“Why?”
“Well, here’s the story, Claude. My hobby is to do what I please. I forget the past. I live in the present. I go away when I choose, and return just as unexpectedly as I wish. You know that from your own experience with me.
“My establishment is run by Richards, my valet. He has been with me for years. He knows that I come, and go.
“A few months ago I left for California. I returned home two days ago. I expect to stay here for a month, at least.
“Yesterday, I slipped on the stairs, and fell against my shoulder. It hurt me considerably for the moment. Richards saw me, and rushed up in alarm. He asked if I had injured my wounded shoulder.
“This surprised me. My wounded shoulder! I never had such a thing. I demanded what Richards meant. The poor fellow looked as though he would liked to have bitten off his tongue.
“He said that he had made a mistake; he couldn’t explain his statement. Still, I insisted. He apologized, saying that he should not have mentioned something which I had ordered him never to discuss. That made it worse.
“I realized that Richards was in a predicament. He evidently believed that I had given him some instructions which he must obey; and that he must not discuss the subject even though I now demanded it. At last he found a way out. He passed the buck to you.
“He reminded me that you had come out to see me; that I had sent for you; and that he really knew very little about the purpose of your visit.
“So I told Richards to forget it. To-day I came in to see you. I want to know what it’s all about.”