Why is a
London lodging-house like the human body?'
Biffen looked with some concern at his friend, so unwonted was a
sally of this kind.
'Why is a London lodging-house--? Haven't the least idea.'
'Because the brains are always at the top. Not bad, I think, eh?'
'Well, no; it'll pass. Distinctly professional though. The
general public would fail to see the point, I'm afraid. But what
has come to you?'
'Good tidings. Carter has offered me a place which will be a
decided improvement. A house found--or rooms, at all events--and
salary a hundred and fifty a year.
'By Plutus! That's good hearing. Some duties attached, I
suppose?'
'I'm afraid that was inevitable, as things go. It's the
secretaryship of a home for destitute boys at Croydon. The post
is far from a sinecure, Carter assures me. There's a great deal
of purely secretarial work, and there's a great deal of practical
work, some of it rather rough, I fancy. It seems doubtful whether
I am exactly the man. The present holder is a burly fellow over
six feet high, delighting in gymnastics, and rather fond of a
fight now and then when opportunity offers.
Pages:
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624