"Will not interfere with you while you agree to fair terms. I will be off to my _factotum_, as I call him, in my business matters. I hope Mrs. Breme is well, and the young ladies?" "The children are well enough; but my wife has not got over the autumn fogs yet. She would not be persuaded to leave Brighton till the royal party had removed; and the consequence is just what I expected. Her chest is so delicate that I doubt whether she will get across the doors this winter. It is really a very animated, an extremely fascinating scene, you know, when the royal household are at hand. Your young folks are flourishing, I hope?" "Quite so. Good evening. My best respects to your lady." "Good evening. O, Mr. Culver, just one thing more! You said something about your stock. Have you a good assortment that one might select a few pieces from,--of grave colours,--at moderate prices?" "O yes. Will you come and see?" "I think I will," replied Breme, looking round for his hat. "And a good many blacks?" "Of course; but you had better view them by daylight. You are not thinking of choosing colours to-night?" "Certainly; but I can examine your prices, and bring home a piece or two of blacks. Here, Smith! Send Johnson after me directly to Mr. Culver's warehouse with his bag. As to these bandanas, Mr. Culver----" Culver turned quick round upon him with the question, "Is the King dead?" "Lord bless my soul, what an idea! His Majesty dead! No, not that I have heard; nor even ill, for anything I know." Mr. Culver was not quite satisfied; so remarkable was Breme's method of inquiring after his stock of blacks--at the tail of their conversation, and yet with an evident design of immediately possessing himself of some pieces. He was not altogether mistaken. Breme had received private intelligence of the inevitable occurrence of a slight general mourning, and was anxious to have his assortment of black silks ready at once, and the fabric in imitation of his French pattern prepared against the expiration of the short mourning. Culver was enough on his guard to avoid selling any of his stock quite so low as he might have done if no suspicion had crossed him. When the transaction was concluded, he stepped into Crispin-street, to consult the best skilled of his workmen on the matter of the new order. CHAPTER II. GIVING AN ORDER.