At half past ten o’clock sharp there came a ring to the hall-door; and, ushered by the obsequious landlady, in walked a young fellow fashionably dressed, with languid manners and a general air being bored with life. He carried a portfolio gracefully under his arm.
Without waiting for him to begin, I went up to him the moment he entered, and shook him cordially by the hand, I relieved him of his umbrella—he had one though the weather was fine; and as his other hand was thus partially released, I shook it with no less heartiness.
“Blijdschap, mijnheer!” I began, “Blijdschap en vreugde! Het verblijdt mij zeer—U te ontmoeten! Mag ik U verzoeken Uw jas af te zetten. Wat? Nee?”
As the day was burning hot and he wore no overcoat, I didn’t insist upon this.
“Zij het zoo, myn waarde!—Neem een stoel,” I continued. “Ga zitten, ik bid U. Het is aangenaam weer.—Volstrekt niet koud—neen—niet koud.”
This was well within the mark, for it was 89° in the shade.
My Dutch seemed to surprise him for he said feebly “Dag—Sir—Yes—I mean—O ja.”
WAT GEBRUIKT U?
I saw he was just the kind of young man that I could have a pleasant talk with. But it was now time I got back to my notes. Before sitting down however, I asked to take charge of his hat.
“Handig mij Uw hoed over!” I said, reaching for it. When he hesitated, I put him at his ease with an “alstjeblieft; toe dan! toe!”