"No," said Confucius, tapping the table with a diamond-studded
chop-stick. "No. We want a--er--what the deuce is it they call the
functionary, Cassius?"

"Senator, I think," said Cassius.

Demosthenes gave a loud laugh.

"Your mind is still running on Senatorships, my dear Cassius. That is
quite evident," he said. "This is not one of them, however. The title
we wish Charon to assume is neither Captain nor Senator; it is Janitor."

"What's that?" asked Charon, a little disappointed. "What does a Janitor
have to do?"

"He has to look after things in the house," explained Sir Walter. "He's
a sort of proprietor by proxy. We want you to take charge of the house,
and see to it that the boat is kept shipshape."

"Where is the house?" queried the astonished boatman.

"This is it," said Sir Walter. "This is the house, and the boat too. In
fact, it is a house-boat."

"Then it isn't a new-fangled scheme to drive me out of business?" said
Charon, warily.

"Not at all," returned Sir Walter. "It's a new-fangled scheme to set you
up in business. We'll pay you a large salary, and there won't be much to
do. You are the best man for the place, because, while you don't know