"I'm not sitting on anyone's knee, Grandparkins," he said.
A bright purple ran over Van Diest's features in blotches and streaks.
He rose to his feet and held out a quivering forefinger.
"You pay very heavy to make fun of my heart, Mister Barraclough. If you haf any senses at all you know that all mens wass the two mens—the home man and the business man—and the one hass nothing to do with the udter."
"Leave it at that," said Richard. "I'm not feeling altogether at home just now."
"That was your last word?"
"My last word."
"So!" said Van Diest. "So!" His eyebrows went up and down and he seemed lost in thought for a moment. Finally: "You go into the bedroom now please."
He gave the order slowly and to Richard's hypersensitive ears it held a threat of real and imminent danger. It sounded as the burial service must sound to a man who stands upon a trap with a knotted cord around his throat.
"No!" said Richard. "No!"
"The bedroom."