Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/160

 There was some grumbling at this, but Bert Harrison, in a bluff, manly way, accepted the proposition, and thus the delegation filed outside where Bert's four comrades at once rounded on him, and complained bitterly of his supineness in agreeing to a condition so drastic.

"Why, you fatheads," said the leader with unconcealed contempt, "don't you see that for forty men they'll get the tobacco down from London wholesale? That's all we need. Mentioning no names, there's them among us can pinch enough tobacco to give every man his share, gardener or no gardener," and once more he winked at Stranleigh.

This completely satisfied the delegation, who felt ashamed that so evident a solution had not occurred to them. The truth of Bert's remark was borne in upon Stranleigh when he rose next morning, and found that his boxes of cigars had been stolen during the night.

In spite of Crane's indefatigable efforts, it was evident that the men loathed the country more and more as time went on. A grand piano had been provided in the lecture-hall, on which at times Blake performed very admirably. A huge phonograph gave all the popular selections of the day, and