“Financial reasons, then, might dictate retirement,” said Mrs. Ricketts, coming back to the original theme.
A very significant nod from Haggerstone inferred that he concurred in the remark.
“Four contested elections for a county, ma'am, a spendthrift wife, and a gambling son, rarely increase a man's income,” said he, sententiously.
“Do he play? What for play is he fond of?” asked the Pole, eagerly.
“Play, sir? There is nothing an Englishman will not play at, from the turf, to tossing for sovereigns.”
“So Hamlet say, in Shakspeare, 'de play is de ting,'” cried the Count, with the air of a man who made a happy quotation.
“They are going to have plays,” broke in Purvis; “Jekyl let it out to-night. They 're going to get up a Vauvau-vau-vau—”
“A tete de veau, probably, sir,” said Haggerstone; “In which case,” continued he, in a whisper, “you would be invaluable.”
“No, it is n't that,” broke in Purvis; “they are to have what they call Proverbs.”
“I trust they have engaged your services as Solomon, sir,” said Haggerstone, with that look of satisfaction which always followed an impudent speech.