Who can say what may happen between now and then?"

"Shall I have her round at eleven, sir, or--"

"Eleven will do as well as any other time--let it go at that."

"You was to see your broker, Mr. Anderson, in the morning over them
steamship shares, sir."

"Shares, Joe, are a vanity; all is vanity--they weary me. Mr. Brimberly
yawns, and you look sleepy--good night, Joe; pleasant dreams."

"Good night, sir!" and touching his right eyebrow, Joe went out, closing
the door behind him.

"And now," said Mr. Ravenslee, puffing languidly at his cigar,
"referring to the necessary object, there is a chance that it may be
found--even yet, Mr. Brimberly!"

"Object, sir," murmured Mr. Brimberly, "found, sir--to be sure, sir."

"Yes; I intend you shall find it for me, Brimberly."

Mr. Brimberly's abstraction gave place to sudden amaze.

"Find it--wot, me, sir? Hexcuse me, sir, but did you say--" Mr.
Brimberly actually gaped!

"You, Brimberly, of course!"

"But--but wot kind of a hobject--and where, sir?"

"Really," sighed Young R., "these are quite fool questions for one of
your hard-headed common sense! If I knew exactly 'what' and 'where', I'd
go and find it myself--at least, I might!"

"But--'ow in the world, sir--begging your parding I'm sure, but 'ow am I
to go a-finding hobjex as I've never seen nor 'eard of?"

"Brimberly, I pass! But if you manage it in--say a week, I'll double
your wages and give you a--er--a bonus into the bargain; think it over."

"I--I will, sir--indeed, sir!"

"Very well; you may go."

"Certingly, sir." Mr. Brimberly bowed and crossed to the door but, being
there, paused. "Double me wages I think it were, sir, _and_ a bonus?
Very 'andsome, very 'andsome indeed, sir--thank you, sir." Saying which,
Mr. Brimberly bowed himself out, but immediately bowed himself in again.

"Sir," said he, "if you could give me some hidea, sir--"

"Some what?"

"A few 'ints, sir, as to the nature of said hobject--whether animal,
mineral, or nooter, sir?"

"Well--perhaps 'animal' might be the more interesting."

"Now--as to gender, sir--masculine shall we say, or shall we make it
feminine?"

"Oh--either will do! And yet, since you offer so wide a selection,
perhaps--er--feminine--?"

"Very good, sir!"

"And you'd better make it singular number, Brimberly."

"Certingly, sir, much obliged, sir! Will you be wanting me again, sir?"

"Not again, Brimberly."

"Then good night, sir--thank you, sir