Butts was seated before a dainty meal, and in the act of opening a bottle of champagne. "Butts!" said I, "when did I give you permission to drink my champagne?" He sprang to his feet uttering a cry of terror, and the bottle toppled over the table. "Sir William!" he gasped, "Oh, sir; oh, sir!" "Look at me!" I commanded. His eyes almost bulged out of his head. "Is there anything in my appearance?" I demanded, "which might lead you to suppose that I am the sort of man to allow my servants such indulgence." "Oh, sir. Please forgive me, sir!" he mumbled, shaking like a leaf. "I--I----" "Dishonest in one thing, then in another," I interrupted sternly. "How much did you steal in providing to-night's dinner? Tell me the truth, or I shall send for the police!" "Not a penny sir--so--help me! The wine man gave me two pounds commission on the order, that is all, sir--so help me!" "Hand it over to me at once, and let this be a lesson to you!" I commanded. Butts, trembling, placed two sovereigns in my outstretched palm. "Was Brown a partner in your rascality?" I demanded. "No--no, sir," he stammered. "Oh! oh! please forgive me, sir. I'll never do it again, sir--so help me!" The fellow actually fell on his knees before me, and tears of entreaty rolled down his cheeks. "I'll forgive you this once!" I returned, and swinging on my heel, I left the pantry. Ten minutes later Butts poured into my ears a wild tale of how Sir William Dagmar had caught him opening a bottle of champagne, and of the row that they had had. But he told me nothing about the two sovereigns reposing that instant in my pocket. I went to sleep that night perfectly self-satisfied, and so reconciled with my position as Sir William Dagmar's valet, that I would not have changed places with Dan Leno himself. I had formed a fine plan to enrich myself, and I determined to abandon the stage for ever. II THE FOUNDATION OF A FORTUNE