I'm afraid I haven't much time to spare—but if it's anything of importance——

Mr. Wackerbath.

[Panting.] You must give me a little time—till I—ah—get my wind again.

Horace.

Certainly. I know the stairs here are rather steep.

Mr. Wackerbath.

Are they? I don't remember noticing them. However! My name, Mr. Ventimore, is Wackerbath—Samuel Wackerbath, of Wackerbath and Greatrex, a firm of auctioneers and estate agents whose name may—ah—possibly be not unfamiliar to you.

Horace.

[Who has obviously never heard it before.] Oh, of course—of course.

Mr. Wackerbath.