"Well, old top!" he cried with malicious cordiality. "Who'd think to meet you here! What's the matter? Has high finance turned too risky for your stomach? Or are you dabbling in low-life for the sheer fun of it—to titillate your jaded senses?"
Respectability's cheeks puffed out like red toy balloons; so likewise his chest.
"Sir!" he snorted—"you are drunk!"
"Sir!" retorted P. Sybarite, none too meekly—"you lie."
The ebony-and-gold cane of Respectability quivered in mid-air.
"Out of my way!"
"Put down that cane, Mr. Brian Shaynon," said P. Sybarite peaceably, "unless you want me to play horse with you in a way to let all New York know how you spend the wee sma' hours!"
At the mention of his name Respectability stiffened in dismay.
"Damnation!" he cried hoarsely. "Who are you?"
"Why, have you forgotten me? Careless of you, Mr. Shaynon. I'm the little guy that put the speck in Respectability: I'm the noisy little skeleton in the cupboard of your conscience. Don't you know me now?"