He threw himself on the hard bed and was asleep in a second. It seemed aeons later that he was dragged up from the depths of slumber by continued pounding on his door. The slattern chambermaid announced that a gentleman wished to see him. He called to her it must be a mistake. He didn't know any gentlemen.
" 'E h'ast for Jarvis Jocelyn. 'Ere's 'is card," she retorted, opening the door and marching to the bed with it.
"Richard Strong. Tell him I'm out."
"Hi've already said you was in. Hi see you come hup."
"The devil! Where is he?"
"Coolin' 'is 'eels in the 'all."
"Say I'll be down in a minute. Ask him to wait."
"Hi get you," said she, and clomped out.
Then Jarvis's eye fell on Bambi's letter on his table, unopened. It must have come the day before, when he was lost in his play. He glanced through it. At the mention of Strong's visit he frowned. He read that part twice. There was no doubt of it. Strong had the only chance with her. He made no secret of his devotion to her, and the probabilities were that now that he, Jarvis, was out of the way, she would realize how much she cared for Strong.
"Well, what is, is," he muttered. He'd have no favours from Strong, though, that was sure.