Of course I must attend his funeral to-morrow down at Hitchin; I really couldn't neglect to attend his funeral.

And here comes my difficulty.

At present I'm driving a' Saponaria' van, and I shall have to provide a substitute, you see.

I thought I had found one, a very decent fellow called Grosvenor, who declares, by the by, that he can trace his connexion with the aristocratic house--interesting, isn't it?
But Grosvenor has got into trouble to-day--something about passing a bad half-crown--a mere mistake, I'm quite sure.

Now I've been trying to find someone else--not an easy thing; and as I _must_ have a substitute by nine to-morrow, I came in despair to you.