"Reads all day—half the night too."
"What does he want with a valet, then?"
"You'll soon find out," said Butts with a snort of contempt.
"Please tell me."
Butts wagged his head. "Bar shavin' him you won't 'ave much to do, 'cept give him his medicines at the proper hours. He's a sick man is Sir William Dagmar! The last valet 'e had here, Joe Bates, was a real smart un he was. He'd done for Lord X—— and Mr. Francis, and a lot more tip-toppers. He was just celebrated for fixing hevenin' dress ties; and Sir William always wears ready made ones to save trouble. Bates got the miserables in a week, an' hup an' cleared out before the fortnight was up."
"What is the matter with Sir William?"
"Consumption! He's got it bad!"
"Oh! is he rich?"
"Rich as Croesus."
"Any relatives?"