the first member of the staff of peaceful moments to arrive at the office on the following morning was master maloney. this sounds like the beginning of a "plod and punctuality," or "how great fortunes have been made" story, but, as a matter of fact, master maloney, like mr. bat jarvis, was no early bird. larks who rose in his neighborhood, rose alone. he did not get up with them. he was supposed to be at the office at nine o'clock. it was a point of honor with him, a sort of daily declaration of independence, never to put in an appearance before nine-thirty. on this particular morning he was punctual to the minute, or half an hour late, whichever way you choose to look at it.