Lord Loudwater in a bad temper always produced a strong impression of redness for a man whose colouring was merely red-brown. Owing to the fact that his fierce, protruding blue eyes were red-rimmed and somewhat bloodshot, in moments of emotion they shone with a curious red glint, and his florid face flushed a deeper red. In these moments Mr. Manley had a feeling that he was dealing with a bad-tempered red bull. His employer made very much the same impression on other people, but few of them had the impression of bullness so clear and so complete as did Mr. Manley. Lady Loudwater, on the other hand, felt always, whether her husband was ramping or quiet, that she was dealing with a bad-tempered bull.
Presently they came to the end of the letters. Lord Loudwater lit another cigar, and scowled thoughtfully. Mr. Manley gazed at his scowling face and wondered idly whether he would ever light on another human being whom he would detest so heartily as he detested his employer. He thought it indeed unlikely. Still, when he became a successful dramatist there might be an actor-manager—
Then Lord Loudwater said: "Did you tell Mrs. Truslove that after
September her allowance would be reduced to three hundred a year?"
"Yes," said Mr. Manley.
"What did she say?"
Mr. Manley hesitated; then he said diplomatically: "She did not seem to like it."
"What did she say?" cried Lord Loudwater in a sudden, startling bellow, and his eyes shone red.
Mr. Manley winced and said quickly: "She said it was just like you."
"Just like me? Hey? And what did she mean by that?" cried Lord Loudwater loudly and angrily.
Mr. Manley expressed utter ignorance by looking blank and shrugging his shoulders.