"Well, sir, it didn’t ought to be there in a gentleman of your age, and thinks I to myself: ’Now, if only the master would try one of them hair-restorers he might have his locks back as luxurious as ever they was.’ And I cut the particklers out of that _Strand_ magazine you gave me, sir, and how to choose between ’em I _don’t_ know, they’re all that good. There’s Edwards’ Harlene for the Hair, and Rowland’s antimacassar oil, and Tatcho, made by that gentleman as writes so beautiful in the Sunday papers; he’s the gentleman you mean, I expect--George R. Sims." The men shouted with laughter, and Mrs. Jones withdrew, happy that her timid suggestion had given no offence. "To think of you in pursuit of a hairdresser gives me great joy," said Micklewright presently. "He _must_ have been a hairdresser, Teddy." "I suppose he was," assented Burton rather glumly. "By the way"--he felt in his pockets. "He gave me a handbill; I didn’t look at it at the moment; it’s in the pocket of my overall, of course. I’ll fetch it." He returned, smoothing the crumpled slip of paper, and smiling broadly. "Here you are," he said. "’Arsène Lebrun, artist in hair, having returned from London with a marvellous new specific for promoting a luxuriant vegetation’--I am translating, Pickles--’on the most barren soil, respectfully invites all gentlemen, especially those with infantine heads’--that’s very nice!--’to assist at a public demonstration on Sunday, August 20. Arsène Lebrun will then massage with his fructifying preparation the six most vacant heads in Ostend, and lay the seeds of a magnificent harvest, which he will subsequently have the honour to reap.’ Hittite isn’t in it with that, old man." At this moment there was a double knock at the door, and Mrs. Jones soon re-entered with a letter. "From the Admiralty," said Micklewright, tearing open the envelope. "Listen to this, Teddy." "’I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to say that they are prepared to pay you £20,000 for the formula of your new explosive, and a royalty, the amount of which will be subsequently arranged, on every ton manufactured. They lay down as a peremptory condition that the formula be kept absolutely secret, and that the explosive be supplied exclusively to the British navy. I shall be glad if you will intimate your general agreement with these terms.’" "Congratulations, old boy!" cried Burton heartily, grasping his friend’s hand. "It’s magnificent!" [Illustration: Congratulations] "I really think you are right, and as it’s very clear that but for you I shouldn’t have been able to accept any terms whatever, it’s only fair to----" "Nonsense!" Burton interrupted. "All I want is fifty francs, for illicit smoking--a cheap smoke, as it turns out." "Can’t do it, my boy. Wait till I get my Lords Commissioners’ cheque."