With this enigmatical utterance, Bindle buried his face in the tankard that was always kept for him at Dick Little's flat.
"We might of course celebrate the occasion," murmured Dick Little meditatively.
"Gug-gug-great Scott!" cried Guggers. "We will! Gug-gug-good old Dick!" He brought a heavy hand down on Dick Little's shoulder blade. "Out with it!"
For the next hour the four men conferred together, and by the time Bindle found it necessary to return to his "little grey 'ome in the west," the success of Mr. Hearty's third shop was assured, that is its advertisement was assured.
"It'll cost an 'ell of a lot of money," said Bindle doubtfully as he rose to go.
"Gug-gug-get out!" cried Guggers, whose income was an affair of five figures. "For a rag like that I'd gug-gug-give my—my——"
"Not your trousers, sir," interrupted Bindle, gazing down at Guggers' brawny knees; "remember you gone into short clothes. Wouldn't do for me to go about like that," he added, "me with my various veins."
And Bindle left Dick Little's flat, rich in the knowledge he possessed of coming events.
II
"Any'ow," remarked Bindle as he stood in front of the looking-glass over the kitchen mantelpiece, adjusting his special constable's cap at a suitable angle. "Any'ow, 'Earty's got a fine day."