"Heron had quite made up his mind that he would see Job the first thing in the morning; but Providence intervened with a sprained ankle. Returning home late from Hollyoaks, he was overtaken by darkness, and in some way--how he could not explain--he stumbled and rose with an aching ankle, which next morning was so painful and swollen that his housekeeper begged of him to give himself a day's rest; but he declined this advice, and managed to drag himself to the library. It was a dreary day, but towards the end the monotony was broken by the announcement of a visitor; and to his surprise, a figure in rusty black clothes was shewn in--a creature which smirked and grinned and rolled its head in a half-witted way; Geoffrey stared.
"Jerry Hutt!" he exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing in this galley?"
"I am Mr. Hutt when I pay visits," said Jerry, with dignity. "Only when I'm put upon at home by mother and master am I called Jerry."
"Well, then, Mr. Hutt," said Mr. Heron, humouring the strange creature, "I should like to know your business. Take a seat."
Jerry obeyed, first going through the ceremony of dusting a spotless chair so that his rusty suit might take no harm. He had furbished himself up for the occasion, and wore a flaring red tie as spruce as Julian Roper's green one, and as ill-suited to the person who wore it. In this was stuck a pin which, when he had seated himself near Geoffrey, the latter could see very clearly. It was an oval piece of gold adorned with the enamelled figure of a ballet-girl!
While the unconscious visitor sat smirking blandly on his chair, Mr. Heron rang the bell; and when the butler entered, spoke a few whispered words, upon which the man cast a startled look at Jerry and hurried from the room. In three minutes the door of the room half opened and closed again. Then Geoffrey knew that the under footman--a strapping young giant--was waiting outside in case Mr. Hutt might be compelled to make a too hasty exit.
"Well, Mr. Hutt," said Geoffrey, "what is it?"
"I thought you were never going to speak," said Jerry, in an injured tone, "and I'm that hungry and dry, you wouldn't think!"
"First we will have our talk, Mr. Hutt; then I will see about having you provided with refreshment. Your errand! quick!"
"It was the master sent me here," Jerry said, becoming more respectful as he delivered his message; it was as though the spell of the sender were on him. "He bids me say that if you can give him that bill of exchange, he's willing to buy it."