. . . I have the notes of my speech in my great-coat
pocket; I'll give them to you later and beg you as a favour to show
them to Sir Roderick. But what was the use, when they started booing
me because I wore evening dress?'
"'Why did you?' I asked.
"'Because, as I tried to explain, I had another engagement to keep
immediately after the Meeting--a Conversatsiony, as I put it to
them.'
"'Then perhaps,' said I, 'they took exception to some details of the
costume--for instance, your wearing a silk handkerchief, and crimson
at that, tucked in between your shirt-front and your white
waistcoat.'
"'Is that wrong?' Farrell asked anxiously. 'Maria used to insist on
it. She said it looked neglijay. . . . But I suppose fashions alter
in these little details.' He stood up, removed the handkerchief, and
stowed it in a tail-pocket.
"'That's better,' said I.
"'I'm not above taking a hint,' said he, 'from one as knows.
It'll be harder to get at. . . . But I don't believe, if you'll
excuse me, that any one of these students, as they call themselves,
ever wore an evening suit in his life--unless 'twas a hired one.
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