“Tell him I wish to see him.”
“Beggin' yer pardon, mum, he never sees nobody.”
“But I wish to see him on business of a very important kind.”
“Can't help it, mum—beggin' yer pardon; but I've got to obey orders, mum.”
“My good fellow, can't you take my message, or let me in to see him?”
“Sorry, mum, but I can't; I've got my orders.”
“But he can't know. This business is so important that it will be very bad for him if he does not see me now. Tell him that. Go, now; you can't know what his business is. Tell him that—”
“Well, mum, if you insist, I don't mind goin',” said the porter. “I'll tell him.”
“Say that I wish to see him at once, and that the business I have is of the utmost importance.”
The porter touched his hat, and walked off.