"Take this letter to my old partner as quickly as you can. Wait for an answer, and come back straight."
"All right, sir."
"Now, my wife, when my old partner arrives, leave the room. I want the coast clear as I am going to talk and have a sort of mutual confession of some tricks and dodges we have played and learned during the last forty years or so to get a bit 'extra' on the quiet; and forty years knocking about with your eyes bound to be on full glare ought to teach one a thing or two, and they have. They have! Yes; and I have been in the swim.
"Stir up the fire, if only to keep things all alike and as hot as possible; and put a couple of glasses handy, and some water and....
"So you've got back. Where is the letter?"
"Have got no letter, sir; but it is all right; your old partner will be round about 7 o'clock and will stay till he is turned out, so he said."
"Oh! I am glad."
"Why, sir, he is knocking now."
"So he is."
"Here I am, old chap, what's the matter?"