106 STABLE SECRETS. 



tlian a badger when lie comes to see ye ! I wonder you don't 

 feel ashamed o' yourself ! " 



" I do," returned Job Sweety, with a short laugh. 



" Supposin' I have kept ye waitin'," continued " Somebody," 

 resuming the thread of his address without noticing the admis- 

 sion of his companion, " I've been kept waitin' whole days and 

 nights about your precious business, without so much as pulling 

 off my boots." 



" Have ye done it 1 " inquired Job Sweety, harshly. 



" Have I done it 1 " repeated " Somebody," drawing down 

 the angles of his mouth. " Yes, I have done it ;" and as he 

 spoke he pulled a large key from one of the pockets of his 

 flannel jacket, and held it up in triumph above his head. 



" How did you manage it 1 " asked Job Sweety, fixing his 

 eyes upon the key, as if to dispel any lurking doubt concerning 

 its reality. 



" How did I manage it 1 " returned " Somebody," who 

 appeared to have a fixed habit of repeating whatever words 

 were addressed to him. ' ; Why, I managed it in my own way. 

 Here's the key — where's my reg'lars 1 " 



"Don't be short-tempered," expostulated Job Sweety, pro- 

 ceeding to count and place fifty sovereigns upon the table. 

 " There's your reg'lars, Cupid." 



Cupid looked much soothed at this prompt action on the 

 part of Job Sweet}-, and a great improvement took place at once 

 in his temper and general demeanour. 



" You want to know how I managed it," said he, with a- 

 smile which showed he possessed only a few back teeth in his 

 jaws. " You want to know how I managed it," repeated he, 

 taking up the money, and placing it carefully in a canvas bag. 

 ""Well, then, it was in this way. I watched like a cat at a 

 mouse-hole for a chance. The chance seemed as if it would 

 never come ; but come it did, as most chances will, if only 

 waited long enough for. Once within a week" — Cupid here 

 dropped his voice to a hoarse whisper — " I saw the key in the 



