, and
have got interested in the Judds in spite of yourself. You'll go and see
them again and do what you can for them, won't you?"

I was not in a merry mood, but I laughed. Campion had read the intention
that had vaguely formulated itself in the back of my mind.

"Of course I will," I said.

We walked on a few steps down the still silent, disheartening street
without speaking. Then he tugged his beard, half-halted, and glanced at
me quickly.

"See here," said he, "the more sensible people I can get in to help
us the better. Would you like me to hand you over the Judd family _en
bloc_?"

This was startling to the amateur philanthropist. But it is the way of
all professionals to regard their own business as of absorbing interest
to the outside world. The stockbroking mind cannot conceive a sane
man indifferent to the fluctuations of the money market, and to the
professional cricketer the wide earth revolves around a wicket. How in
the world could I be fairy godfather to the Judd family? Campion took my
competence for granted.

"You may not understand exactly what I mean, my dear Campion," said
I; "but I attribute the most unholy disasters of my life to a ghastly
attempt of mine to play Deputy Providence."

"But who's asking you to play Deputy Providence?" he shouted. "It's the
very last idiot thing I want done. I want you to do certain definite
practical work for that family under the experienced direction of the
authorities at Barbara's Building. There, do you understand now?"

"Very well, I'll do anything you like."

Thus it befell that I undertook to look after the moral, material, and
spiritual welfare of the family of an alcoholic tailor by the name of
Judd who dwelt in a vile slum in South Lambeth. My head was full of the
prospect when I awoke at noon, for I had gone exhausted to sleep as soon
as I reached home. If goodwill, backed by the experience of Barbara's
Building, could do aught towards the alleviation of human misery, I
determined that it should be done. And there was much misery to be
alleviated in the Judd family. I had no clear notion of the means
whereby I was to accomplish this; but I knew that it would be a
philanthropic pursuit far different from my previous eumoirous
wanderings abut London when, with a mind conscious of well-doing, I
distributed embarrassing five-pound notes to the poor and needy.

I had known--what comfortable, well-fed gentleman does not?--that within
easy walking d