"By George," cried Mr. Bingle; "you are a fine fellow, Dick, as I've always said. You are a gentleman." "Thank you, sir," said Flanders simply, for he was a gentleman. On the first day of July the incomparable Diggs gave notice. It was like a clap out of a clear sky. "My goodness, Diggs, you don't--you CAN'T mean it," gasped Mr. Bingle. "I do mean it, sir, I'm sorry to say, sir," said Diggs. "It was on my mind to mention the matter last spring, sir, but the hunfortunate quarantine made it quite out of the question. I wish to state, sir, that I would not 'ave left your service at a time like that. You 'ave been the kindest, most thoughtful of masters, sir, and I trust I shall never be the man to go back on a gentleman who--er--I mean to say, sir, a gentleman who deserves the best of treatment from his servants." "I'm sure I appreciate your good opinion, Diggs. But, tell me, is it a matter of wages? If it is, I think we may be able to arbitrate the question." "No, sir. Wages has nothing to do with it, sir. My wages 'ave been quite satisfactory, as my savings will prove. As a matter of fact, Mr. Bingle, I 'ave laid by a very neat little sum, which I took the liberty of investing in a small business before giving notice, sir, the hopportunity presenting itself while you were so worried over the sickness that I felt it would be quite wrong to disturb you with my affairs. We 'ave purchased a green-grocer's business in Columbus Avenue--you might call it a sort of general business, fruit, vegetables, hegg--eggs, coal, firewood and vinous liquors, sir. We hexpect to take possession in a fortnight, sir." "We? Have you a partner?" "Yes, sir. Watson, sir." "Watson? Is--is he leaving me, too? Upon my soul, Diggs--this is TOO bad!" "Yes, sir, it really is. I happreciate what it means, sir, as I told Watson when he gave notice to me. I says to him, says I: 'Watson, Mr. Bingle will 'ave a time of it getting any one to fill your place,' and Watson says to me: 'And what about you, Mr. Diggs?' And I says 'Pooh!'" "Watson gave notice to you, did he? When did this happen?" "Yes, sir. The servants usually give notice to the butler. He did it the day we bought out the business, sir," said Diggs, surprised that Mr. Bingle should have asked so simple a question.