His landlady objected to swearing, so George got through the evening meal quickly, and sallied forth to the saloon of a neighbouring inn. There he meant to go into training in earnest, and he hoped also to pick up a few choice expressions that would make a pleasant variation in the day's vocabulary. 

 He made a bad start by swearing at the landlord, who threatened to put him outside; but luckily a sailor came in and backed him up, and swore at the landlord himself in four different languages. After this George got along like a house on fire. 

 His education advanced so rapidly that the next morning it was as much as he could do to speak without being offensive. He carefully laid his plans for the day as he rode to the City; he determined to put in a good morning's work about the office so that everybody might know swearing was his special vice, in case Old Joe made early inquiries; then he would spread the report that all his family used bad language, so that people might talk about it. 

 "Bit of luck I went to Billingsgate yesterday," he thought, as he jumped off the bus. "When I come into the five hundred I'll go down and find the chap who did me a good turn and give him a day out." 

 He sauntered into the office three-quarters of an hour late, and began to whistle a ribald tune as he took off his coat. 

 Somebody called out to him in a stage whisper. George took no notice, but swore at his hat when it dropped off the hook. 

 "Early," said the voice again. "Early!" 

 "Well, what the devil do you want?" said George, in a loud voice. 

 "S—sh!" cried the voice again, and George looked round to see a group of solemn-looking faces. 

 "Hallo!" he cried, looking from one to another, "what's the trouble?" 

 "S—sh!" cried Busby, lifting his hand. "Mr. Fairbrother's dead." 

 "What?" cried George, aghast. "Well, I'm hanged!" he said, looking round at the group. "If that isn't just my luck!" 

 For the second time, George Early was unable to tackle his morning work. He could only sit gloomily at his desk and use up the language he had learned overnight in reviling Fate for treating him so scandalously. 

 Then he began to go over the events 

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