the Club of Queer Trades?"

"There seems to be a confounded lot of funny things we haven't
heard of," said the little Major reflectively. "What's this one?"

"The Club of Queer Trades is a society consisting exclusively of
people who have invented some new and curious way of making money.
I was one of the earliest members."

"You deserve to be," said Basil, taking up his great white hat,
with a smile, and speaking for the last time that evening.

When they had passed out the Adventure and Romance agent wore a
queer smile, as he trod down the fire and locked up his desk. "A
fine chap, that Major; when one hasn't a touch of the poet one
stands some chance of being a poem. But to think of such a
clockwork little creature of all people getting into the nets of
one of Grigsby's tales," and he laughed out aloud in the silence.

Just as the laugh echoed away, there came a sharp knock at the
door. An owlish head, with dark moustaches, was thrust in, with
deprecating and somewhat absurd inquiry.

"What! back again, Major?" cried Northover in surprise. "What can
I do for you?"

The Major shuffled feverishly into the room.

"It's horribly absurd," he said. "Something must have got started
in me that I never knew before. But upon my soul I feel the most