“No; but do be quick!”
The rajah sported his oak, took off his coat, lay down on the floor, and went into strong convulsions.
I regretted putting him to so much trouble, but my need was urgent, and I knew that he was a good-natured man. Presently he cried (and I was just getting alarmed about him):
“Are you there, Nani-Tal?”
“Certainly,” said an old white-haired gentleman, dressed in a sheet, who sat in the rajah’s armchair.
“That’s all right,” said the rajah, getting up and putting on his coat. “You were very difficult.”
“We’re so busy just now,” said Nani-Tal apologetically. “I’m demonstrating three nights a week, and the preparations take all my time.”
“Well, you can’t have a boom for nothing,” said the rajah, smiling.
“I don’t complain,” said Nani-Tal; “I only mentioned it to excuse myself for keeping you waiting. I was in New York when you began materializing. It’s a lively city.”
“You must tell him all about it,” said the rajah to me; “he won’t be very hard on us.”