"I think, sir, I've got an idea of something you might give Miss Lindsay to do." "Let's have it; you know, Mr. Gibb, any pearls of wisdom which you may drop are always welcome." "You remember, sir, when I first came you gave me some papers which you said I might copy when I'd nothing else to do." "I have some dim recollection of something of the kind. Well, have they been copied?" "No, sir, they haven't." "How long have you had them?" "Oh, rather more than two years." "Then it's time they were copied. What papers are they?" "I never could make out, and I don't think you could either; they're counsels' opinions, or judges' rulings, or something like that. I know when I asked you what they were you told me not to ask any questions; so I knew you didn't know." "Mr. Gibb, you have a way of your own of arriving at conclusions. I think I recall those papers; they were here when I came into possession; they'd been stuffed up the chimney to keep out the draught or something." "I was thinking, sir, if you could think of nothing else, that you might get Miss Lindsay to copy them." "There's--there's something in the idea. Could we pass them off as genuine?" "As how, sir?" "Are they of an appearance, and character, which would enable us to induce Miss Lindsay to believe that they really are papers of importance?" "I should think so, sir; I know it took me ever so long before I found them out." "Ah; then it might take her a week. By that time we may have hit upon something else. Where are those papers?" "They're in my desk." "Then get them out of your desk. Have them cleaned, tidied, made presentable; Miss Lindsay shall commence on them as soon as she arrives. And I tell you something else I'll do. Miss Lindsay tells me she can work a typewriter." "Can she?" "I'll get her one. I think I should prefer to have good, clear typewritten copies of those papers, Mr. Gibb; they'll be so much more accessible for reference. I--I suppose a typewriter can be hired." "Oh yes, sir; I believe from about half-a-crown a week." "That doesn't seem to be a prohibitive figure; I'll hire one; I'll go out this afternoon to see about it. You see, Mr. Gibb, how one thing leads to another. I propose to increase my staff; the mere proposition adds materially to my own labours. I know no more about typewriters than I do about sewing-machines; of which I know nothing; so I foresee that my afternoon will be fully occupied. By the way, Mr. Gibb, a further point; you have found an idea which has been of assistance in one direction, perhaps you might find a second which would be of some service to me in another." "What is it, sir?" "As you put it to me, I take it that you will allow it to go no further; but, between ourselves, I have undertaken to pay Miss Lindsay, as jobbing secretary, since she proposes to do a man's work for a man's wage, an honorarium of two guineas a week." "So she told me, sir."