His heart joyously beating, Somerset admitted the visitor, showed him over the various apartments, and, with some return of his persuasive eloquence, expounded their attractions. The gentleman was particularly pleased by the elegant proportions of the drawing-room.
“This,” he said, “would suit me very well. What, may I ask, would be your terms a week, for this floor and the one above it?”
“I was thinking,” returned Somerset, “of a hundred pounds.”
“Surely not,” exclaimed the gentleman.
“Well, then,” returned Somerset, “fifty.”
The gentleman regarded him with an air of some amazement. “You seem to be strangely elastic in your demands,” said he. “What if I were to proceed on your own principle of division, and offer twenty-five?”
“Done!” cried Somerset; and then, overcome by a sudden embarrassment, “you see,” he added apologetically, “it is all found money for me.”
“Really?” said the stranger, looking at him all the while with growing wonder. “Without extras, then?”
“I—I suppose so,” stammered the keeper of the lodging-house.
“Service included?” pursued the gentleman.