do for me," said Septimus Rainer carelessly.

"I'm afraid not; you see I'm responsible," said Tinker seriously. "And I
was thinking that, getting your clothes here in Nice, I shall have to
keep a very sharp eye on them, or they'll go dressing you like a French
American--you know, an American who is dressed by a Paris tailor. And
that wouldn't do at all."

"No: of course not," said Septimus Rainer quickly.

But it was not till they came to the tailor's that he realised the full
seriousness of the business before them. At first he supposed that he
was to have his say in the matter; but at the end of ten minutes, with a
half-humorous abandonment, he put himself entirely in the hands of the
conscientious Tinker, and indeed had he not done so, there is no saying
that he might not have gone about the world parading a velvet collar on a
grey frock coat. It was Tinker who decided, after weighty consideration,
upon the colour and texture of the stuff of each suit, chose the very
buttons for it, and forced upon the reluctant Nicois his ideas of the way
each separate garment should be cut. Septimus Rainer was frankly
bewildered at the end of half an hour; he was used, in the way of
business, to carrying a multiplicity of details in his head, but these
details it could not carry. When he found that Tinker had them at his
finger ends, he was filled with admiration and respect.

From the tailor's they went to the hatter's; and there Septimus Rainer
found himself trying on hats by the score. But, strangely enough, he did
not grow weary: Tinker's absorbed interest in his task was catching to
the point that at the hosier's the millionaire found himself discussing
the shade of his socks with real enthusiasm.

When they came out of the last shop Tinker said, with the deep breath of
one relieved of a heavy responsibility, "There--I think you'll look all
right--as far as a French tailor can do it."

"I ought to, after all the trouble you've taken, sonny," said Septimus
Rainer, smiling.

"You have to take trouble about dressing a man. A woman is easy enough.
I got Elsie her clothes in about an hour. But a man is much more
difficult. And clothes are so important," said Tinker gravely.

"I suppose they are--over here," said Septimus Rainer.

"I'm glad you don't take them really seriously," said Tinker, approving
his tone, "because you'll soon get into the way of wearing them when
you've got them. It's very funny, but well-