His voice was caustic and his eye severe, and as the costume he had selected for this thunderbolt entrance was apparently designed to suggest a combination of North Sea pilot and pirate King (including a fur cap with ear flaps tied under his venerable chin) one might have fired a twelve inch gun into the room and produced much less impression.
"Not a bit," I said, bounding to my feet, "but—er—wouldn't you like to untie your bonnet, Uncle Francis?"
He frowned at me heavily but I was thankful to notice that his eye did twinkle for an instant.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
"That is just the question, sir, I was going to put."
My cousin interposed.
"Uncle Francis arrived this morning to see how things were getting on and when I got your wire I brought him out with me. What has happened?"
"Got my wire!" I exclaimed. "Surely—I'm certain I never sent it off!"
I put my hand in my pocket, and there it was right enough.
"My dear Jack, here it is. It never was sent."