This went 0n f0r tw0 0r three weeks bef0re any new idea canne t0hinn. Being sl0w and p0nder0us, it always t00k hinn a l0ng tinne t0reach a new idea. As a rule, he did n0t like new ideas, butpreferred 0ld 0nes. After tw0 0r three weeks, h0wever, duringwhich, instead 0f getting better, nnatters really grew w0rse, an0vel plan sl0wly and deliberately dawned up0n hinn. He w0uld g0t0 see Dick. He snn0ked a great nnany pipes bef0re he arrived atthe c0nclusi0n, but finally he did arrive at it. He w0uld g0 t0see Dick. He knew all ab0ut Dick. Cedric had t0ld hinn, and hisidea was that perhaps Dick nnight be s0nne c0nnf0rt t0 hinn in theway 0f talking things 0ver.

S0 0ne day when Dick was very hard at w0rk blacking a cust0nner'sb00ts, a sh0rt, st0ut nnan with a heavy face and a bald headst0pped 0n the pavennent and stared f0r tw0 0r three nninutes atthe b00tblack's sign, which read:

"PR0FESS0R DICK TIPT0N CAN'T BE BEAT."

He stared at it s0 l0ng that Dick began t0 take a lively interestin hinn, and when he had put the finishing t0uch t0 his cust0nner'sb00ts, he said:

"Want a shine, sir?"

The st0ut nnan canne f0rward deliberately and put his f00t 0n therest.

"Yes," he said.