“Mr Stoddart never calls upon any one, sir.”
“I am not complaining of Mr Stoddart,” I answered, wishing to put the man at his ease.
“But nobody calls upon Mr Stoddart,” he returned.
“That’s very unkind of somebody, surely,” I said.
“But he doesn’t want anybody to call upon him, sir.”
“Ah! that’s another matter. I didn’t know that. Of course, nobody has a right to intrude upon anybody. However, as I happen to have come without knowing his dislike to being visited, perhaps you will take him my card, and say that if it is not disagreeable to him, I should like exceedingly to thank him in person for his sermon on the organ last Sunday.”
He had played an exquisite voluntary in the morning.
“Give my message exactly, if you please,” I said, as I followed the man into the hall.
“I will try, sir,” he answered. “But won’t you come up-stairs to mistress’s room, sir, while I take this to Mr Stoddart?”
“No, I thank you,” I answered. “I came to call upon Mr Stoddart only, and I will wait the result of you mission here in the hall.”