“One moment, please, Mrs. Cleary. If I may interrupt,” he laughed, his reserve broken through at last by the friendly interest shown by the strangers about him, “and what will be the hours of my service?” Then, turning to Otto: “Perhaps you, Mr. Kling, can best tell me.”
“Vot you mean?”
“How early must I come in the morning, and until how late must I stay at night?”
The dealer hesitated, then answered slowly, “In de morning at eight o'clock, and”—but, seeing a cloud cross O'Day's face, added: “Or maybe haf past eight vill do.”
“And at night?”
“Vell—you can't tell. Sometimes it is more late as udder times—about nine o'clock ven I have packing to do.”
O'Day shook his head.
“Vell, den, say eight o'clock.”
Again O'Day shook his head slowly and thoughtfully as if some insurmountable obstacle had suddenly arisen before him. Then he said firmly: “I am afraid I must decline your kind offer, Mr. Kling. The latest I could stay on any evening is seven o'clock—some days I might have to leave at six—certainly no later than half past. I suppose you have dinner at seven, Mrs. Cleary?”
Kitty nodded. She was too interested in this new phase of the situation to speak.