I took my colleagues down at once, and we sat on the floor of the cellar and held a consultation till the overpowering smell of gas convinced me that there was nothing for it but an operation on the floor.

The whole thing was most successful.

I was very glad, as it happened that the proprietor of the house was a very decent fellow, employed, I think, as a manager of a bank, or something of the sort.

He was most grateful.

It was he who gave me the engraved monkey wrench that some of you were admiring before dinner.