my friendship with Mr. Bateman. I'll say nothing about the collar and
chain, and take two pounds."

"Too dear," said Mr. Lenox, stepping to the taxi.

"Well, how much will you give?" Mr. Amos asked.

"I'll give you twenty-five shillings as he stands," said Mr. Lenox.

"He's yours," said Mr. Amos.

Mr. Lenox immediately paid the money, and then he went to a small grocer's
near by and bought a bag of biscuits, and with them he and Gregory fed the
famished Diogenes all the way back to Chiswick, and by the time they
reached home he seemed so affectionate with them as never to have had
another master.

Diogenes had come, of course, to stay; but the horse was merely to be
hired. To hire a carriage-horse or a riding-horse is easy enough, but a
cart-horse as strong as a steam-engine is more difficult to find.

Mr. Lenox decided to advertise, and he therefore sent the following
advertisement to the _Daily Telegram:_

"Wanted--To hire for a month at least, an exceedingly powerful, gentle
white horse to draw a caravan. Reply by letter. L., 'The Gables.'
Chiswick."

"There," said Mr. Lenox, as he read it out, "that's as clear as crystal. No
one can misunderstand that."