"Yes," replied Carrados, accepting it, "I think this is exactly what I require." It was a common new white-wood rule, such as one might buy at any small stationer's for a penny. He carelessly took off the width of the upright, reading the figures with a touch; and then continued to run a finger-tip delicately up and down the edges of the instrument. "Four and seven-eighths," was his unspoken conclusion. "I hope it will do sir." "Admirably," replied Carrados. "But I haven't reached the end of my requirements yet, Miss Chubb." "No, sir?" said the landlady, feeling that it would be a pleasure to oblige so agreeable a gentleman, "what else might there be?" "Although I can see very little I like to have a light, but not any kind of light. Gas I cannot do with. Do you think that you would be able to find me an oil lamp?" "Certainly, sir. I got out a very nice brass lamp that I have specially for Mr. Ghoosh. He read a good deal of an evening and he preferred a lamp." "That is very convenient. I suppose it is large enough to burn for a whole evening?" "Yes, indeed. And very particular he was always to have it filled every day." "A lamp without oil is not very useful," smiled Carrados, following her towards another room, and absent-mindedly slipping the foot-rule into his pocket. Whatever Parkinson thought of the arrangement of going into second-rate apartments in an obscure street it is to be inferred that his devotion to his master was sufficient to overcome his private emotions as a self-respecting "man." At all events, as they were approaching the station he asked, and without a trace of feeling, whether there were any orders for him with reference to the proposed migration. "None, Parkinson," replied his master. "We must be satisfied with our present quarters." "I beg your pardon, sir," said Parkinson, with some constraint. "I understand that you had taken the rooms for a week certain." "I am afraid that Miss Chubb will be under the same impression. Unforeseen circumstances will prevent our going, however. Mr. Greatorex must write to-morrow, enclosing a cheque, with my regrets, and adding a penny for this ruler which I seem to have brought away with me. It, at least, is something for the money." Parkinson may be excused for not attempting to understand the course of events. "Here is your train coming in, sir," he merely said. "We will let it go and wait for another. Is there a signal at either end of the platform?" "Yes, sir; at the further end." "Let us walk towards it. Are there any of the porters or officials about here?" "No, sir; none." "Take this ruler. I want you to go up the steps--there are steps up the signal, by the way?" "Yes, sir." "I want you to measure the glass of the lamp. Do not go up any higher than is necessary, but if you have to stretch be careful not to mark off the measurement with your nail, although the impulse is a natural one. That has been done already."