You and me sleeps upstairs."

"I'm afraid there's no room up there for two persons," said Reginald;
"you had better go home to-night, Love, and be here at nine in the
morning."

"Go on--as if I 'ad lodgin's in the town. If you don't want me I know
one as do. Me and the chemist's boy ain't too big for the attick."

"Very well," said Reginald, "you had better go up to bed now, it's
late."

"Don't you think you're having a lark with me," said the boy; "'tain't
eleven, and I ain't done this here Tigerskin yet. There's a lump of
reading in it, I can tell you. When he'd killed them tigers he rigged
hisself up in their skins, and--"

"Yes, yes," said Reginald. "I'm not going to let you stay up all night
reading that rot. Cut up to bed now, do you hear?"

Strange to say, the boy obeyed. There was something about Reginald
which reduced him to obedience, though much against his will. So he
shambled off with his book under his arm, secretly congratulating
himself that the bed in the attic was close to the window, so that he
would be able to get a jolly long read in the morning.

After he had gone, Reginald followed his example, and retired to his own
very spare bed, where he forgot all his cares in a night of sound
refreshing sleep.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE SELECT AGENCY CORPORATION LOSES ITS OFFICE-BOY.

Mr Medlock duly appeared next morning. He greeted the new secretary
with much friendliness, hoped he had a good journey and left them all
well at home, and so on. He further hoped Reginald would find his new
quarters comfortable. Most unfortunately they had missed securing the
lease of a very fine suite of offices in Lord Street, and had to put up
with these for the present. Reginald must see everything was
comfortable; and as of course he would be pretty closely tied to the
place (for the directors would not like the offices left in charge of a
mere office-boy), he must make it as much of a home as possible.

As to money, salaries were always paid quarterly, and on Christmas Day
Reginald would receive his first instalment. Meanwhile, as there were
sure to be a few expenses, Reginald would receive five pounds on account
(a princely allowance, equal to about thirteen shillings a week for the
eight weeks between now and Christmas!)

The directors, Mr Medlock said, placed implicit confidence in the new
secretary. He was authorised to open all letters that came. Any money
they might contain he was str