ne resembled that of the lid of a coffin.

This man had been with Rushton--no one had ever seen the 'Co.'--for
fifteen years, in fact almost from the time when the latter commenced
business. Rushton had at that period realized the necessity of having
a deputy who could be used to do all the drudgery and running about so
that he himself might be free to attend to the more pleasant or
profitable matters. Hunter was then a journeyman, but was on the point
of starting on his own account, when Rushton offered him a constant job
as foreman, two pounds a week, and two and a half per cent of the
profits of all work done. On the face of it this appeared a generous
offer. Hunter closed with it, gave up the idea of starting for
himself, and threw himself heart and mind into the business. When an
estimate was to be prepared it was Hunter who measured up the work and
laboriously figured out the probably cost. When their tenders were
accepted it was he who superintended the work and schemed how to scamp
it, where possible, using mud where mortar was specified, mortar where
there ought to have been cement, sheet zinc where they were supposed to
put sheet lead, boiled oil instead of varnish, and three coats of paint
where five were paid for. In fact, scamping the work was with this man
a kind of mania. It grieved him to see anything done properly. Even
when it was more economical to do a thing well, he insisted from force
of habit on having it scamped. Then he was almost happy, because he
felt that he was doing someone down. If there were an architect
superintending the work, Misery would square him or bluff him. If it
were not possible to do either, at least he had a try; and in the
intervals of watching, driving and bullying the hands, his vulture eye
was ever on the look out for fresh jobs. His long red nose was thrust
into every estate agent's office in the town in the endeavour to smell
out what properties had recently changed hands or been let, in order
that he might interview the new owners and secure the order for
whatever alterations or repairs might be required. He it was who
entered into unholy compacts with numerous charwomen and nurses of the
sick, who in return for a small commission would let him know when some
poor sufferer was passing away and would recommend Rushton & Co. to the
bereaved and distracted relatives. By these means often--after first
carefully inquiring into the financial position of the str