They had been underselling and outadvertising him for months, and had ousted him from the custom of several large firms already.

Something had to be done.

As has been remarked before, Sypher was a man of Napoleonic methods.

He called for a telegraph form, and wrote as he stood, with the tray as a desk: "If you can't buy advertising rights on St.Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey, secure outside pages of usual dailies for Thursday.

Will draw up 'ad' myself." He gave it to the servant, smiled in anticipation of the battle, and felt better.