l quickly.

Half an hour later, his baggage in hand, he descended the kitchen
stairs.

At the foot of these he encountered the second footman.

"'Elp!" said the latter. "Don' say you've got the bird, mate?"

"Got it in one," said Anthony.

"But 'oo----"

"The Marquess."

The fellow exploded.

"It's a perishin' shame!" he cried. "It's a----"

Anthony stopped him.

"No. He treated me handsomely. I--I bought it."

"You didn't never sauce 'im, mate?"--incredulously.

"Not exactly. You'll see." He put out his hand. "So long."

The other stared at the fingers before accepting them. Then--

"So long, mate," he said dazedly.

Anthony let himself out.

The second footman's inability to comprehend the matter continued until
a quarter-past one. It was at that hour that he did as he had been
told, and carried Lord Pomfret's luncheon up to his room....

The condition of his lordship's countenance was most illuminating.

CHAPTER III.

THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE

Sitting in the garden of the little Hertfordshire inn, Anthony drafted
his application with the utmost care. All the time he tried to keep a
tight hand upon his hopes--unruly and mettlesome fellows, which more
than once had carried him into the meadow of Expectation before he knew
where he was. There the going was splendid--till you came to the sunk
fence....

His letter, when finally settled, was comprehensive enough.

_c/o "The Leather Bottel."
Nr. Malory,
Herts._

_SIR (OR MADAM),_

_I beg to offer myself for the situation advertised in yesterday's
issue of "The Times."_

_I am twenty-nine, unmarried, a little over six feet in height, healthy
and very strong. I have no physical defects._

_I have just quitted the service of the Marquess of Banff. My
departure was directly due to my inability to give such satisfaction as
one member of his lordship's household required of me, but the
Marquess, who is familiar with the facts, was so good as to say that,
if and when I needed a "character," he would himself speak for me._

_I left the service of my previous employer because that gentleman was
going abroad, and so had no further need of a footman. That was my
first situation._

_I am accustomed to wait at table, answer the door, go out with the
car, take care of silver, clean boots and knives, and carry coals: and
I am ready to do anything that may be required of a man-servant. I
have no objection to wearing