“I am sure you will be able to clean it away,” Valeta said, “and I think too you are right. That horrible man, Cibber, is a very inexperienced sweep. There must be someone better you can employ.” “It’s the rag tag and bobtail in the sweep business nowadays, miss,” the housekeeper replied. “Before the war the chimney sweeps were all skilled men, but now I’m told farm labourers have gone into the business hoping to earn more money.” “I am sure that is true,” Valeta replied, “and boys are sold to them by their parents for three or four guineas.” “Is that a fact, miss? Then it be a scandal! That’s what it is.” “I agree with you,” Valeta said. “And in the report I read it said that many of the boys had even been kidnapped.” “The Government should do something about it,” the housekeeper dec