“By Gad! I'd forgotten all about old Bill,” George said.
Then Bill entered.
CHAPTER VIII.
Abishag The Shunamite In Meath Street.
I.
The most tremendous crises between man and man commonly begin with exchange of the customary banalities. Charlotte Corday gave Marat “Bonsoir, citoyen,” ere she drove her knife. This was no cloak to hide her purpose. We are so much creatures of convention that the man who sets out, hell in breast, to avenge himself upon another, cannot forbear to give him greeting before ever he comes upon the matter between them.
George, involuntarily straightening his back as he remembered how desperately he had hoodwinked this Bill, had upon a fool's errand packed him to that inn, as involuntarily passed him the customary words.
“Hullo, Bill!” he said. “How on earth did you know I was here?”