“My dear Crampton—”
“May I come in?” followed by three thumps with a heavy stick.
Crampton hurried to the outer office to confront Uncle Luke.
“Met your messenger just outside, and saved him from going up. How much did you give him? He ought to pay that back.”
“Oh, never mind that, Luke. How are you?”
“How am I?”
“Yes. Getting settled down again?”
“How am I? Well, a little better this morning. Do I smell of yellow soap?”
“No.”
“Wonder at it. I spent nearly all yesterday trying to get off the London dirt and smoke. Treat to get back to where there’s room to breathe.”