practicable break at the bottom of the hedge. "They're going to try to
make the monkey climb, I believe."

"Here--let me look!" Penfentenyou flung himself down, and rooted till he
too broke a peep-hole. We lay side by side commanding the entire garden
at ten yards' range.

"You know 'em?" said Penfentenyou, as I made some noise or other.

"By sight only. The big fellow in flannels is Lord Lundie; the
light-built one with the yellow beard painted his picture at the last
Academy: He's a swell R.A., James Loman."

"And the brown chap with the hands?"

"Tomling, Sir Christopher Tomling, the South American engineer who built
the--"

"San Juan Viaduct. I know," said Penfentenyou. "We ought to have had him
with us.... Do you think a monkey would climb the tree?"

The organ-grinder at the gate fenced his beast with one arm as
Jimmy-talked.

"Don't show off your futile accomplishments," said Lord Lundie. "Tell
him it's an experiment. Interest him!"

"Shut up, Bubbles. You aren't in court," Jimmy replied. "This needs
delicacy. Giuseppe says--"

"Interest the monkey," the brown engineer interrupted. "He won't climb
for love. Cut up to the house and get some biscuits, Bubbles--sugar ones
and an orange or two. No need to tell our womenfolk."

The huge white figure lobbed off at a trot which would not have
disgraced a boy of seventeen. I gathered from something Jimmy let fall
that the three had been at Harrow together.

"That Tomling has a head on his Shoulders," muttered Penfentenyou. "Pity
we didn't get him for the Colony. But the question is, will the monkey
climb?"

"Be quick, Jimmy. Tell the man we'll give him five bob for the loan of
the beast. Now run the organ under the tree, and we'll dress it when
Bubbles comes back," Sir Christopher cried.

"I've often wondered," said Penfentenyou, "whether it would puzzle
a monkey?" He had forgotten the needs of his Growing Nation, and was
earnestly parting the white-thorn stems with his fingers.

* * * * * * * * * *

Giuseppe and Jimmy did as they were told, the monkey following them with
a wary and malignant eye.

"Here's a discovery," said Jimmy. "The singing part of this organ comes
off the wheels." He spoke volubly to the proprietor. "Oh, it's so as
Giuseppe can take it to his room o' nights. And play it. D'you hear
that? The organ-grinder, after his day's crime, plays his accursed
machine for love. For love, Chris! And Michael Angelo was on