“And does he work for you?” asked the Secretary, gently bringing the discourse back to Master or Mister Sloppy.

“Yes,” said Betty with a good-humoured smile and nod of the head. “And well too.”

“Does he live here?”

“He lives more here than anywhere. He was thought to be no better than a natural, and first come to me as a Minder. I made interest with Mr. Blogg the Beadle to have him as a Minder, seeing him by chance up at church, and thinking I might do something with him. For he was a weak rickety creetur then.”

“Is he called by his right name?”

“Why, you see, speaking quite correctly, he has no right name. I always understood he took his name from being found on a sloppy night.”

“He seems an amiable fellow.”