'Very good, sir.'
When I took dear old Bicky aside in the course of the morning and told him what had happened he nearly broke down. He tottered into the sitting-room and buttonholed old Chiswick, who was reading the comic section of the morning paper with a kind of grim resolution.
'Uncle,' he said, 'are you doing anything special tomorrow afternoon? I mean to say, I've asked a few of my pals in to meet you, don't you know.'
The old boy cocked a speculative eye at him.
'There will be no reporters among them?'
'Reporters? Rather not. Why?'
'I refuse to be badgered by reporters. There were a number of adhesive young men who endeavoured to elicit from me my views on America while the boat was approaching the dock. I will not be subjected to this persecution again.'
'That'll be absolutely all right, uncle. There won't be a newspaper man in the place.'
'In that case I shall be glad to make the acquaintance of your friends.'