“You’ve no cause to get angry, Mr Lorton,” said he. “I didn’t name no names, sir; tho’ you might be further out, as far as that goes! I didn’t know as you was interested in the lady, or I shouldn’t ’a mentioned it.”
“You’re quite wrong—quite wrong altogether, Shuffler. Why, the thing’s absurd!” I said.
“Well, you know you axed me, sir; and what could I say?” he said apologetically.
“That may be,” I said, less hotly. “But you had better not couple people’s names together in that way. Why, it’s actionable!” I added, knowing the house-agent’s mortal dread of anything connected with the law.
“But you won’t spread it no further, Mr Lorton?” he said, anxiously, the sound eye looking at me with a beseeching expression.
“I won’t, Shuffler,” I answered; “take care that you don’t!”
“I’ll take my davy, sir, as how it shan’t cross my lips again,” he replied in a convincing tone.
“Very well, Shuffler,” I replied, turning away from him. “Only keep to that, and it will be best for you. Good day!”
“Good day, sir; and you won’t come to the auction along o’ me?”
“No,” said I. “I can’t spare the time to-day. I’ll try and come to-morrow, if that will do as well.”