have nothing to do with the active management of Madame Ritz's; only
drop around once or twice a month to go over the books with Mabel.
It's wonderful how profits pile up, sir. Nearly ten thousand apiece
last year. So I've been thinking I ought to give up work. It was only
that I didn't quite know what to do with myself after. I've settled
that now, though; at least, Mabel has. 'You ought to take your place
in society,' she says, 'and get married.' The difficulty was, sir, to
decide just what place I ought to take. And then--well, it's an ill
wind, as they say, that blows nobody luck. Besides, if you'll pardon
me, sir, you seemed to be losing your hold on yours."

"On--on mine?" asks Ham, his mouth open.

Nivens nods.

"I'm rather familiar with it, you see," says he. "Of course, I may not
fill it just as you did, but that would hardly be expected. I can try.
That is why I have been staying on. I've taken over the lease. The
agent has stopped bothering you, perhaps you have noticed. And I've
made out a complete inventory of the furnishings. In case I take them
over, I'll pay you a fair price--ten per cent. more than any dealer."

"Do--do you mean to say," demands Adams, "that you are paying my rent?"

"Excuse me, mine," says Nivens. "The lease has stood in my name for
the last two months. I didn't care to hurry you, sir; I wanted to give
you every chance. But now, if you are quite at the end, I am ready to
propose the change."

"Go on," says Ham, starin' at him. "What change?"