said Percy; "no shoe-leather, like Bob
used to sell."

"I reckon them top courses is a hundred year after this here bottom
part. Not much jerry there neither."

"We boss it among us, you know," said Wally, "and take turns to serve.
We don't get a bad profit either."

Here they were joined by the rest of the party. But to their
disappointment Mr Rollitt's interest in the shop was small compared
with that he showed in the lay of the bricks, the run of the beams, and
the hardness of the mortar.

"They knowed their way about, straight, those days," said he, picking
away between two of the bricks with his nail.

"Try one of our `Rollitt's particular,'" pleaded D'Arcy, in the hope
that this invitation at least would interest him.

But no. He went "nosing round," taking no notice of the stores, and
putting off all invitations with a "Thank'ee kindly, not to-day."

It was a sore blow to his hosts. After what they had done for him,
after the way they had nursed him all day, after the tea they had given
him, and the pipes he had smoked in their study! They could have thrown
him overboard in their mortification. But the dread lest some one else,
some of the middle-boys, for instance, should get hold of him and "run"
him, decided them to pocket their feelings and back him up still.

"No offence, young gents," said he presently; "but if you've a ladder
'andy, I'd like to take a look up there."

"Oh, there's nothing up there--only bats and owls," said Wally, "and
there's no ladder."

But Mr Rollitt pointed out in a corner, behind the back of the shop,
some protruding bits of stone let into the brick, evidently with a view
to form a rude ladder or stair to the chambers above.

This promised well. An exploration of the Watch-tower offered some
little compensation for the slight put on their shop.

"I never saw that before," said Wally. "I vote we go up."

Mr Rollitt led the way with all the agility of a practical hodman. The
steps ended with a trap-door in the ceiling, which he pushed up before
him.

"Mind how you go, young gents," said he to his followers; "one at a time
on them stones."

The trap-door opened into a sort of passage, at the end of which was a
narrow brick corkscrew staircase.

It was too dark to do anything but feel their way up; Mr Rollitt
leading, and testing every step as he went along.

"Why," said Wally suddenly, and with a touch of alarm in his voice, as
they were halting a moment t