Bindle
listened for a moment.

"Lord, she ain't learnt all that at Sunday-school," he muttered; then
turning to the sergeant, said, "'Ere, gi'e me my key. I didn't ought
to 'ear such things."

The sergeant hurriedly turned to a rack behind him, picked up the key
and handed it to Bindle. His attention was engrossed with the new
case; it meant a troublesome day for him.

Bindle signed for the key, put it in his pocket and left the station.

He overtook the vans just as they were entering Branksome Road.
Pulling the key out of his pocket he looked at the tag.

"Funny," he muttered, "thought he said a 'undred an' eighty-one, not a
'undred an' thirty-one."

He took a scrap of paper out of his pocket, on which he had written
down the number in the manager's office. It was clearly 181. The
sergeant had given him the wrong key.

"'Ere! Hi!" he began, when he stopped suddenly, a grin overspreading
his features. Suddenly he slapped his knee.

"Wot a go! 'Oly Moses, I'll do it! I only 'ope they 'aven't left no
servants in the 'ouse. Won't it be---- Hi, where the 'ell are you
goin' to? You're passin' the 'ouse."

"Didn't yer say a 'undred an' heighty-one?" came the hoarse voice of
Wilkes from the front of the first of the pantechnicons.

"A 'undred an' thirty-one, you ole 'Uggins. 'Adn't yer better count it
up on yer fingers? Yer can use yer toes if yer like."

There was a growl in response. Bindle was popular with his mates, and
no one ever took offence at what he said.

The two vans drew up before No. 131, and the four men grouped
themselves by the gate.

Bindle surveyed them with a grin.

"Lord, wot a army of ole reprobates! Wilkes," said Bindle gravely,
addressing an elderly man with a stubbly beard and a persistent cough,
of which he made the most, "yer must get out of that 'abit o' yours o'
shavin' only on jubilee days and golden weddin's. It spoils y'
appearance. Yer won't get no more kisses than a currycomb."

Bindle was in high spirits.

"'Ullo, Ginger, where's that clean coller you was wearin' last Toosday
week? Lent it to the lodger? 'Ere, come along. Let's lay the dust
'fore we starts." And Bindle and his squad trooped off to the nearest
public-house.

A quarter of an hour later they returned and set to work. Bindle
laboured like one possessed, and inspired his men to more than usual
efforts. Nothing had been prepared, and consequently there was much
more to do than was usua