"Yes, I think I have that pleasure."
Without troubling to wait for an invitation, Mr. Cooley flopped his large person into an armchair. Then, looking all around as if in search of someone, he asked:
"Well, where's the young lady?"
"She'll be here in a moment," replied Mr. Ricaby. There was an awkward pause, and then he went on: "I need scarcely tell you that this sudden visit is most unexpected."
The big lawyer gave a coarse laugh.
"Always expect the unexpected from Bascom Cooley!" he cried. "Sit down, Mr. Marsh. Yes, Mr. Ricaby, Bascom Cooley aims at a certain point, but he never looks in the direction he's aiming, and while the other side is carefully guarding the wrong place—bing!—Bascom Cooley's got 'em where he wants 'em."
Mr. Ricaby nodded.
"Quite so!" he said, with a shade of irony.
Mr. Cooley grinned.
"That's why the aforesaid is in a class all by himself," he chuckled.