d of twopence, which had hitherto been the
recognised price of the article. In those days the sugar-plums had
not been gilt, and had been much rarer.

Johnny Eames and his friend went together to the house of Mr. Dobbs
Broughton. As Dalrymple lived close to the Broughtons, Eames picked
him up in a cab. "Filthy things, these cabs are," said Dalrymple, as
he got into the hansom.

"I don't know about that," said Johnny. "They're pretty good, I
think."

"Foul things," said Conway. "Don't you feel what a draught comes in
here because the glass is cracked. I'd have one of my own, only I
should never know what to do with it."

"The greatest nuisance on earth, I should think," said Johnny.

"If you could always have it standing ready round the corner," said
the artist, "it would be delightful. But one would want half-a-dozen
horses, and two or three men for that."

"I think the stands are the best," said Johnny.

They were a little late,--a little later than they should have been
had they considered that Eames was to be introduced to his new
acquaintances. But he had already lived long enough before the world
to be quite at his ease in such circumstances, and he entered Mrs
Broughton's drawing-room with his pleasantest smile upon his face.
But as he entered he saw a sight which made him look serious in spite
of his efforts to the contrary. Mr. Adolphus Crosbie, secretary to the
Board at the General Committee Office, was standing on the rug before
the fire.

"Who will be there?" Eames had asked of his friend, when the
suggestion to go and dine with Dobbs Broughton had been made to him.

"Impossible to say," Conway had replied. "A certain horrible fellow
of the name of Musselboro, will almost certainly be there. He always
is when they have anything of a swell dinner-party. He is a sort of
partner of Broughton's in the City. He wears a lot of chains, and has
elaborate whiskers, and an elaborate waistcoat, which is worse; and
he doesn't wash his hands as often as he ought to do."

"An objectionable party, rather, I should say," said Eames.

"Well, yes; Musselboro is objectionable. He's very good-humoured you
know, and good-looking in a sort of way, and goes everywhere; that
is among people of this sort. Of course he's not hand-and-glove with
Lord Derby; and I wish he could be made to wash his hands. They
haven't any other standing dish, and you may meet anybody. They
always have a Member of Parliament; they generally