“Oh! one must go with the times,” said Bundle. “You’ll be lucky, Howelly, if you never see it converted into desirable flats with use of superb pleasure grounds.”

Mrs. Howell shivered all down her reactionary aristocratic spine.

“I’ve never seen Sir Oswald Coote,” remarked Bundle.

“Sir Oswald is no doubt a very clever gentleman,” said Mrs. Howell distantly.

Bundle gathered that Sir Oswald had not been liked by his staff.

“Of course, it was Mr. Bateman who saw to everything,” continued the housekeeper. “A very efficient gentleman. A very efficient gentleman indeed, and one who knew the way things ought to be done.”