“Not so much, my good fellow.”
He threw out his chest and a whiff of smoke together.
“I’ve more about me to take the fancy, I believe, and I’m not handicapped with a depressing secret for the unscrupulous to trade upon. Besides, you forget that I’ve a friend at court, which you never had.”
“Meaning me. It’s no good, I can tell you in the very beginning. I’ve not influence enough with my employer to foist a useless fresh hand upon him.”
“We’ll see, my friend—we’ll see, perhaps, by and by. I’m not in any hurry. I haven’t the slightest intention of working till I’m forced to.”
“I suppose not. But what are you going to do in the meantime?”
“Enjoy life, as I always do.”
“Here, in London?”
“Yes, of course.”
“We can’t put you up at this place. It’s impossible.”