aven't described the
'ole blessed perfession. Hi! Ginger?" This to Ginger, who was
passing. He approached. "This is rather a tasty little lot, sir.
'E's got a red 'ead as well as a red nose. Not 'im? Well, let me see.
Tell Bindle to come 'ere. I think Bindle may be your man, sir; 'e's
got some pals in these 'ere parts, I think."

For nearly half a minute Sir Charles glared at the man before him, who
grinned back with perfect self-possession.

"This 'im, sir?" he queried, as Bindle approached.

"Damn your insolence!" burst out Sir Charles. "I'll report you to your
employers!" But the foreman had disappeared to give an order, and
Bindle also had slipped away.

Sir Charles raged back down the drive, striving to think of some means
of punishing the insolence of the foreman pantechnicon-man.

A quarter of an hour later Mr. Greenhales arrived at the hall door of
Holmleigh. The foreman was there to receive him.

"Good-afternoon," said Mr. Greenhales pleasantly.

"You want to see one of our men; you don't know 'is name, but 'e's a
rather bald little man, with a green baize apron an' a red nose?"
replied the foreman blandly.

"Exactly!" responded Mr. Greenhales genially. "Exactly! Kindly tell
him."

"I'm sorry, sir, it was 'is reception-day, but 'e's been took ill; 'e
asked me to apolog