But we didn't follow ARPACHSHAD'S advice. Having undertaken to run this garden, we were determined to do it thoroughly; so I got SARK to sweep out the flues of the furnace in the greenhouse, in the course of which he broke several panes of glass, not expecting, so he explained, to find the handle of his brush so near the roof. We half filled a sack with soot, and carried it to the onion-bed. Then we waited for a wet day, usually plentiful enough in haymaking time, now long deferred. ARPACHSHAD insisted that we were to make quite sure that rain was coming--then sprinkle the soot over the unsuspectiong onion. "We waited just too long, not starting till the rain began to fall. Found it exceedingly unpleasant handling the soot under conditions of moisture. But, as SARK said, having put our hands to the soot-bag, we were not going to turn back. Nor did we till we had completed the task, ARPACHSHAD looking on, cheered only by the hope that the heavy rain would wash the soot off before it could have any effect on the fly. On the whole, the task proved productive of reward. Either ARPACHSHAD had been mistaken, and the crop had not been attacked by the fly, or the soot had done its work. Anyhow, the bed bloomed and blossomed, and, at the time I left for Midlothian, was looking exceedingly well. Then came SARK'S telegram, as described in the last chapter. After the fly came the mildew. Close on the heels, or rather the wings, of the _Anthomyia Ceparum_, fell the _Peronospora Schleideniana._ "It isn't often it happens," said ARPACHSHAD, rubbing his hands gleefully;--"but, when you get one on the top of t'other, you don't look for much crop in that particular year." * * * * * HOW IT'S DONE. _A Hand-book to Honesty._ NO. V.--MONEY LENT (ONE WAY AMONG MANY.) SCENE I.--_Apartment of innocent but temporarily impecunious person._ I.P. _discovered reading advertisements and correspondence._ [Illustration] _Impecunious Person_. Humph! It _sounds_ all right. I _have_ heard that these Loan-mongers are sometimes scoundrels and sharks. But this one is surely genuine. There is a manly frankness, a sort of considerate and sympathetic delicacy about him, that quite appeals to one. No inquiry fees, no publicity, no delay! Just what I want. Has clients, men of capital, but _not_ speculators, who wish to invest money on sound security at reasonable interest. Just so! Note of hand of any respectable person sufficient. _That_'s all right. Advance at a few hours' notice. Excellent! Let me see, the address is Fitz-Guelph Mansions, W. That sounds respectable enough. A penniless shark would hardly live _there_. By Jove, I'll write, and make an appointment _at his own address_, as he suggests. [_Does so, hopefully_. SCENE II.--_Fitz-Guelph Mansions, W., at_ 11 A.M. _Enter_ Impecunious Person, _hurriedly_.