Indeed, he had so much less of it than me that I one day questioned him on the subject.
"I say, Jack, it seems to me the Exports want a jolly lot more things done for them than the Imports.

To-day I've got to go to Mudie's to change a book, then I've to get a scarf-pin mended for Crow, and buy a pair of flannel drawers for Wallop, and go and offer two shillings for a five-shilling mariner's compass at the stores for Doubleday.

I shall have to get my grub when I can to-day, I expect." "Oh!" said Jack, "the Imports wanted to let me in for that sort of thing, but I didn't see the use of it, and told them so." "What did they say ?" asked I, astonished at his boldness.
"They didn't like it, of course," said Jack; "but I don't see why they shouldn't do their own jobs." "Well," said I, "I wouldn't mind if I could stick out too, but somehow I'm in for it now." And off I started on my round of errands.
I was, however, greatly impressed with Jack's cool treatment of the whole affair.

I would as soon have dreamed of refusing to go an errand for Doubleday or Wallop as of flying.

The office, I knew full well, would soon be made pretty hot for me if I did, and it was a marvel how Jack apparently got over the difficulty so easily.