"Well, sir, if you don't mind, my business is rather serious, and I should like to come straight to the point. And to begin with, I should like to ask you whether you have heard of the Alsander Advancement Association."
"Never. Is it a co-operative store?"
"No, it purports to be a secret society, for the object—well, I don't know for what object."
"Of advancing Alsander?"
"I suppose so. But it seems to be really a conspirators' club to play bad practical jokes on innocent strangers. I was entrapped by one of its members."
"This is very interesting, very interesting, indeed. I may have to take a note of this. Hallo. Who's that? My dear Cocasso, I really can't this afternoon. I am being consulted on important business. Look up Cassolis, he plays. My dear sir"—this to Norman—"you were entrapped?"
"I was entrapped. The society sat in state and pretended to examine me for the position of King of Alsander."
"Well, well, why not? I was examined to become Vice-Consul. We must all be examined, you know."
"Yes, but that was not all. I was stripped and mauled about by a fool who pretended to be a doctor."
"Stripped? Dear me! Stripped naked?"