He had committed a stretch of courtesy by inviting a young man obviously in the commercial interest to take a seat, and was somewhat outraged at finding his civility not appreciated.
"You are Colonel Orpington?" said the visitor.
"I am. I understand you decline to give your name."
"For the present, yes. When you have heard my business, if you do not by that time guess who I am, I shall be happy to tell you."
"Deuced polite of you, I'm sure," said the Colonel with a grin. "Perhaps you'll tell me what your business is. Some account to be settled, I suppose? If so, I am not in the habit of discussing such matters. If the money is due, you can have it and go."
"There is an account to be settled," said the visitor; "but it is not of the nature that you suppose."
He spoke very quietly but very earnestly; so earnestly that the Colonel leaned forward in his seat and looked at him with an attention which he had hitherto not bestowed upon him.
"Is this a plant?" said the wily old warrior to himself. "My friend here looks very much of the outraged-brother order; but I have had nothing of that kind on hand for years." Then aloud, "What is your business, then?"
"I have come here, Colonel Orpington, to appeal to your feelings as a gentleman and a man of honour."
"Monstrous good of you to take the trouble, I'm sure," said the Colonel, with the old grin.