“Interest the monkey,” the brown engineer interrupted. “He won't climb for love. Cut up to the house and get some biscuits, Bubbles--sugar ones and an orange or two. No need to tell our womenfolk.” The huge white figure lobbed off at a trot which would not have disgraced a boy of seventeen. I gathered from something Jimmy let fall that the three had been at Harrow together. “That Tomling has a head on his Shoulders,” muttered Penfentenyou. “Pity we didn't get him for the Colony. But the question is, will the monkey climb?” “Be quick, Jimmy. Tell the man we'll give him five bob for the loan of the beast. Now run the organ under the tree, and we'll dress it when Bubbles comes back,” Sir Christopher cried. “I've often wondered,” said Penfentenyou, “whether it would puzzle a monkey?” He had forgotten the needs of his Growing Nation, and was earnestly parting the white-thorn stems with his fingers. * * * * * * * * * * Giuseppe and Jimmy did as they were told, the monkey following them with a wary and malignant eye. “Here's a discovery,” said Jimmy. “The singing part of this organ comes off the wheels.” He spoke volubly to the proprietor. “Oh, it's so as Giuseppe can take it to his room o' nights. And play it. D'you hear that? The organ-grinder, after his day's crime, plays his accursed machine for love. For love, Chris! And Michael Angelo was one of 'em!” “Don't jaw! Tell him to take the beast's petticoat off,” said Sir Christopher Tomling. Lord Lundie returned, very little winded, through a gap higher up the hedge. “They're all out, thank goodness!” he cried, “but I've raided what I could. _Marrons glacés_, candied fruit, and a bag of oranges.” “Excellent!” said the world-renowned contractor. “Jimmy, you're the light-weight; jump up on the organ and impale these things on the leaves as I hand 'em!” “I see,” said Jimmy, capering like a springbuck. “Upward and onward, eh? First, he'll reach out for--how infernal prickly these leaves are!--this biscuit. Next we'll lure him on--(that's about the reach of his arm)--with the _marron glacé_, and then he'll open out this orange. How human! How like your ignoble career, Bubbles!” With care and elaboration they ornamented that tree's lower branches with sugar-topped biscuits, oranges, bits of banana, and _marrons glacés_ till it looked a very ape's path to Paradise. “Unchain the Gyascutis!” said Sir Christopher commandingly. Giuseppe placed the monkey atop of the organ, where the beast, misunderstanding, stood on his head. “He's throwing himself on the mercy of the Court, me lud,” said Jimmy. “No--now he's interested. Now he's reaching after higher things. What wouldn't I give to have here” (he mentioned a name not unhonoured in British Art). “Ambition plucking apples of Sodom!” (the monkey had pricked himself and was swearing). “Genius hampered by Convention? Oh, there's a whole bushelful of allegories in it!”