THE LIBERTY OF ST. MARTIN 'S-LE-GRAND 35 



inadequately supplied with cash in the third month 

 of the quarter, and during that month tradesmen's 

 bills were paid with possibly somewhat less prompti- 

 tude than at other times. The creditors knew how 

 the land lay, and when cash was available. 



Once, on pay-day, a tailor appeared at the Post- 

 Office, peremptorily demanding payment from a 

 customer. He would listen to no excuse or delay, 

 and vowed that he would not leave his debtor's side 

 until he was paid. 



' Oh, very well !' said Z, who was a humorous 

 youth but little disposed to pay bills. ' If you must 

 have your money, come with me to the next room.' 



In that room was a descending lift, which to this 

 day is always in motion. Z lightly sprang upon it, 

 and, waving his hat to his amazed and bewildered 

 creditor, bade him a graceful adieu, and disappeared 

 from view in the depths below. 



Indeed, not a few of my colleagues, as the quarter 

 advanced, seemed to be in the condition of the sprig 

 of fashion who, when asked what was the cause of his 

 neglecting to pay his debts, replied : ' Inadequacy of 

 means.' 



Tailors were, however, not always so aggressive as 

 in Z's case. The clouded brow of a young man, who 

 has since risen to distinction in paths outside the 

 Post-Office, once attracted my attention. He ex- 

 plained that his tailor had had the audacity to request 

 payment of an account. The wealth of my young 

 colleague chiefly lay in being well connected and 



