“A cold day,” said the colonel, threshing himself.
“I did not notice it,” returned the stranger, indifferently.
“Only thirty-eight at the door,” said George, stamping his feet with unnecessary vehemence.
“Indeed!” observed our man, with more interest.
“Yes,” George asserted; “and if the fireplace were only larger, or the screen smaller.”
The man hastily stepped aside, knocking over, as he did so, a blazing brand, which he kicked viciously back into the fire.
Having carried the outworks, we approached the citadel. “Perhaps, sir,” I ventured, “you can inform us where the landlord may be found?”
“You wanted dinner, I believe?” The tone in which this question was put gave me goose-flesh. I could not speak, George dropped into a chair. The colonel propped himself against the chimney-piece. I shrugged my shoulders, and nodded expressively to my companions, who returned two glances of eloquent dismay. Evidently nothing was to be got out of this fellow.
“Dinner for one?” continued the eternal smoker.
“For three!” I exclaimed, out of all patience.