"Well, I thought he was. That isn't the joke, is it?"
"Not altogether. You see——"
"Do you mean that stupid Roundabout thing?"
"No.... I beg your pardon, Billy. It came over me all of a sudden. Now I think I can tell you——"
And so another was added to our nicely-lengthening list of Principals in the Case.
IV
While I spoke Billy had risen, and was pretending to examine the prints on my walls. I continued to talk; talking was, in fact, my morning's work that day. I finished, and there was a long silence. I thought my barrister-friend would never have done looking at those prints.
Then suddenly he crossed over to my table and stood leaning lightly on his fingertips.