Richard found his temper growing troublesome, but tried hard to keep it in hand.
“If you remember, sir,” he said, “our agreement mentioned no hour for beginning or leaving off work.”
“That is true, but you undertook to give me eight hours of your day!”
“Yes, sir. I was at work by five o'clock this morning, and have given you more than eight hours.”
“Hm!” said Arthur.
“I am quite as anxious,” pursued Richard, “to fulfill my engagement, as you can be to have it fulfilled.”
Arthur said nothing.
“Ask Thomas, who let me in this morning,” resumed Richard, “whether I was not at work in the library by five o'clock.”
It went a good deal against the grain with Richard to appeal to any witness for corroboration: he was proud of being a man of his word; but although not greatly anxious to keep his temporary position, he was anxious the compact should not be broken through anything he did or said.
“Let you in?” exclaimed Arthur; “—let you in before five o'clock in the morning? Then you were out all night!”