On the face of it this appeared a generous offer.

Hunter closed with it, gave up the idea of starting for himself, and threw himself heart and mind into the business.

When an estimate was to be prepared it was Hunter who measured up the work and laboriously figured out the probably cost.

When their tenders were accepted it was he who superintended the work and schemed how to scamp it, where possible, using mud where mortar was specified, mortar where there ought to have been cement, sheet zinc where they were supposed to put sheet lead, boiled oil instead of varnish, and three coats of paint where five were paid for.

In fact, scamping the work was with this man a kind of mania.