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‘Get it done！' shouted Misery from morning till night。 ‘For God's sake get it done！ Haven't you finished yet？ We're losing money over this 〃job〃！ If you chaps don't wake up and move a bit quicker； I shall see if I can't get somebody else who will。'
These costly embossed decorations were usually finished in white； but instead of carefully coating them with specially prepared paint of patent distemper； which would need two or three coats； they slobbered one thick coat of common whitewash on to it with ordinary whitewash brushes。
This was a most economical way to get over it； because it made it unnecessary to stop up the joints beforehand … the whitewash filled up all the cracks： and it also filled up the hollow parts； the crevices and interstices of the ornament； destroying the sharp outlines of the beautiful designs and reducing the whole to a lumpy； formless mass。 But that did not matter either； so long as they got it done。
The architect didn't notice it； because he knew that the more Rushton & Co。 made out of the ‘job'； the more he himself would make。
The man who had to pay for the work didn't notice it； he had the fullest confidence in the architect。
At the risk of wearying the long…suffering reader； mention must be made of an affair that happened at this particular ‘job'。
The windows were all fitted with venetian blinds。 The gentleman for whom all the work was being done had only just purchased the house； but he preferred roller blinds： he had had roller blinds in his former residence … which he had just sold … and as these roller blinds were about the right size； he decided to have them fitted to the windows of his new house： so he instructed Mr Rushton to have all the venetian blinds taken down and stored away up in the loft under the roof。 Mr Rushton promised to have this done； but they were not ALL put away under the roof： he had four of them taken to his own place and fitted up in the conservatory。 They were a little too large； so they had to be narrowed before they were fixed。
The sequel was rather interesting； for it happened that when the gentleman attempted to take the roller blinds from his old house； the person to whom he had sold it refused to allow them to be removed； claiming that when he bought the house； he bought the blinds also。 There was a little dispute； but eventually it was settled that way and the gentleman decided that he would have the venetian blinds in his new house after all； and instructed the people who moved his furniture to take the venetians down again from under the roof； and refix them； and then； of course； it was discovered that four of the blinds were missing。 Mr Rushton was sent for； and he said that he couldn't understand it at all！ The only possible explanation that he could think of was that some of his workmen must have stolen them！ He would make inquiries； and endeavour to discover the culprits； but in any case； as this had happened while things were in his charge； if he did not succeed in recovering them； he would replace them。
As the blinds had been narrowed to fit the conservatory he had to have four new ones made。
The customer was of course quite satisfied； although very sorry for Mr Rushton。 They had a little chat about it。 Rushton told the gentleman that he would be astonished if he knew all the facts： the difficulties one has to contend with in dealing with working men： one has to watch them continually！ directly one's back is turned they leave off working！ They come late in the morning； and go home before the proper time at night； and then unless one actually happens to catch them … they charge the full number of hours on their time sheets！ Every now and then something would be missing； and of course Nobody knew anything about it。 Sometimes one would go unexpectedly to a ‘job' and find a lot of them drunk。 Of course one tried to cope with these evils by means of rules and restrictions and organization； but it was very difficult … one could not be everywhere or have eyes at the back of one's head。 The gentleman said that he had some idea of what it was like： he had had something to do with the lower orders himself at one time and another； and he knew they needed a lot of watching。
Rushton felt rather sick over this affair； but he consoled himself by reflecting that he had got clear away with several valuable rose trees and other plants which he had stolen out of the garden； and that a ladder which had been discovered in the hayloft over the stable and taken … by his instructions … to the ‘yard' when the ‘job' was finished had not been missed。
Another circumstance which helped to compensate for the blinds was that the brass fittings throughout the house； finger…plates； sash…lifts and locks； bolts and door handles； which were supposed to be all new and which the customer had paid a good price for … were really all the old ones which Misery had had re…lacquered and refixed。
There was nothing unusual about this affair of the blinds； for Rushton and Misery robbed everybody。 They made a practice of annexing every thing they could lay their hands upon； provided it could be done without danger to themselves。 They never did anything of a heroic or dare…devil character： they had not the courage to break into banks or jewellers' shops in the middle of the night； or to go out picking pockets： all their robberies were of the sneak…thief order。
At one house that they ‘did up' Misery made a big haul。 He had to get up into the loft under the roof to see what was the matter with the water tank。 When he got up there he found a very fine hall gas lamp made of wrought brass and copper with stained and painted glass sides。 Although covered with dust； it was otherwise in perfect condition； so Misery had it taken to his own house and cleaned up and fixed in the hail。
In the same loft there were a lot of old brass picture rods and other fittings； and three very good planks； each about ten feet in length； these latter had been placed across the rafters so that one could walk easily and safely over to the tank。 But Misery thought they would be very useful to the firm for whitewashing ceilings and other work； so he had them taken to the yard along with the old brass； which was worth about fourpence a pound。
There was another house that had to be painted inside： the people who used to live there had only just left： they had moved to some other town； and the house had been re…let before they vacated it。 The new tenant had agreed with the agent that the house was to be renovated throughout before he took possession。
The day after the old tenants moved away； the agent gave Rushton the key so that he could go to see what was to be done and give an estimate for the work。
While Rushton and Misery were looking over the house they discovered a large barometer hanging on the wall behind the front door： it had been overlooked by those who removed the furniture。 Before returning the key to the agent； Rushton sent one of his men to the house for the barometer； which he kept in his office for a few weeks to see if there would be any inquiries about it。 If there had been； it would have been easy to say that he had brought it there for safety …