"May I ask, young man," inquired Mr. Mason, as he favoured his contributor with a very comical stare, "why you have my photograph on the wall, in the first place; and, in the second, why the deuce you cover up my face?"
"You must ask the man who lives with me. He may come in any moment now."
"Did he do it?"
"I'm ashamed to say he did."
"Upon my word I should like to know why!"
"Well, sir, he bought me your photograph when you were accepting my stories; and he hid your face because he said——"
"Well, what did he say?"
"He talked such rot, sir!"
"I have no doubt."