“Oh, no, no!� she cried gladly, and flashed out of the room.
“She’s wonderfully nimble on her feet,� mused Mr. Popham; “and though I’ve never seen ’em to my knowledge, I shouldn’t mind putting a bit on the chance of their being pretty ones. Lord! I seem in for discoveries to-day. Come in, John Henry!�
But it was not John Henry, but the butler from Portland Place.
“Odlett! Well, this is kind; and you with such an objection to getting your feet damp!� Mr. Popham shook the large dough-colored hand of Mr. Odlett until the butler secured the member from further assault by putting it into his pocket.
“The boy was wanted to go upon an errand,� explained Mr. Odlett, in the voice of the description known as rich. “And as a friend!�—his smile creased his large pale cheeks, and caused the temporary disappearance of his small twinkling eyes—“as a friend, no more port being wanted for the party in the library, I thought I’d come and put you out of your misery!�
“That was uncommon kind of you, Odlett!� breathed the acutely-anxious Mr. Popham. He wiped his brow, and fixed an intense gaze on the particular feature from which intelligence might be expected.
“The boy did his duty faithful from first to last,� said Mr. Odlett, selecting a chair and carefully separating his coat-tails as a preliminary to sitting down; “and when he laughed, ’ad the presence of mind to drop his ’ead to the level of the library door mat, consequently it was supposed to be the pug a-sneezing!�
“Well,� gasped Mr. Popham. “Well?�
“The Will come up to our fondest expectations,� continued Mr. Odlett. “Sir George, who never shoots, ’ave the General’s old saloon-pistols and sporting Mantons, and Bell’s Life and the Army Gazette for twenty year back. Mr. Roderick is left the Chinese and Indian curiosities on condition of his dusting ’em hisself regularly. My Lady ’ave ten pounds to purchase a mourning-ring, provided she’ll undertake to wear it; the young ladies ditto; and the money——�
“The money——� choked Mr. Popham.