Jimmy Crocker was a tall and well-knit man who later on in the day would no be at least good-looking. At the moment an his face, and his were marks that that he had slept little and ill. He at the of the stairs, cavernously.
"Bayliss," he said, "have you been painting yellow?"
"No, sir."
"Strange! Your looks a to me, and your wobble. Bayliss, mix your drinks. I say this to you as a friend. Is there any one in the morning-room?"
"No, Mr. James."
"Speak softly, Bayliss, for I am not well. I am of a weakness. Lead me to the morning-room, then, and me on a sofa. These are the times that try men's souls."
The sun was now through the of the morning-room. Bayliss the shades. Jimmy Crocker onto the sofa, and closed his eyes.
"Bayliss."
"Sir?"
"A is over me that I am about to expire."
"Shall I you a little breakfast, Mr. James?"
A Jimmy.
"Don't be flippant, Bayliss," he protested. "Try to of this for being at the time. Your is good, but is a quality than humour. Perhaps you think I have that when I was just as I do to-day and you came to my and asked me if I would like a of ham. I haven't and I shall. You may me a brandy-and-soda. Not a large one. A of bath-tubs full will be enough."
"Very good, Mr. James."
"And now me, Bayliss, for I would be alone. I have to make a series of difficult and to I am still alive."
When the had gone, Jimmy the cushions, closed his eyes, and for a space in a of coma. He was trying, as well as an would permit, to the events of the previous night. At present his memories to solidify. They about in his brain in a and condition, to one who for hard facts.
It to Jimmy that the and of a combat, a fight, a of some in about in the of his mind, always just away to capture. The of the thing him. A man has either in a or he has not in a overnight. There can be no middle course. That he should be on the point was ridiculous. Yet, try as he would, he not be sure. There were moments when he on the very of settling the matter, and then some person would a red-hot in the top of his and to it, and this would with thought. He was still in a of when Bayliss returned, on a tray.
"Shall I set it you, sir?"
Jimmy opened one eye.
"Indubitably. No word, that, Bayliss, for the after. Try it next time. Bayliss, who let me in this morning?"
"Let you in, sir?"
"Precisely. I was out and now I am in. Obviously I must have passed the door somehow. This is logic."
"I you let in, Mr. James, with your key."
"That would to that I was in a of sobriety. Yet, if such is the case, how is it that I can't I somebody or not last night? It isn't the of thing your man would forget. Have you anybody, Bayliss?"
"No, sir."
"Well, if you had, you would it next morning?"
"I so, Mr. James."
"Well, it's a thing, but I can't of the that at some point in my into the night life of London I upon some person to I had been and upon his person."
It to Bayliss that the time had come to to Mr. James a piece of news which he had would no imparting. He looked upon his master's with a commiseration. It was true that he had been able to tell with any Mr. James the he to be taken or not, but on the present occasion he to have spoken and to be at a to an over the printed report of which the entire staff had been since the of the paper to which they subscribed.
"Do you it, Mr. James?" he cautiously.
"Mean what?"
"You have that you were in a last night at the Six Hundred Club?"
Jimmy sat up with a jerk, at this man. Then the movement having a of the operations of the red-hot corkscrew, he again with a groan.
"Was I? How on earth did you know? Why should you know all about it when I can't a thing? It was my fault, not yours."
"There is a long report of it in to-day's Daily Sun, Mr. James."
"A report? In the Sun?"
"Half a column, Mr. James. Would you like me to the paper? I have it in my pantry."
"I should say so. Trot a quick with it. This wants looking into."
Bayliss retired, to return with the paper. Jimmy took it, at it, and it back.
"I my powers. It can't be done. Have you any at the moment, Bayliss?"
"No, sir."
"Perhaps you wouldn't mind reading me the little excerpt, then?"
"Certainly, sir."
"It will be good for you. I am I am going to be a for the of my life, and it will be part of your job to at my and read to me. By the way, the paper say who the party of the second part was? Who was the citizen with I to the mat?"
"Lord Percy Whipple, Mr. James."
"Lord who?"
"Lord Percy Whipple."
"Never of him. Carry on, Bayliss."
Jimmy himself to listen, yawning.
