otice.'

'Of course we are!' cried Philpot, his goggle eyes rolling wildly with
wrath. 'And I should 'ave it too, if it was me. You take my tip,
Frank: CHARGE UP TO SIX O'CLOCK on yer time sheet and get some of your
own back.'

Everyone joined in the outburst of indignant protest. Everyone, that
is, except Crass and Slyme. But then they were not exactly in the
kitchen: they were out in the scullery putting their things away, and
so it happened that they said nothing, although they exchanged
significant looks.

Owen had by this time recovered his self-possession. He collected all
his tools and put them with his apron and blouse into his tool-bag with
the purpose of taking them with him that night, but on reflection he
resolved not to do so. After all, it was not absolutely certain that
he was going to be 'stood off': possibly they were going to send him on
some other job.

They kept all together--some walking on the pavement and some in the
road--until they got down town, and then separated. Crass, Sawkins,
Bundy and Philpot adjourned to the 'Cricketers' for a drink, Newman
went on by himself, Slyme accompanied Easton who had arranged with him
to come that night to see the bedroom, and Owen went in the direction
of the office.

Chapter 11

Hands and Brains

Rushton & Co.'s premises were situated in one of the principal streets
of Mugsborough and consisted of a double-fronted shop with plate glass
windows. The shop extended right through to the narrow back street
which ran behind it. The front part of the shop was stocked with
wall-hangings, mouldings, stands showing patterns of embossed wall and
ceiling decorations, cases of brushes, tins of varnish and enamel, and
similar things.

The office was at the rear and was separated from the rest of the shop
by a partition, glazed with muranese obscured glass. This office had
two doors, one in the partition, giving access to the front shop, and
the other by the side of the window and opening on to the back street.
The glass of the lower sash of the back window consisted of one large
pane on which was painted 'Rushton & Co.' in black letters on a white
ground.

Owen stood outside this window for two or three seconds before
knocking. There was a bright light in the office. Then he knocked at
the door, which was at once opened from the inside by Hunter, and Owen
went in.

Rushton was seated in an armchair at his desk, smoking a cigar and
reading o