Page:Hilda Wade (1900).pdf/71

'The Empire in Leicester Squire!' he responded, gazing at me with unspoken contempt. 'Have a whisky-and-soda, old chap? What, no? 'Never drink between meals?' Well, you do surprise me! I suppose that comes of being a sawbones, don't it?'

'Possibly,' I answered. 'We respect our livers.' Then I went on to the ostensible reason of my visit—the Charterhouse testimonial. He slapped his thighs metaphorically, by way of suggesting the depleted condition of his pockets. 'Stony broke, Cumberledge,' he murmured; 'stony broke! Honour bright! Unless Bluebird pulls off the Prince of Wales's Stakes, I really don't know how I'm to pay the Benchers.'

'It's quite unimportant,' I answered. 'I was asked to ask you, and I have asked you.'

'So I twig, my dear fellow. Sorry to have to say no. But I'll tell you what I can do for you; I can put you upon a straight thing——'

I glanced at the mantelpiece. 'I see you have a photograph of Miss Sissie Montague,' I broke in casually, taking it down and examining it. 'With an autograph, too. 'Reggie, from Sissie.' You are a friend of hers?'

'A friend of hers? I'll trouble you. She is a clinker, Sissie is! You should see that girl smoke. I give you my word of honour, Cumberledge, she can consume cigarettes against any fellow I know in London. Hang it all, a girl like that, you know—well, one can't help admiring her! Ever seen her?'

'Oh, yes; I know her. I called on her, in fact, night before last, at Scarborough.'

He whistled a moment, then broke into an imbecile laugh. 'My gum,' he cried; 'this is a start, this is! You don't mean to tell me you are the other Johnnie.'