so inquisitive and ill-mannered as to
come and peep over the edge. With plenty of tobacco, a writing tablet and a
fountain-pen, you can stare at the anaglypta ceiling and dream noble
thoughts and put them down when you like without interruption. On sunny
days the apparatus can be wheeled on to the balcony, where the sapphire sky
will be exchanged for the anaglypta ceiling; and for winter use a metal
base will be supplied, under which you can place either an oil-stove or an
electric radiator.

I should like to see this four-sided Chesterfield in offices also. The
master-strokes of commercial and administrative skill would be much more
masterly with most people if they did not have to proceed from a hard
office chair. You can easily dictate to a typist from the interior of a
Chesterfield, and, though I know that business men and Government officials
are often subjected to deputations, during which they have to look their
persecutors in the face, this difficulty could be overcome by means of a
sliding panel, through which the face of the recumbent administrator could
be poked when necessary, wearing the proper expression of shrewdness,
terror, conciliation or rage. I should like Sir ERIC GEDDES to have one of
my four-sided Chesterfields.

With his usual sagacity the reader will probably remark here that the
four-sided Chesterfield can be procured ready-made at any moment by turning
the usual article round and pushing it up against the wall. This point has
not escaped notice, my friend. But you can hardly imagine the objections
that will be urged by the female members of your household against adopting
such a course in the drawing-room. They will assert, amongst other things,
that Mrs. Ponsonby-Smith is on the point of arriving and that she will
think you've done it on purpose.

I shall have the upholsterer in to-morrow.

EVOE.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Gladys._ "HAVE YOU ANY INTERESTING CASES COMING ON, SIR
CHARLES?"

_Eminent K.C._ "WE HAVE A VERY INTRICATE AND TECHNICAL CASE COMING ON--MOST
INTERESTING. IT TURNS ON THE QUESTION WHETHER A CERTAIN SUBTERRANEAN
CONDUIT SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A DRAIN OR A SEWER."

_Gladys._ "OH, BUT WHY NOT ASK A PLUMBER?"]

* * * * *

DEDICATIONS.

MR. COMPTON MACKENZIE has found it necessary to state publicly in a
dedication that his books have not been written by his sister.

The following extracts are taken