"Is that the Club?" said a voice.
"No," said I. "Nothing like it."
"Well, there's a bag of mine in the hall, and——"
"No, there isn't," said I.
"What d'you mean?" was the indignant retort.
"What I say. Our hall is bagless."
"I say," said the voice with laboured clarity, "I say there is a bag in the hall. A BAG. Hang it all, you know what a bag is?"
"Rather," said I heartily. "What you put nuts in. An uncle of mine had one."
The vehemence with which the unknown subscriber replaced his receiver was terrible to hear.
Ten minutes later Fitch entered the room.