Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07
CHAPTER V-Continued.

Anthony then went and seated himself
In state in the room where he intended to
! transact his business and sent for Mr..
Gregsbury. When that exalted function
| airy appeared after somewhat lengthy
| interval Anthony desired him to bring as
expediflously as possible the housekeep-
| ing books. MIR. Gregsbury looked a little
surprised and murmured something about
| it being the custom for the secretary to
see them once month. pointing out that
| the end of the month was still some way
off
II dare say" said Anthony but at the
| same time I think should like to know
| exactly on what lines this house is run.
You see. his lordship tells me that 1 am
entirely responsible. Indeed, his lordShip
has put it so very definitely that I feel
quite nervous
You will find them very confusing. sir,
taken in the middle of the month like
this"
"Oh I don't know-I've got a most
wonderful head for figures"
Mr. Gregsbury went off with rather a
red face to bring the books.
Looks as though he might want to
share the commissions, he muttered to
himself as he descended to his sahctum.
The third footman. meeting him on the
way. was so terrified by the unusual
sternness of his eye that he let fall a
| tray of flower vases.
| Anthony, left alone leant back lux
uriOusly and plunged his hands in his
rockets. inhaling his cigarette with en-
| joyment:
| II always knew" he murmured to him
self. that I was meant for power. / can
| feel things going in this house with abso-
| lutte smoothneSs when once | have my
| finger on all the stops. 1 expect Mr..
Gregsbury has secured quite an amount
of small house property in Fulham out OF
| his depredations.'
When Gregsbury returned he bore with
| him most imposing pile of tradesmen S
books.
LAS thought" reflected Anthony. MIR
| Gregsbury has been in the habit of re-
ceiving perfect budget of commissions
| Gregsbury put the books on the table
| and stood waiting. He would have liked
to know why it was that he found 1t i'm
| possible to dislike the new secretary.
II see," said Anthony. He touched the
pile of books lightly with the tips of his
| fingers This sort of thing means that
Lord Cammarleigh has been paying dou-
| shall deal with one large firm who Will
| receive monthly order, supplemented
by smaller weekly orders. 1t will be SO
much easier for you. Gregsbury.' he said
dreadful books to bother about"
| With immense effort Gregsbury re-
strained himself from giving notice on
| the spot.
"Of course continued Anthony. there
| will be some things that one will have to
| get from the smaller people
| Mr.. Gregsbury inclined his head. He
| could not trust himself to speak.
Il have no doubt you will find 1t re-
| lief to be freed from the worry of these
| little people.
Mr. Gregsbury bowed again.
And there will only be one telephone
number TO remember.
Mr.. Gregsbury gulped.
ut does seem a little hard. sir. on the
smaller tradesmen.
"It is. Gregsbury. very hard indeed.
but it is the great syndicate system. you
know, which is crushing out all individ-
ualism. 1t is the old feudal system under
another name. It's the first step In the
reversion to a state of tyranny: but you
must remember. my dear Gregsbury, that
In this country you must buy cheap. 1t Is
the supreme test of an Englishman's san
ity, and not to buy cheap is the lowest
form of irreligion. Never mind what you
get, but buy cheap
Mr. Gregsbury, quite impressed at find
ing himself as he imagined. taken seri-
ously in an argument on political econo-
my. bowed again.
1--WE will pay all these people off at the
end of the week.
Wouldn't it be as well to wait till the
end of the month. sir?'
What and lose the profits We should
make on change of procedure? Oh.
Gregsbury, that would be very unbusi-
nesslike!'
Mr. Gregsbury took his Disguised feel
ings downstairs
"A pity / didn't think of dealing with
Blackley's myself" he ruminated, dis
consolately. II dare say it would have
paid me just as well in the end. We
poor servants don't stand a chance when
we knock up against education. There s
something funny about this Mr.. Brooke,
though. Seems as If he had dropped into
the house instead of walking into it,.
First he wasn't here. and then all of a
sudden he was.
Anthony knew perfectly well that
Gregsbury only regarded him as a clev-
erer swindler than himself. who was de-
termined to secure the maximum of COM
mission with the minimum of risk. He
did not object to Mr.. Gregsbury's point of
view. He knew that if his conduct were
put down to honest officiousneSs it would
meet with no respect, whereas If it were
looked upon in the light of mere cultured
fraud he would be considered person
whom it would be dangerous TO triffe
with. There is. something in the breed of
servants which makes them abject when
Anthony. elegant. apparently indolent.
with a voice which was always musical
even when it denoted most thoroughly
that he intended to have his own way. a
master whom it was impossible to get