"Good for you, Alf. That's true. In the book Aladdin got a bit o' land from 'is girl's father, an' built 'is 'appy 'ome on that. We can't do that. That ole boy in your picture don't look that sort. No, I'll tell you what--we'll 'ave to take a 'ouse--one of these 'ere big 'ouses in the country like the one your girl lives in, an' we'll let Eustace do it all up. Arter all, if we went an' told Eustace to build us a palace all in a night we'd 'ave the police an' the newspapers an' I don't know what else on our tracks." "There mayn't be no big 'ouse goin' in 'er neighbor'ood." "Well, we'll 'ave to send Eustace over an' find out." "Send Eustace?" inquired Alf vaguely. "We'll 'ave to. We got no time to waste." "But the officer said...." "I know what 'e said as well as you do; an' I'm no more wishful to get my leave stopped than what you are. But after all, where's the 'arm? We never been found out yet, an' it won't take 'arf a tick, an' I know a place where we'll never get spotted." Reluctantly Alf was persuaded to Bill's retreat--a disused dug-out--and there, in much trepidation, he summoned Eustace. He produced _The Sketch_ cutting once more from his pocket-book, and Bill explained to the djinn what was wanted. "Mr. 'Iggins wants to marry that young lady you introduced 'im to, Eustace," Grant explained. "Verily," replied the djinn, "the maid is of a fairness surpassing even the Princess Badralbudour, the bride of the Prince Aladdin." "Yes. Well, this is 'er 'ouse, see? 'E wants you to take a 'ouse for 'im near by, something after the same style." "In truth," said Eustace disdainfully, "it is not meet that the Lord of the Button should dwell in so mean a house. Command me that I build thee a palace like unto that of Aladdin, or even more richly bedight still, and it shall be done." "Palaces ain't the fashion now," returned Bill imperturbably. "This sort of thing is all the rage. The lady won't like anything else, an' we 'ave to think of 'er, you know." "See what you can do, Eustace," said Alf, "an' we'll wait 'ere for you." "Lord, I hear and obey." The djinn disappeared, and remained absent for half an hour, when he materialized once more, wearing a complacent expression. "Lord," he said, "it is done. When will it please my Lord to see his dwelling place?" "'Ave you took a 'ouse already?" asked Alf, aghast. "Verily, the dwelling is unworthy that the Lord of the Button should inhabit it; yet is it not less in appearance than the dwelling of thy bride's father, and assuredly in the magnificence of its interior it doth far outshine his." Alf turned despairingly to Bill. "There 'e goes again. Slapdash an' 'olesale. 'Ow do we know what 'arm 'e's done? 'E's probably mucked up the 'ole show now. I'm getting fed up." "Lord," said the djinn, "the dwelling is lacking in nothing that the most extravagent of monarchs could desire."