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As the blinds had been narrowed to fit the conservatory he had to have four new ones made。
The customer was of course quite satisfied； although very sorry for Mr Rushton。 They had a little chat about it。 Rushton told the gentleman that he would be astonished if he knew all the facts： the difficulties one has to contend with in dealing with working men： one has to watch them continually！ directly one's back is turned they leave off working！ They come late in the morning； and go home before the proper time at night； and then unless one actually happens to catch them … they charge the full number of hours on their time sheets！ Every now and then something would be missing； and of course Nobody knew anything about it。 Sometimes one would go unexpectedly to a ‘job' and find a lot of them drunk。 Of course one tried to cope with these evils by means of rules and restrictions and organization； but it was very difficult … one could not be everywhere or have eyes at the back of one's head。 The gentleman said that he had some idea of what it was like： he had had something to do with the lower orders himself at one time and another； and he knew they needed a lot of watching。
Rushton felt rather sick over this affair； but he consoled himself by reflecting that he had got clear away with several valuable rose trees and other plants which he had stolen out of the garden； and that a ladder which had been discovered in the hayloft over the stable and taken … by his instructions … to the ‘yard' when the ‘job' was finished had not been missed。
Another circumstance which helped to compensate for the blinds was that the brass fittings throughout the house； finger…plates； sash…lifts and locks； bolts and door handles； which were supposed to be all new and which the customer had paid a good price for … were really all the old ones which Misery had had re…lacquered and refixed。
There was nothing unusual about this affair of the blinds； for Rushton and Misery robbed everybody。 They made a practice of annexing every thing they could lay their hands upon； provided it could be done without danger to themselves。 They never did anything of a heroic or dare…devil character： they had not the courage to break into banks or jewellers' shops in the middle of the night； or to go out picking pockets： all their robberies were of the sneak…thief order。
At one house that they ‘did up' Misery made a big haul。 He had to get up into the loft under the roof to see what was the matter with the water tank。 When he got up there he found a very fine hall gas lamp made of wrought brass and copper with stained and painted glass sides。 Although covered with dust； it was otherwise in perfect condition； so Misery had it taken to his own house and cleaned up and fixed in the hail。
In the same loft there were a lot of old brass picture rods and other fittings； and three very good planks； each about ten feet in length； these latter had been placed across the rafters so that one could walk easily and safely over to the tank。 But Misery thought they would be very useful to the firm for whitewashing ceilings and other work； so he had them taken to the yard along with the old brass； which was worth about fourpence a pound。
There was another house that had to be painted inside： the people who used to live there had only just left： they had moved to some other town； and the house had been re…let before they vacated it。 The new tenant had agreed with the agent that the house was to be renovated throughout before he took possession。
The day after the old tenants moved away； the agent gave Rushton the key so that he could go to see what was to be done and give an estimate for the work。
While Rushton and Misery were looking over the house they discovered a large barometer hanging on the wall behind the front door： it had been overlooked by those who removed the furniture。 Before returning the key to the agent； Rushton sent one of his men to the house for the barometer； which he kept in his office for a few weeks to see if there would be any inquiries about it。 If there had been； it would have been easy to say that he had brought it there for safety … to take care of till he could find the owner。 The people to whom it belonged thought the thing had been lost or stolen in transit； and afterwards one of the workmen who had assisted to pack and remove the furniture was dismissed from his employment on suspicion of having had something to do with its disappearance。 No one ever thought of Rushton in connection with the matter； so after about a month he had it taken to his own dwelling and hung up in the hall near the carved oak marble…topped console table that he had sneaked last summer from 596 Grand Parade。
And there it hangs unto this day： and close behind it； supported by cords of crimson silk； is a beautiful bevelled…edged card about a foot square； and upon this card is written； in letters of gold： ‘Christ is the head of this house； the unseen Guest at every meal； the silent Listener to every conversation。'
And on the other side of the barometer is another card of the same kind and size which says： ‘As for me and my house we will serve the Lord。'
From another place they stole two large brass chandeliers。 This house had been empty for a very long time； and its owner … who did not reside in the town … wished to sell it。 The agent； to improve the chances of a sale； decided to have the house overhauled and redecorated。 Rushton & Co。's tender being the lowest； they got the work。 The chandeliers in the drawing…room and the dining…room were of massive brass； but they were all blackened and tarnished。 Misery suggested to the agent that they could be cleaned and relacquered； which would make them equal to new： in fact； they would be better than new ones； for such things as these were not made now； and for once Misery was telling the truth。 The agent agreed and the work was done： it was an extra； of course； and as the firm got twice as much for the job as they paid for having it done； they were almost satisfied。
When this and all the other work was finished they sent in their account and were paid。
Some months afterwards the house was sold； and Nimrod interviewed the new proprietor with the object of securing the order for any work that he might want done。 He was successful。 The papers on the walls of several of the rooms were not to the new owner's taste； and； of course； the woodwork would have to be re…painted to harmonize with the new paper。 There was a lot of other work besides this： a new conservatory to build； a more modern bath and heating apparatus to be put in； and the electric light to be installed； the new people having an objection to the use of gas。
The specifications were prepared by an architect； and Rushton secured the work。 When the chandeliers were taken down； the men； instructed by Misery； put them on a handcart； and covered them over with sacks and dust…sheets and took them to the front shop； where they were placed for sale with the other stock。
When all the work at the house was finished； it occurred to Rushton and Nimrod that when the architect came to examine and pass the work before giving them the certificate that would enable them to present their account； he might remember the chandeliers and inquire what had become of them。 So they were again placed on the handcart； covered with sacks and dust…sheets； taken back to the house and put up in the loft under the roof so that； if he asked for them； there they were。
The architect came； looked ever the house； passed the work； and gave his certificate； he never mentioned or thought of the chandeliers。 The owner of the house was present and asked for Rushton's bill； for which he at once gave them a cheque and Rushton and Misery almost grovelled and wallowed on the ground before him。 Throughout the whole interview the architect and the ‘gentleman' had kept their hats on； but Rushton and Nimrod had been respectfully uncovered all the time； and as they followed the other two about the house their bearing had been expressive of the most abject servility。
When the architect and the owner were gone the two chandeliers were taken down again from under the roof； and put upon a handcart； covered over with sacks and dust…sheets and taken back to the shop and again placed for sale with the other stock。
These are only a few of the petty thefts committed by these people。 To give anything approaching a full account of all the rest would require a separate volume。
As a result of all the hurrying and scamping； every now and again the men found that they had worked themselves out of a job。
Several times during the summer the firm had scarcely anything to do； and nearly everybody had to stand off for a few days or weeks。
When Newman got his first start in the early part of the year he had only been working for about a fortnight when … with several others … he was ‘stood off'。 Fortunately； however； the day after he left Rushtons； he was lucky enough to get a start for another firm； Driver and Botchit； where he worked for nearly a month； and then he was again given a job at Rushton's； who happened to be busy again。
He did not have to lose much time； for he ‘finishe