owards
us.

"Thank Heaven!" he said when he saw me. "I'm so glad you're back.
I've run out of your cigarettes."

I handed him my case in silence.

"It's curious," he said, "how used one can get to inferior tobacco."

Tea appeared in serial form. After depositing the three-storied cake
dish holder--or whatever the thing is called--with a to-be-completed
air, the footman disappeared, to return a moment later with the teapot
and hot water. As he turned to go:

"Bring me the tray that's on the billiard-table," said Berry. "Carry
it carefully."

"Yes, sir.

"Without moving, we all observed one another, the eyes looking
sideways. You see, the tray bore a jig-saw. When I had left on the
previous Saturday for a week-end visit, we had done the top right-hand
corner and half what looked as if it must be the left side. Most of
this we had done on Friday evening; but artificial light is inclined to
militate against the labourer, and at eleven o'clock Berry had sworn
twice, shown us which pieces were missing, and related the true history
of poor Agatha Glynde, who spent more than a fortnight over 'David
Copperfield' before she found out that the pieces had been mixed up
with those of Constable's 'Hay Wain.' This upset us so much that Jonah
said he should try and get a question asked in the House about it, and
we decided to send the thing back the next day and demand the return of
the money."

On the way up to bed, Daphne had asked me if I thought we could get
"damages, or compensation, or something," and I had replied that, if we
could prove malice, they had undoubtedly brought themselves within the
pale of the criminal law.

The next morning Jill had done nearly two more square inches before
breakfast, and I missed the midday train to town.

"Hullo, you have got on!" I said, as the man set the tray and its
precious burden gingerly on the grass in our midst.

"Aha, my friend," said Berry, "I thought you'd sit up! Yes, sir, the
tract already developed represents no less an area than thirty-six
square inches--coldly calculated by me this afternoon during that fair
hour which succeeds the sleep of repletion and the just--but the vast
possibilities which lie hidden beneath the surface of the undeveloped
expanse of picture are almost frightening. A land rich in minerals,
teeming with virgin soil--a very Canaan of to-day. Does it not call
you, brother?"

"It does," said I. "I wish it didn't, because it's wicke