the potential saviours of the Empire."

CHAPTER XI

THE DEFECTION OF MR. TRIGGS

"Well, me dear, how goes it?"

Patricia looked up from a Blue Book, from which she was laboriously
extracting statistics. Mr. Triggs stood before her, florid and happy.
He was wearing a new black and white check suit, a white waistcoat and
a red tie, whilst in his hand he carried a white felt top-hat with a
black band.

"It doesn't go at all well," said Patricia, smiling.

"What's the matter, me dear?" he enquired anxiously. "You look fagged
out."

"Oh! I'm endeavouring to extract information about potatoes from
stupid Blue Books," said Patricia, leaning back in her chair. "Why
can't they let potatoes grow without writing about them?" she asked
plaintively, screwing up her eyebrows.

"'E ain't much good, is 'e?" enquired Mr. Triggs.

"Who?" asked Patricia in surprise.

"A. B.," said Mr. Triggs, lowering his voice and looking round
furtively, "Dull, 'e strikes me."

"Well, you see, Mr. Triggs, he's rising, and you can't rise and be
risen at the same time, can you?"

Mr. Triggs shook his head doubtfully. "'E'll no more rise than your
salary, me dear," he said.

"Oh! what a gloomy person you are to-day, Mr. Triggs, and you look like
a ray of sunshine."

"D'you like it?" enquired Mr. Triggs, smiling happily as he stood back
that Patricia might obtain a good view of his new clothes. She now saw
that over his black boots he wore a pair of immaculate white spats.

"You look just like a duke. But where are you going, and why all this
splendour?" asked Patricia.

Mr. Triggs beamed upon her. "I'm glad you like it, me dear. I was
thinking about you when I ordered it."

Patricia looked up and smiled. There was something to her strangely
lovable in this old man's simplicity.

"I come to take you to the Zoo," he announced.

"To the Zoo?" cried Patricia in unfeigned surprise.

Mr. Triggs nodded, hugely enjoying the effect of the announcement.

"Now run away and get your hat on."

"But I couldn't possibly go, I've got heaps of things to do," protested
Patricia. "Why Mrs. Bonsor would be----"

"Never you mind about 'Ettie; I'll manage 'er. She'll----"

"I thought I heard your voice, father."

Both Patricia and Mr. Triggs started guiltily; they had not heard Mrs.
Bonsor enter the room.

"'Ullo, 'Ettie!" said Mr. Triggs, recovering himself. "I just come to
take this young lady to the Zoo."

"Do I look as