Will you, please tell me exactly
what has happened?"
"You shall have the details over dinner," he promised affably.
"For you've omitted the one observation that's relevant--your stomach
is crying aloud for a meal. The Cafe Royal is prescribed."
"Not until I've had a tub and dressed myself. The dust of
coal-brick--"
"That's all right, again. . . . I admonished Jephson. You'll find
the bath spread and your clothes laid out in your bedder, and in five
minutes or so Jephson will bring hot water in a lordly can. I, too,
will dress. . . . But meantime, here are the outlines:
"Farrell knocked in early this morning. He was agitated and he
perspired. He wished to see you at once. I pointed out that it was
impossible and, as they say in examinations, gave reasons for my
answer. Hearing it, he showed a disposition to shake at the knees
and cling to the furniture. When he went on to discover that I might
do in your place, and the furniture's place, and started clinging to
me--well, I struck. I pointed out that he was apparently sound in
wind and limb, inquired if he owed money, and having his assurance to
the contrary, suggested that he should pull himself together and copy
the Village Blacksmith.
Pages:
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252