"Why did you come here at all?" he demanded.
"I wanted somewhere to sleep," replied Philip.
Montagu uplifted clenched hands to heaven.
"Unutterable dolt!" he roared. "Do you imagine you are in a common lodging-house?"
"Oh, no, sir," Philip assured him. "I like your pictures awfully," he added, with a friendly smile.
This time Montagu Falconer first gaped at him, and then enquired:—
"Are you a crétin?"
Philip, who did not know what a crétin was, shook his head dubiously, and said he was not sure. Mr. Falconer, after assuring him that there was no doubt on the matter whatever, continued his cross-examination.
"Where the devil have you come from? I suppose you know that!"
"I came from Hampstead," replied Philip.