Mr Roach confessed to being an admirer of the fair sex; and consequent
upon his position, not from any special attraction of mind or person,
the butler's advances were in more than one instance favourably
received; but he also confessed, in the strictest personal confidence,
to a feeling of jealousy against Arthur.
"He's big, and he's not bad-looking, but he's very weak and young, and
there's a want of manly tone about him. I can't see why they should
make so much fuss over the fellow."
"They" embraced the lady members of the Clareborough household staff;
and in spite of what the butler might say, Arthur was distinctly high in
favour and enjoyed his popularity.
There were reasons, of course, more than the great display of
affability, and one day Mr Roach took his fellow-servant seriously to
task.
"Look here, Orthur, my lad," he said confidentially; "you're having a
fine old time of it just now, but recollect this: the sex is soft, and
smooth, and pleasant, and as you may say sweet, but don't you make a
mistake and think that girls are fools."
"I don't," said Arthur, complacently--"Old boy's a bit jealous," he
added to himself.
"Then don't act as if you did. They're sharp enough, and before long
they'll begin talking. One of 'em 'll be jealous of you taking out
another, and then out'll come the claw from the soft paws, and there'll
be a row."
"Well, they must settle it among themselves if there is."
"But don't you see that the disappointed one that you've made an enemy
'll begin to talk nasty-like and she'll know what your wages are."
"Eh?"
"That's it, my boy; she'll be wanting to know how you can be treating
some of 'em to music-halls, and paying for cabs and railway fares, and
supper afterwards, on five pound a quarter."
"Dash it!" cried Arthur.
"Yes, that's it, my lad. You and me's doing very nicely just now; don't
spoil a good thing. See what I mean?"
"Yes, I see what you mean, old chap," said Arthur, who had suddenly
become sobered.
"That's right. You see, you gave Maria Blay a gold watch."
"Only a second-'and 'un, and I bought the pawn-ticket cheap."
"Maybe, but there's a big sound about a gold watch. Then you gave cook
a brooch, and Betsy Dellow a gold ring, and it ain't wise, my lad, it
ain't wise. We're on the road to fortune, so don't you get looking back
for the sake of a bit of nonsense, or you and me may have to part.
Don't do foolish things."
"No, Mr Roach, I won't, sir. I'm very sorry, and I'll be a bit more
careful."
"That's right, Orthur," said the butler, importantly. "I shouldn't like
for anything to come between us two."
"Of course not, sir. It wouldn't do," cried the footman, eagerly.
"Got anything new?"
"Well, no, Mr Roach, sir. I haven't seen the chance of a tip lately."
The butler smiled triumphantly.
"You don't mean to say you have, sir?"
"But I do, Orthur," he replied in a hoarse whisper. "It isn't Mr Rob's
or Mr Paddy's this time, but a put-up thing of the guv'nor's."
Arthur whistled in his excitement.
"It means a big stroke, Orthur. I've got the tip, and if you and me's
got the pluck to do it we're made men."
"Oh, we've got the pluck," said the footman, huskily. "What's the
'orse?"
"Not a horse at all, my lad. It's a company. They're working it to
rights, and I've found out all about it, Orthur. I've seen the letters.
They're going to blow the thing up full of wind, and buy up all the
shares they can. Then when the thing's at the height, they sell, and
make thousands."
"Phew!" whistled the footman.
"S'pose we make a couple o' thou, a-piece; that's better than backing
horses."
"Yes; but could we?"
"Don't they, my lad? Isn't all this place run that way? Why shouldn't
we do it as well as them? They ain't so precious clever after all."
"Not as I see," said the younger man, contemptuously.
"Then what do you say? Shall we venture?"
"I'm on," said Arthur, eagerly. "How much does it want?"
"Two hundred a-piece. How much have you got?"