Though still nominally a young man, being perhaps
thirty-five years of age--he had entered the service before
competitive examination had assumed its present shape and had
therefore the gifts which were required for his special position.
Some critics on the Civil Service were no doubt apt to find fault
with Mounser Green. When called upon at his office he was never seen
to be doing anything, and he always had a cigar in his mouth. These
gentlemen found out too that he never entered his office till
half-past twelve, perhaps not having also learned that he was
generally there till nearly seven. No doubt during the time that he
remained there he read a great many newspapers, and wrote a great
many private notes,--on official paper! But there may be a question
whether even these employments did not help to make Mounser Green
the valuable man he was.
"What a lounge for Jack Slade," said young Hoffmann.
"I'll tell you who it won't be a lounge for, Green," said Archibald
Currie, the clerk who held the second authority among them. "What
will Bell Trefoil think of going to Patagonia?"
"That's all off," said Mounser Green.
"I don't think so," said Charley Glossop, one of the numerous
younger sons of Lord Glossop. "She was staying only the other day
down at the Paragon's place in Rufford, and they went together to
my cousin Rufford's house.
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