Thirty-one SUNDRY¹ DETAILS

Scene—Chimneys, 11 a.m. Thursday morning.
Johnson, the police constable², with his coat off, digging.
Something in the nature of a funeral feeling seems to be in the air. Thefriends and relations stand round the grave that Johnson is digging.
George Lomax has the air of the principal beneficiary under the will ofthe deceased. Superintendent³ Battle, with his immovable face, seemspleased that the funeral arrangements have gone so nicely. As the under-taker, it reflects credit upon him. Lord Caterham has that solemn andshocked look which Englishmen assume when a religious ceremony is inprogress.
Mr. Fish does not fit into the picture so well. He is not sufficiently⁴ grave.
Johnson bends to his task. Suddenly he straightens up. A little stir of ex-citement passes round.
“That’ll do, sonny,” said Mr. Fish. “We shall do nicely now.”
One perceives at once that he is really the family physician.
Johnson retires. Mr. Fish, with due solemnity, stoops over the excava-tion. The surgeon is about to operate.
He brings out a small canvas package. With much ceremony he hands itto Superintendent Battle. The latter, in his turn, hands it to George Lomax.
The etiquette⁵ of the situation has now been carefully complied with.
George Lomax unwraps the package, slits⁶ up the oilsilk inside it, bur-rows into further wrapping. For a moment he holds something on thepalm of his hand—then quickly shrounds it once more in cottonwool.
He clears his throat.
“At this auspicious⁷ moment,” he begins, with the clear delivery of thepractised speaker.
Lord Caterham beats a precipitate⁸ retreat. On the terrace he finds hisdaughter.
“Bundle, is that car of yours in order?”

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