My friend must have looked incredulous, but his host continued firmly: "It is so, we have settled your whole matter, I am glad to say, on terms that settle all your liabilities and leave a further £50,000 to your credit in the public bank. But the size of the sum is in this city really of no importance. You may demand whatever you will, and enjoy, I hope, a complete security during your habitation here. And that habitation, both the Town Council and the National Government, beg you, through me, to extend to the whole of your life."
* * * * *
"Imagine," said my friend, "how I felt.... The oysters were now upon the table, and before them, ready for consumption, the caviar. The Barsac in its original bottle, cooled (need I say!) to exactly thirty-eight degrees, stood ready...."
At this point he stopped and gazed into the fire.
"But, my dear fellow," said I, "if you are coming to me for sympathy and simply succeed in making me hungry and cross...."
"No," said my friend with a sob, "you don't understand!" And he continued to gaze at the fire.
"Well, go on," said I angrily.
"There isn't any on," he said; "I woke!"
We both looked into the fire together for perhaps three minutes before I spoke and said:
"Will you have some wine?"