You can't always tell what kind of a day you are going to have in town in October just because you happen to have been in town on previous October days, and Van Squibber, for that reason, was not surprised when his man, on waking him, informed him that it was cold out. Even if he had been surprised he would not have shown it, for fear of demoralizing his man by setting him a bad example. "We must take things as they come," Van Squibber had said to the fellow when he engaged him, "and I shall expect you to be ready always for any emergency that may arise. If on waking in the morning I call for a camel's-hair shawl and a bottle of Nepaul pepper, it will be your duty to see that I get them without manifesting the slightest surprise or asking any questions. Here is your next year's salary in advance. Get my Melton overcoat and my box, and have them at the Rahway station at 7.15 to-morrow morning. If I am not there, don't wait for me, but come back here and boil my egg at once." This small bit of a lecture had had its effect on the man, to whom thenceforth nothing was impossible; indeed, upon this very occasion he demonstrated to his employer his sterling worth, for when, on looking over Van Squibber's wardrobe, he discovered that his master had no Melton overcoat, he telegraphed to his tailor's and had one made from his previous measure in time to have it with Van Squibber's box at the Rahway station at the stipulated hour the following morning. Of course Van Squibber was not there. He had instructed his man as he had simply to test him, and, furthermore, the egg was boiled to perfection. The test cost Van Squibber about $150, but it was successful, and it was really worth the money to know that his man was all that he should be. "He's not half bad," said Van Squibber, as he cracked the egg. "It's wintry," said Van Squibber's man on the morning of the 5th of October. "Well," Van Squibber said, sleepily, "what of that? You have your instructions as to the bodily temperature I desire to maintain. Select my clothing, as usual--and mark you, man, yesterday was springy, and you let me go to the club in summery attire. I was two and a half degrees too warm. You are getting careless. What are my engagements to-day?" "University settlement at eleven, luncheon at the Actors' at one, drive with the cynical Miss Netherwood at three, five-o'clock tea at four--" "What?" cried Van Squibber, sharply. "At fuf--five, I should say, sir," stammered the embarrassed man. "Thought so," said Van Squibber. "Proceed, and be more careful. The very idea of five-o'clock tea at four is shocking." "Dinner with the Austrian ambassador at eight, opera at eleven--" "In October? Opera?" cried Van Squibber. "Comic," said the man. "It is Flopper's last night, sir, and you are to ring down the curtain." "True," said Van Squibber, meditatively--"true; I'd forgotten. And then?"