"Why so soon? You haven't seen Mr. Weaver."
"On the whole, I don't think I should wish to engage with him."
Our hero felt that if Mr. Weaver were a friend of the man before him, it would be safest to have nothing to do with him. On the principle that a man is known by the company he keeps, the friend of Colonel Johnson could hardly be a desirable person to serve.
"You seem to be in a hurry, especially as you have not seen my friend Weaver."
"You will be kind enough to explain to him that I have changed my plans," said Grit.
"Resume your seat for five minutes," said Johnson, "and I will call Weaver. You had better see him for yourself."
"Very well, sir."
He reflected that merely seeing Mr. Weaver would not commit him to anything.
Colonel Johnson rose to his feet, and placed his foot firmly on a particular spot in the floor.
To Grit's dismay, the floor seemed to sink beneath him, and chair and all were lowered a dozen feet into a subterranean cavity, too quickly for him to help himself.