he insisted from force of habit on having it scamped. Then he was
almost happy, because he felt that he was doing someone down. If
there were an architect superintending the work, Misery would square
him or bluff him. If it were not possible to do either, at least he
had a try; and in the intervals of watching, driving and bullying the
hands, his vulture eye was ever on the look out for fresh jobs. His
long red nose was thrust into every estate agent's office in the town
in the endeavour to smell out what properties had recently changed
hands or been let, in order that he might interview the new owners and
secure the order for whatever alterations or repairs might be
required. He it was who entered into unholy compacts with numerous
charwomen and nurses of the sick, who in return for a small commission
would let him know when some poor sufferer was passing away and would
recommend Rushton & Co. to the bereaved and distracted relatives. By
these means often - after first carefully inquiring into the financial
position of the stricken family - Misery would contrive to wriggle his
unsavoury carcass into the house of sorrow, seeking, even in the
chamber of death, to further the interests of Rushton & Co. and to
earn his miserable two and a half per cent.

It was to make possible the attainment of this object that Misery
slaved and drove and schemed and cheated. It was for this that the
workers' wages were cut down to the lowest possible point and their
offspring went ill clad, ill shod and ill fed, and were driven forth
to labour while they were yet children, because their fathers were
unable to earn enough to support their homes.

Fifteen years!

Hunter realized now that Rushton had had considerably the best of the