“Wrap it up in paper, Robbins.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And by the way, Robbins,” continued the old gentleman, after a sharp look round, like a sparrow in fear of cats, “could you oblige me with five pounds?”
“Well really, my lord—you see you owe me—”
“Sixty-five, Robbins.”
“And interest, my lord.”
“Of course, Robbins, of course; and you shall have it all back; but you see, Robbins, it is not always easy to lay one’s hands on a few pounds to give to my son. You know it is quite safe.”
“Oh, of course, my lord.”
“I don’t like to be so situated that I cannot oblige him with a sovereign now and then.”
“Of course not, my lord. Will your lordship be good enough to write me an I.O.U.?”