"My dear fellow, what in the world do you mean by 'believe in'? I believe in Browning. Personally, I believe in the present Government. As a matter of fact, I believe in you."
Paul flushed. "But the Bible is the 'verbally inspired Word of God,'" he ventured to quote.
"Which of the ten-score different versions?" queried Manning calmly. "By the way, have you shown your verses to Tressor yet?"
If his visitor accepted the change of subject, it was because he was, for the moment, clean bowled.
(4)
Paul had left a note asking Strether to breakfast, and he rather wondered if, after the previous day's rag, his friend would come. But he came. To mark the occasion, Paul had fish and an omelette sent up from the kitchens, and over these burnt sacrifices he made his apology.
"Look here, Gussie," he said, "I'm sorry that rag ended as it did. I had no idea the others had arranged it with old Sam like that, and I couldn't help Donaldson kicking up all that row on the stairs. That was beastly, I admit. I'm awfully sorry. Hope it won't make any difference to our friendship."
Strether growled in his throat. "Who bagged my boots?" he demanded, with a sense of humour.
Paul laughed. "Let's rag Donaldson somehow," he suggested, "and I'll give them back."
Strether smiled. Then frowned. "Always talking about girls," he muttered. Then, dropping the subject for good and all, "Come to The Mikado this week," he invited.