"I was getting quite faint," he said to the man who was attending to him. "Don't bother about things this morning. I shall go out presently, and you can do whatever you've got to do then."
"It's a very wet day, sir," the other answered.
"Wet?" said Melville disgustedly. "I should think it is wet. The weather certainly means business." He drank some more tea and lighted a cigarette. "By the way, put out my dress clothes early this evening. I probably shall not be dining at home."
The valet hesitated.
"Have you any more linen in any other portmanteau, sir?" he asked.
"I'm sure I don't know," Melville replied testily. "You'd better look and see. Anyhow, find some."
The valet looked still more uncomfortable.
"I sent all I could find to the wash, sir," he stammered; "and the laundry people have refused to leave any clean linen until your account is settled."
Melville grew scarlet with anger.
"What do I owe them?" he asked.