"Yes."
"And what else? Do you mean to obey?"
"Oh, yes, Miss Carmichael, of course, always, with the greatest joy in the world."
"Nobody asked you, sir, to obey always."
"I beg your pardon, Miss Carmichael, I'm afraid I'm a little confused."
"Then I hope you will not put me to confusion, as you did this morning."
"I'm awfully sorry," said the mendacious lawyer, "but it was the coat and collar, you know." Then most illogically, he added, "I'd like to wear this coat and this collar all the time."
"No, you would not; they are not at all becoming to you. Oh, do look at poor Mr. Bangs!"
The detective's sleeves were turned back, thanks to Mrs. Carmichael, but, as he sat at breakfast, the voluminous coat sagged over his shoulder, and down came the eclipsing sleeve over his coffee cup. When he righted matters with his left hand, the coat slewed round to the other side, knocked his fork out of his hand, and fell with violence on his omelet. The Captain looked at him, and bawled: "I say, mate, you've got to have a reef took in your back topsel. You don't mind a bit of reef tackle in the back of your coat, do you, John?" The Squire did not object; so Miss Carmichael was despatched to the sewing room for two large pins, and she and the Captain between them pinched up the back of the coat longitudinally to the proper distance, and pinned the detective up a little more than was necessary.
"Whey," asked he of his nautical ally, "em I consistent es a cherecter in bowth phases of my berrowed cowt?"