Mr. Longvale inclined his head.
“There was some fool talk about a monkey of mine trying to get into the house.”
“A monkey?” said Mr. Longvale in gentle surprise. “That is the first I have heard of monkeys.”
Which was true. The other looked at him suspiciously.
“Is that so?” he asked. “You’re not going to persuade me you didn’t hear?”
The old man stood up, a picture of dignity.
“Do you suggest that I am lying, sir?” he said. “Because, if you do, there is the door! And though it hurts me to be in the least degree discourteous to a guest of mine, I am afraid I have no other course than to ask you to leave my house.”
“All right, all right,” said Sir Gregory Penne impatiently. “Don’t lose your temper, my friend. I didn’t come to see you about that, anyway. You’re a doctor, aren’t you?”
Mr. Longvale was obviously startled.
“I practised medicine when I was younger,” he said.