"I quite agree with you," he said. "Let us get out as quickly as we can."
"Something," Mr. Waddington went on, "ought to be done to prevent the employment of young women in a public place. It is enough to alter one's whole opinion of the sex to see a brazen-looking creature like that lounging about the bar, and to be compelled to be served by her if one is in need of a little refreshment."
Burton nodded his approbation.
"How we could ever have found our way into the place," he said, "I can't imagine."
"A moment or two ago," Mr. Waddington groaned, "you were thinking of sending up for Maud."
Burton, at this, wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
"Please don't remind me of it," he begged. "Let us get away as quickly as we can."
The young lady leaned over from the bar, holding out a hand, none too clean, on which sparkled several rings.
"Well, you're in a great hurry all at once," she remarked. "Can't you stay a bit longer?"—She glanced at the clock.—"Maud will be down in ten minutes. You're not going away after all this time without leaving a message or something for her, Mr. Burton, surely?"
Burton looked at her across the counter as one might look at some strange creature from a foreign world, a creature to be pitied, perhaps, nothing more.