resembled Mr. Clover; who, moreover, was probably connected in some
way with the oil and colour firm. It might be well to keep an eye on
Quodlings'--a substantial concern, likely to give one a chance of
the "permanency" which was, on the whole, desirable.

He had a boy with him to hold the horses, a sharp lad, whose talk
gave him amusement when he was tired of thinking. They found a
common interest in dogs. Gammon invited the youngster to come and
see his "bows-wows" at Dulwich, and promised him his choice out of
the litter of bull terriers. With animation he discoursed upon the
points of this species of dog--the pure white coat; the long, lean,
punishing head, flat above; the breadth behind the ears, the
strength of back. He warned his young friend against the wiles of
the "faker," who had been known to pipeclay a mottled animal and
deceive the amateur. Altogether the day proved so refreshing that
Gammon was sorry when its end drew near.

Greenacre was late for his appointment at the stables; he came in a
suit of black, imperfectly fitting, and a chimney-pot hat some years
old, looking very much like an undertaker's man. His appearance
seemed to prove that he really had attended a funeral, which renewed
Gammon's wonder. As a matter of course they repaired to the nearest
eating-house to have a meal together--an eating-house of the old
fashion, known also as a coffee-shop, which Gammon greatly preferred
to any kind of restaurant. There, on the narrow seats with high
wooden backs, as uncomfortable a sitting as could be desired, with
food before him of worse quality and worse cooked than any but
English-speaking mortals would endure, he always felt at home, and
was pleasantly reminded of the days of his youth, when a supper of
eggs and bacon at some such resort rewarded him for a long week's