the
roof, and I looked out for a deluge of water to descend down the
chimney into the fire-place. But no deluge came. Presently GIDLING
descended and entered the room with the empty water-jug.

"Did it splash much?" he asked. "No, there was no water came down at
all."

"Oh? Then I've emptied this water-jug down the wrong chimney. We'd
better clear out of this."

At this juncture HANKIN returned, and GIDLING said a good deal to him.
HANKIN was left to put out the fire, and we went back again to the
Club. GIDLING seemed rather annoyed with me for laughing about his
mistake.

"It's a deuced awkward thing," he said. "That water went down
somebody's chimney, and it's put somebody's fire out. That means
unpleasantness, you know, if he or she finds out who did it."

"Who live in the flats below yours?" I asked.

"An Art-student and her mother in the flat below mine--they are really
most charming people, and I hope to goodness it wasn't their chimney
that I poured the water down. I'm on rather friendly terms with them.
Then on the first floor there's BUDWELL. He's a conceited affected
ape. I only hope it was he who got the benefit of that water-jug. It's
rather amusing, you know. BUDWELL's very much in love with Miss VANE
(that's the Art-student), and she loathes him--at least I believe so.
Poor beggar!" GIDLING laughed, sarcastically. "Yes, I hope that was
BUDWELL's chimney, not the other."

It turned out afterwards that it _was_ BUDWELL's chimney, and he found
out that it was GIDLING who had done the deed. So BUDWELL determined
on revenge. He climbed up on to the roof with a large bath-can of
water, intending to empty it down GIDLING's chimney. Chimneys ought to
be labelled. The whole of the contents of that can descended into Mrs.
VANE's fireplace. BUDWELL called and apologised, but it was of no use.
They considered it mean of BUDWELL to take revenge for what was only
a mistake on GIDLING's part; and they were not very well pleased
at having their own fire put out. "A chimney's not the place for a
cataract, you know, Mr. BUDWELL," said Miss VANE.

BUDWELL went back to his own flat and brooded over his misfortunes. He
had now grown still more angry with GIDLING, which was irrational of
him; and he determined to take a still fiercer revenge. Late at night
he conveyed the bath-can and several jugs, all full of water, on to
the roof. There was no fear of his selecting Mrs. VANE's chimney by
mistake this time. One by o