'Your rehearsal?' Cuningham looked amiably curious.
Fenwick explained, but with fresh annoyance. The papers had been full enough of this venture on which he was engaged; Cuningham's ignorance offended him.
'Ah, indeed—very interesting,' said Cuningham, vaguely. 'Well, good-bye. I must jump into a hansom.'
'Where are you off to?'
'The Goldsmiths' Company are building a new Hall, and they want my advice about its decoration. Precious difficult, though, to get away from one's pictures, this time of year, isn't it?'
He hailed a hansom as he spoke.
'That's not a difficulty that applies to me,' said Fenwick, shortly.
Cuningham stared—frowned—and remembered.
'Oh, my dear fellow—what a mistake that was!—if you'll let me say so. Can't we put it right? Command me at any time.'
'Thank you. I prefer it as it is.'