what brings in the--"

"But see here," breaks in Ham, "how the merry dingbats would you use me
in a beauty parlor? I'm just curious."

Nivens pulls that flickery smile of his again.

"That wasn't exactly what I had in mind, sir," says he. "In fact, I
have nothing to do with the active management of Madame Ritz's; only
drop around once or twice a month to go over the books with Mabel.
It's wonderful how profits pile up, sir. Nearly ten thousand apiece
last year. So I've been thinking I ought to give up work. It was only
that I didn't quite know what to do with myself after. I've settled
that now, though; at least, Mabel has. 'You ought to take your place
in society,' she says, 'and get married.' The difficulty was, sir, to
decide just what place I ought to take. And then--well, it's an ill
wind, as they say, that blows nobody luck. Besides, if you'll pardon
me, sir, you seemed to be losing your hold on yours."

"On--on mine?" asks Ham, his mouth open.

Nivens nods.

"I'm rather familiar with it, you see," says he. "Of course, I may not
fill it just as you did, but that would hardly be expected. I can try.
That is why I have been staying on. I've taken over the lease. The
agent has stopped bothering you, perhaps you have noticed. And I've
made out a complete inventory of the furnishings. In case I take them
over, I'll pay you a fair price--ten per cent. more than any dealer."

"Do--do you mean to say," demands Adams, "that you are paying my rent?"

"Excuse me, mine," says Nivens. "The lease has stood in my name for
the last two months. I didn't care to hurry you, sir; I wanted to give
you every chance. But now, if you are quite at the end, I am ready to
propose the change."

"Go on," says Ham, starin' at him. "What change?"

"My place for yours," says Nivens.

"Eh?" gasps Ham.

"That is, of course, if you've nothing better to do, sir," says Nivens,
quiet and soothin'. "You'd soon pick it up, sir, my tastes being quite
similar. For instance--the bath ready at nine; fruit, coffee, toast,
and eggs at nine-fifteen, with the morning papers and the mail laid
out. Then at--"

"See here, my man," breaks in Adams, breathin' hard. "Are you crazy,
or am I? Are you seriously suggesting that I become your valet?"

Nivens shrugs his shoulders.

"It occurred to me you'd find that the easiest way of settling your
account with me, sir," says he. "Then, too, you could stay on here,
almost as tho