ed birds in the Zoo, ain't 'e, Ging?" Then he turned once
more to the footman. "My friend 'Uggles 'ere"--Bindle jerked his
thumb in the direction of Huggles--"won the middle-weight championship
before 'is nose ran away with 'im, an' as for me--well, I'm wot they
calls 'the White 'Ope.'"

Bindle made a pugilistic movement forward. John started back suddenly.
Producing a paper from his pocket, Bindle read, "'Lady Knob-Kerrick,
The Poplars, Putney 'Ill, sixteen bedsteads, beddin', etc.' Is this
Lady Knob-Kerrick's, ole son?"

"This is her ladyship's residence," replied John.

"Very well," continued Bindle with finality. "We brought 'er sixteen
beds, beddin', etcetera,--there's an 'ell of a lot of etcetera, so
you'd better look slippy an' go an' find out all about it if you wants
to get orf to see your gal to-night."

The footman looked irresolute.

"Wait here a moment," he said, "and I'll ask Mr. Wilton." He half
closed the door, which Bindle pushed open and entered, followed by
Wilkes, Ginger and Huggles.

A minute later, the butler, Mr. Wilton, approached.

"What is the meaning of this?" he enquired.

"The meanin' of this, Your Royal 'Ighness, is that we've brought
sixteen bedsteads, beddin', etcetera,--there's an 'ell of a lot of
etcetera, as I told Calves,--for to turn the Ole Bird's drawin'-room
into billets for soldiers, as per instructions accordin' to this
'ere;" and he held out the delivery-note to Mr. Wilton.

"There must be some mistake," replied the butler pompously, taking the
document.

"There ain't no bloomin' mistake on our part. All you got to do is to
let Calves show us where the drawin'-room is an' we'll do the rest.
'Ere's the delivery-note, an' when it's in the delivery-note it's so.
That's 'Arridges' way. Ain't the Ole Bird told you nothink about it?"
he enquired.

Mr. Wilton took the paper and subjected it to a careful scrutiny. He
read all the particulars on the delivery-note, then turning it over,
read the conditions under which Harridge's did business. After a
careful inspection of Bindle, he returned to a study of the paper in
his hand.

"John, ask Mrs. Marlings to step here," he ordered the footman. John
disappeared swiftly.

"Oh, I forgot," said Bindle. "Got a note for you, I 'ave;" and he drew
a letter from his breast-pocket addressed "Mr. Wilton, c/o Lady
Knob-Kerrick, The Poplars, Putney Hill, S.W."

With great deliberation Mr. Wilton opened the envelope and unfolded
the