I pushed open the door and entered, and found myself in the presence of an old man wearing spectacles, and having a curious resemblance to one of the Deans of Trinity.
“What the devil is up with you, Langrishe?”
“Sugrue, Tom, if you love me,” said Jack in his natural voice.
“And what is it all about, Jack?”
“My dear fellow, I’m as ravenous as a hawk, and mind, there’s not to be a word about business till we’re in the middle of the third bottle. The port here is first rate. But my mind is never equal to business until I have fairly moistened my palate.”
Jack had secured a private room, and it was evident that he had ordered the dinner beforehand, for it left nothing to be desired.
I felt there was no use in pressing him for any explanation until the time arrived when he would be willing to give it, but I could not help looking curiously now and then at his remarkable get up.
“I knew ’twould surprise you, Tom,” said Jack, evidently delighted.
“It has, I must confess,” said I.
Jack gave me little opportunity of questioning him, as he insisted on my giving him full information of all that had happened in college during his enforced absence. Of course, I was nothing loth to tell him, having a lad’s delight in narrating the various pranks and scrapes in which I had taken part, and I rather think we had got well into the fifth bottle when he said unexpectedly;