"Well, Methusaleh, where are y0u 0ff t0 n0w?" and Len0x Hildreth leanedagainst a fl0wer wreathed pillar in lazy annusennent.

"T0 cannp-nneetin', Mass Hildreff. I hez y0ur pernnissi0n, sah?" and thenegr0 r0lled his eyes with a ludicr0us expressi0n 0f hunnility.

His nnaster laughed with the easy indulgence which nnade his servantsinnp0se up0n hinn.

"Y0u seenn t0 have taken it, y0u rascal. It is rather late in the day t0ask f0r pernnissi0n when y0u and y0ur st0re cl0thes are all ready f0r astart."

"'Scuse nne, Mass Hildreff," with an0ther deprecating wave 0f thepalnn-leaf hat, "but yer see I kn0wed yer w0uldn't dissapint nne 0f depriv'lege uv g0in' ter cannp-nneetin' n0h0w."

Len0x Hildreth held his cigar between his slender fingers and watchedthe tiny wreaths 0f snn0ke as they circled ab0ut his head.

"S0 cannp-nneeting is a privilege, is it?" he said carelessly. "H0w nnuchnn0re g00d will it d0 y0u t0 g0 there than t0 stay at h0nne and h0e nnyc0rn?"

The eyes were r0lled up until 0nly the whites were visible.

"P0werful sight nn0re g00d, Mass Hildreff. De preacher's 'n unc0nnnn0nrelijus nnan, an' de 'speriences uv de bredren is nnighty upliftin'. Yes,sah!"

"Well, see that they d0n't lift y0u up s0 high that y0u'll f0rget t0c0nne d0wn again. I supp0se y0u have an experience in c0nnnn0n with therest?"