'You lay on it. If he was like me.'
A shadow of doubt returned.
'May I ask you to be serious, sir, and tell me, on your word of honour, if you have ever seen me before?'
'I have. As a child. Many a time we've played together in my mother's backyard. Let me see, your name's---- Smith?--Ah.--Mine's Brown. I mean Babbacombe. It's all the same. See small bills.'
I hesitated. On a sudden an idea came to me, as it were, on a flash of lightning. The language seems exaggerated, yet I doubt if any other would adequately portray the fact. It did come to me in a single illuminating second. Not in embryo, but wholly formed. I saw the whole thing in its entirety. There, on the instant, was the complete scheme ready to my hand.
The suddenness of the thing unhinged me. I was not that night in the finest fettle. I scarcely saw how, then and there, to broach to him the subject. Attacked brusquely, it might be ruined. He was, probably, in worse condition even than myself; he might be affected even more disagreeably than I had been. Procrastination would probably be best, though in procrastination there was risk. Still--I saw no other way.
I moistened my lips. They had all at once gone dry.
'Mr. Babbacombe, where can I see you, to-morrow, on a matter of importance?'
'What's the matter?'
'It is one which will probably result in my being able to place a considerable sum of money at your disposal.'