CHAPTER XIV.
THE SEARCH OF MILBURGH'S COTTAGE Mr.Milburgh had a little house in one of the industrial streets of Camden Town.

It was a street made up for the most part of blank walls, pierced at intervals with great gates, through which one could procure at times a view of gaunt factories and smoky-looking chimney-stacks.
Mr.Milburgh's house was the only residence in the road, if one excepted the quarters of caretakers and managers, and it was agreed by all who saw his tiny demesne, that Mr.Milburgh had a good landlord.
The "house" was a detached cottage in about half an acre of ground, a one-storey building, monopolising the space which might have been occupied by factory extension.

Both the factory to the right and the left had made generous offers to acquire the ground, but Mr.Milburgh's landlord had been adamant.

There were people who suggested that Mr.
Milburgh's landlord was Mr.Milburgh himself.

But how could that be?
Mr.
Milburgh's salary was something under L400 a year, and the cottage site was worth at least L4,000.
Canvey Cottage, as it was called, stood back from the road, behind a lawn, innocent of flowers, and the lawn itself was protected from intrusion by high iron railings which Mr.Milburgh's landlord had had erected at considerable cost.