"And what did you say, Lafleur?" demanded Mr. Greenwood, sternly.
"I said nothing, sir: I merely banged the door in his face."
"That was right and proper. I am determined to put down vagrancy. Nothing is more offensive to the eye than those crawling wretches who are perpetually dinning in one's ears a long tale about their being half-starved."
"Yes, sir—it is very disagreeable, sir," observed Lafleur.
"The free and independent electors of Rottenborough have not sent me to Parliament for nothing, I can assure you," continued Mr. Greenwood.
"No, sir," responded Lafleur.
"And I, from my place in the House, will denounce this odious system of mendicancy," added Mr. Greenwood.
"Yes, sir," observed Lafleur.
"By-the-by, did you send the letter I gave you just now to the post?"
The valet answered in the affirmative.