Meanwhile, Old Prois was wondering what on earth the two men could want with him.
He did not even glance at Smith, but when they got inside, invited them both to sit down.
Old Nick settled himself on a big birchwood sofa, with soft springs, into which he sank about half a foot deep. Above the sofa hung a picture of the "Cupid" (Captain Prois), with the port of Hull in the background, and all the seamen wearing stovepipe hats.
Old Nick cleared his throat a little, and started off with his introduction, pointing out the meritorious work of his host on the committee during the "considerable span of years" which he had devoted to the service of the community.
Prois sat dumbfounded, at a loss to understand what was coming.
At last, thinking he had sufficiently stimulated the other's curiosity, Old Nick came to the point:
"Consequently, and, I should add, chiefly at the instigation of my friend Smith, as secretary of the said committee, our fellow-citizens have empowered us to request the honour of your presence, my dear Warden, at a ceremonial banquet, to take place on Saturday next at 4 p.m., where we may hope to—er—find some suitable expression for our feelings—er, h'm—our appreciation of the fact that you have been for twenty-five years so closely associated with this important—this most important of our local institutions."
Old Prois flushed slightly, tried to look unmoved, coughed, and finally requested the pair to "take a seat"—which they had already taken—and then rushed out into the passage calling in a voice of thunder for "Tulla, Tulla!" Then out to the kitchen, to send the maid to find her.
Meantime Old Nick sat stuffing an embroidered antimacassar into his mouth, laughing till the cushioned sofa and the picture above shook in dismay. He made faces at Smith, who, however, was not in the mood to appreciate the humour of the situation, which fact seemed further to increase Old Nick's amusement.
At last came a voice outside—"Where the deuce have you been, child? Hurry up and bring in some cakes and wine at once." Old Nick threw the antimacassar under the sofa, and his face resumed its most serious expression.