Well, nothing mattered now—nothing could ever matter any more. It was some miserable comfort to feel, and know, that nothing worse could ever happen!
Why, there was nothing worse left in all the world. By Jove, I was sure of that much!
And just then a knock sounded.
CHAPTER XXXII
I TOUCH BOTTOM
"Pardon, sir, for not waiting till you came down," the butler was saying, "but Mr. Billings was just so set on me bringing this to you, I had to."
He had entered, responding to Jenkins' invitation, bearing in his hand a gray paper parcel.
"For me?" I questioned, as he laid it on the table, and I eyed it ominously. Yet it could not be the same I had sent Billings myself—I could see that—for it was smaller, more compact, and in a different wrapper. But I was afraid to examine it.
"Yes, sir—he's very bad this morning, sir; the—er—that is, something last night seems to have excited him."