And remember, also,
that the eyes of the gallery are not always upon you. Sir Nigel, I ask
you, isn't our friend's make-up the perfection of the--er--elderly
man-about-town?"
Sir Nigel laughingly had to admit that it was, whereupon Mr. Narkom
blushed exceedingly, and--the ice was broken as Cleek had intended it
should be.
They adjourned to the smoking-room, where a huge log-fire burnt in the
grate, and easy chairs invited. They discussed the topics of the day with
evident relish during such time as Borkins was in the room, and smoked
their cigars with the air of men to whom the hours were as naught, and
life simply a chessboard to move their little pieces upon as they willed.
But how soon they were to cry checkmate upon this case which they were
all investigating, even Cleek did not know. Then of a sudden he looked up
from his task of studying the fire with knitted brows.
"By the way," he said off-handedly, "I hope you don't mind. My man will
be coming down by the next train with our traps. I never travel without
him, he's such a useful beggar.
Pages:
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120