men in armour were tried. Four suits were
obtained in Poland Street, and four strong men were hired who rode
about town all day on four brewers' horses. They carried poles with
large banners, and on the banners were inscribed the words which
formed the shibboleth of the firm;--

_MAGENTA HOUSE_,
9 TIMES 9 IS 81,
BISHOPSGATE STREET.

And four times a day these four men in armour met each other in front
of the windows of the house, and stood there on horseback for fifteen
minutes, with their backs to the curbstone. The forage, however, of
the horses became so terribly large an item of expenditure that Mr.
Brown's heart failed him. His heart failed him, and he himself went
off late one evening to the livery stable-keeper who supplied the
horses, and in Mr. Robinson's absence, the armour was sent back to
Poland Street.

"We should have had the police down upon us, George," said Mr. Brown,
deprecating the anger of his younger partner.

"And what better advertisement could you have wished?" said Robinson.
"It would have been in all the papers, and have cost nothing."

"But you don't know, George, what them beastesses was eating! It
was frightful to hear of! Four-and-twenty pounds of corn a day
each of 'em, because the armour was so uncommon heavy." The men in
armour were then given up, but they certainly were beginning to
be effective. At 6 P.M., when the men were there, it had become
impossible to pass the shop without going into the middle of the
street, and on one or two occasions the policemen had spoken to
Mr. Brown. Then there was a slight accident with a child, and the
newspapers had interfered.

But we are anticipating the story, for the men in armour did not
begin their operations till the shop had been opened.

"And now about glass," said Robinson, as soon as the three partners
had retired from the outside flags into the interior of the house.

"It must be plate, of course," said Jones. Plate! He might as well
have said when wanting a house, that it must have walls.

"I rather think so," said Robinson; "and a good deal of it."

"I don't mind a good-sized common window," said Brown.

"A deal better have them uncommon," said Robinson, interrupting him.
"And remember, sir, there's nothing like glass in these days. It has
superseded leather altogether in that respect."

"Leather!" said Mr. Brown, who was hardly quick enough for his junior
partner.

"Of all our materials now in general use,