"Right!" I said. "Bath ready?"
"All ready. By Jove! how letters do accumulate! You go and scrub yourself, while I polish this lot off."
I went into his bathroom.
But I did not make use of his bath. Somehow I could not bring myself to it. I only wanted the bath to be known as my motive for calling. So I filled it, stood by it for a number of minutes, and then ran the water off again. I took the same brown-paper parcel with me into his sitting-room that I had brought out.
I did not stay long after that. I was coming back. At nine I rose.
"What, are you off?" he said. "I must say you take what you want and clear off pretty quick! Supper'll be up presently."
"A last stag-party?" I said. "I'm afraid you'll have to have it without me. I've got to get to Bedford yet. So," I added, "I shall have to wish you—you know—get it over now."
"Oh, don't put on so much blessed ceremony!" he said. "It isn't as if you weren't going to see me again!"
It wasn't.
"Oh, about that box," I said. "Better call Jane, and tell me in her presence."