"That's as you choose," answered 'Bias. "Or afterwards, if you like—
I shall keep a rough copy."
Now this was said with suspicious alacrity: for Cai was admittedly the better scholar and, as a rule, revised 'Bias's infrequent business letters and corrected their faults of spelling. But—dazzled as he was by his own sudden and brilliant idea—no suspicion occurred to him.
"It's a bargain, then?"
"It's a bargain."
They did not shake hands upon it. Their friendship had always been sincere enough to dispense with all formalities of friendship; they would not have shaken hands on meeting (say) after a twenty years' separation. They looked one another in the eyes, just for an instant, and they both nodded.
"Cribbage to-night?" asked 'Bias.
"If 'tisn't too late," answered Cai.
He pulled out his watch, whilst 'Bias turned about to the mantel-shelf and the clock his bulk had been hiding.
"Nine-thirty," announced Cai.
"Almost to a tick," agreed 'Bias. "'Stonishing what good time we've kept ever since we set this clock."