‘Progged in the “Shades,”’ responded Reggie laconically, ‘and you are going to pay the fine.’
‘I didn’t know it before,’ Freddy answered, ‘but of course if the money comes in time it’s yours.’
‘We must manage it somehow,’ I said, ‘when’s the next post?’
‘Ring and ask the Corker, I don’t know.’
‘Which it sometimes comes at a quarter to one, and sometimes at ’arf past,’ said the old lady on being interrogated.
When he heard this the Pilot collapsed heavily into an arm-chair, while Freddy, who did not yet fully appreciate the gravity of the situation, went upstairs to search for a note-book in the other sitting-room.
Soon after he had left the room a raucous voice was heard downstairs enquiring for Milord Gilderdale, and the Corker appeared to be engaged in an animated discussion with the owner thereof.
From two heavy thumps on the ceiling I gathered that Freddy had heard the caller’s voice and did not desire to interview him.
Mrs. Corker now appeared, and after expressing surprise at Freddy’s absence, asked me to interview, and if possible dispose of ‘that there houtrageous man in the ’all.’
On descending I found a corpulent man, with a rubicund face and no perceptible chin, standing with a sheaf of documents in his hand.