His day, which hitherto had been overcast and threatening rain, suddenly grew dazzling with sun. "You mean that?" "Yes. Of course."
"My dear girl," he roared, "if I'd any idea, any idea at all, that you.. Good God, what's that?"
The noise, it is true, would have made anyone jump. It was due to a variety of circumstances. The dining-room floor was of polished hardwood which did not creak, but was, on the contrary, of exceptional firmness and slipperiness. Round it were scattered a few rugs like islands. It is unwise to step quickly on one of these rugs when you are not looking where you are going. Sir Henry Merrivale had committed this error.
Merely to say that H.M. took a toss conveys nothing. It lacks the element of majesty attendant on what happened.
His feet flew straight out ahead of him as though galvanized. His despairing howl was of no avail. After describing something of an arc, his ample posterior struck the floor with a crash that made the chandelier rattle, and sent him slithering six feet into a china-closet. There was a pause. Then there rose up in his powerful voice such a torrent of profanity, such a flood of blasphemy and vile obscenities, as must have made George Merrivale himself blush in the infernal regions.
"Sh-h!" urged Masters, also galvanized. "No, no, no! Sh-h!"
The kitchen door was flung open, and Mrs. Propper dashed out.
"I won't have such language—"
She broke off abruptly. Something of Daisy's awe had communicated itself even to Mrs. Propper.
"Heaven save us," she breathed, "it's the big doctor."