propitiatory smile. 'I do not recall you,
sir.'

'I have varnished the work of art before to-day,' said Paul. 'Do you
remember Bucklersbury?'

'I should do so,' Mr. Warr returned. 'I drudged there for eight long
years, and had it not been for Mr. Darco's kindly memories of an old
associate, I might have drudged there still. But two and fifty shillings
per week, sir, with freedom and travel thrown in, are highly superior to
thirty-six, with slavery superadded. But I do not recall your face and
figure, sir.'

'My name is Armstrong,' said Paul. 'I worked beside you for a week or
two.'

'The friend of my youth,' said Mr. Warr. 'Permit me to shake hands. Rely
upon me, Mr. Armstrong, not to be presumptuous. Rely upon me, sir. I
shall respect bygones. Mr. Darco will tell you who I was and what I was
when he first knew me. I was first low com., sir, at the Vic, upon my
soul and honour, Mr. Armstrong. But the work of art, sir, so grew
and prospered that at last the very gallery guyed me. I went for the
varnish, Mr. Armstrong, in sheer despair. As God is my highly superior
judge, sir, I never drank until I had a drunkard's nose. Then I made
a jest of a deformity, and the joke carried me too far. This infernal
feature is an unnatural legacy. It is from my maternal grandfather, who
once owned the town of Guildford. I have heard my mother say that his
cellars covered a quarter of an acre, and held nothing but port
and brandy--packed, sir, seven feet deep. To-morrow, in Mr. Darco's
presence, I sign the pledge till the end of the tour, as per our highly
superior arrangement. I do not know, sir, whether behind that aspect of
prosperity there lurks the probability of another fourpennyworth.'

'You mustn't get tipsy to meet Mr. Darco,' said Paul.

'There is no fear of that, sir,' Mr. Warr answered. 'That,' pointing to
the empty glass, 'is my first to-day, and I as thirsty as I am hungry.'

'Eat, man, eat,' said Paul.

'May I, sir?' asked Mr. Warr.

'Your fill,' said Paul.

There were hard-boiled eggs and cold sausages on the marble-topped
counter, and Mr. Warr fell to work among them, and mumbled gratitude
with his mouth full. When he had half cleared the counter, Paul paid for
the depredations, and Mr. Warr, who knew the town of old, picked up his
leaking parcels and made off for the address given him.

'Veil,' said Darco when Paul got back to him, 'you haf seen him? Had he
any package and luckage?' Paul described Mr. Warr