“Well, sir—I—”
“Well, you what?”
”—Have heered of such things, sir, with gents—as has been in great trouble, sir—as lost a deal o’ money, sir.”
Lacey frowned.
“Ever been with a gentleman who did such a thing?”
“Well, yes, sir—almost, sir—not exactly, sir; but I thought he had, sir.”
“That’s a nice clear way of expressing yourself. Well, don’t run away with that idea, again. I don’t like to be snatched out of my sleep in that fashion. What time is it? Morning gun fired?”
Jerry’s jaw dropped, and he stood staring over the empty soda-water glass.
“I said had the morning gun been fired!” remarked Lacey, sharply.
Jerry’s face began to wrinkle all over, and there was a peculiar twinkle in his eyes as they met his master’s.