d the south-west angle of
the house.

While Mr. Jope studied these and the tranquil river flowing, all grey
and twilit, at his feet, Mr. Adams had joined him and had also taken
bearings.

"With a check-rope," said Mr. Adams, "--and I got one in the barrer--
we can lower it down here easy."

He pointed to the steps.

"Hey?" said Mr. Jope. "Yes, the cask--to be sure."

"Wot else?" said Mr. Adams. "An' I reckon we'd best get to work, if
we're to get it housed afore dark."

They did so: but by the time they had the cask bestowed and trigged
up, and had spiled it and inserted a tap, darkness had fallen.
If they wished to explore the house farther, it would be necessary to
carry candles; and somehow neither Mr. Jope nor Mr. Adams felt eager
for this adventure. They were hungry, moreover. So they decided to
make their way back to the great hall, and sup.

They supped by the light of a couple of candles. The repast
consisted of bread and cold bacon washed down by cold rum-and-water.
At Symonds's--they gave no utterance to this reflection, but each
knew it to be in the other's mind--at Symonds's just now there would
be a boiled leg of mutton with turnips, and the rum would be hot,
with a slice of lemon.

"We shall get accustomed," said Mr. Jope with a forced air of
cheerfulness.

Mr. Adams glanced over his shoulder at the statuary and answered
"yes" in a loud unfaltering voice. After a short silence he arose,
opened one of the windows, removed a quid from his cheek, laid it
carefully on the outer sill, closed the window, and resumed his seat.
Mr. Jope had pulled out a cake of tobacco, and was slicing it into
small pieces with his clasp-knife.

"Goin' to smoke?" asked Mr. Adams, with another glance at the Diana.

"It don't hurt this 'ere marble pavement--not like the other thing."

"No"--Mr. Adams contemplated the pavement while he, too, drew forth
and filled a pipe--"a man might play a game of checkers on it; that
is, o' course, when no one was lookin'."

"I been thinking," announced Mr. Jope, "over what his Reverence said
about bankin' our money."

"How much d'ye reckon we've got?"

"Between us? Hundred an' twelve pound, fourteen and six.
That's after paying for rum, barrer and oddments. We could live,"
said Mr. Jope, removing his pipe from his mouth and pointing the stem
at his friend in expository fashion--"we could live in this here
house for more'n three years."

"Oh!" said Mr. Adams, but with