affairs. We 'ave purchased a green-grocer's business in Columbus
Avenue--you might call it a sort of general business, fruit,
vegetables, hegg--eggs, coal, firewood and vinous liquors, sir. We
hexpect to take possession in a fortnight, sir."

"We? Have you a partner?"

"Yes, sir. Watson, sir."

"Watson? Is--is he leaving me, too? Upon my soul, Diggs--this is TOO
bad!"

"Yes, sir, it really is. I happreciate what it means, sir, as I told
Watson when he gave notice to me. I says to him, says I: 'Watson, Mr.
Bingle will 'ave a time of it getting any one to fill your place,' and
Watson says to me: 'And what about you, Mr. Diggs?' And I says
'Pooh!'"

"Watson gave notice to you, did he? When did this happen?"

"Yes, sir. The servants usually give notice to the butler. He did it
the day we bought out the business, sir," said Diggs, surprised that
Mr. Bingle should have asked so simple a question.

"I see. Well, Diggs, I can't tell you how sorry I am to have you go.
You have been here for eight years. You are the best butler I've ever
known--and the only one, I may as well add. I wish you the best of
luck. Shake hands, Diggs. It may interest you to know that I look upon
you as the best friend I've ever had. You are the only man I've known
in the past ten years who has really treated me as an equal. You've