contributions, Bundy went out to arrange matters with the bookie, and
when he had gone Easton annexed the copy of the Obscurer that Bundy
had thrown away, and proceeded to laboriously work through some
carefully cooked statistics relating to Free Trade and Protection.
Bert, his eyes starting out of his head and his mouth wide open, was
devouring the contents of a paper called The Chronicles of Crime. Ned
Dawson, a poor devil who was paid fourpence an hour for acting as mate
or labourer to Bundy, or the bricklayers, or anyone else who wanted
him, lay down on the dirty floor in a corner of the room and with his
coat rolled up as a pillow, went to sleep. Sawkins, with the same
intention, stretched himself at full length on the dresser. Another
who took no part in the syndicate was Barrington, a labourer, who,
having finished his dinner, placed the cup he brought for his tea back
into his dinner basket, took out an old briar pipe which he slowly
filled, and proceeded to smoke in silence.

Some time previously the firm had done some work for a wealthy
gentleman who lived in the country, some distance outside Mugsborough.
This gentleman also owned some property in the town and it was
commonly reported that he had used his influence with Rushton to
induce the latter to give Barrington employment. It was whispered
amongst the hands that the young man was a distant relative of the
gentleman's, and that he had disgraced himself in some way and been
disowned by his people. Rushton was supposed to have given him a job
in the hope of currying favour with his wealthy client, from whom he
hoped to obtain more work. Whatever the explanation of the mystery
may have been, the fact remained that Barrington, who knew nothing of
the work except what he had learned since he had been taken on, was
employed as a painter's labourer at the usual wages - fivepence per
hour.