by Mr. Perry, were very good, and I had been enjoying one of them fo

tate of affairs, and may possibly find myself wishing that my enterta

not much care what should happen, and sat still until the door of m

s the reek of my cigar met his nostrils, and his eyes fell u

and said: "I have come to

dicating a chair. "Will you have a glass

me and ask a favour of you," he said. "You look like

of other people occasion one more amusement than surprise.

m one. My great-grandfather ruined himself at Crockford's, and although one of my great-uncles set

of your behaviour. So am I, and of course my father too, although you might not thi

yself as comfortable as circumstances will permit. As for you, I think you look

present serious situation. In spite of his noble and self-sacrificing life, my father is misunderstood by a good many people; and Lord Potter, for one, would like to see his career of usefulness stopped. Now he has a handle against him. He is to be called as a witness when you come

urvy as those of the rest of the people I had so far met in this curious place. But I wa

ng elderly gentleman should pinch my watch and demand all my cash; but I dare say he did it all for

on your dignity and refuse to answer questions,

all this means, though; and to begin with, what town

n I was. "I can't understand you," he said, and it was plain by the ex

d London," I said. "I don't know

ied. "What part of t

eard of England?" I asked; an

e we in now?" I asked,

psidonia,

wh

Surely you can tell that from the way I speak! S

rst what to

lbu

er" or "Birmingham," to anyone who should have asked me the same qu

and, where I come from, they don't lock a person up for offering sixpence to a tramp, even when

e cosy little room

es left. You've a perfect right to make trouble about this. It is a clear case for the Prisoners' Aid S

ce?-Culbut-are different from those I've been accustomed to, but they don't seem to be entirely objectionable. Can you tel

you off. Your appeara

me what they will do

to stamp it out. And Potter is rather high game to fly at, you must admit. H

, somewhat taken abac

be able to manage tha

eed; but I shouldn't like you

em that in the country you come from it isn't a crime to give

my handkerchief. By the way, isn't it a crime here

not. We should cal

your father is

in Culbut. You don't really suppose he i

rly well off, if he has been practisin

reverentially. "I will t

d him. "I should

ar. He cleared hi