"If it is all the same to you," observed Dick with scorching sarcasm, "it would be pleasant to know the import of the message I took down."
"You took down—well I like that! You took down! Why, man, you could not even read it yourself! It is the message I took down, my son."
"We took down," corrected Dick.
They both laughed.
"O'Connel's coming this afternoon! What do you say to that?"
"Great Scott! But what——"
"He's bringing his wife or daughter," continued Walter with a wicked twinkle in his eye.
"What?" exclaimed his bewildered listener.
"Oh, this is rich! Rich!" continued His Highness with a paroxysm of laughter. "Wait until we tell your father! My soul and body! I'm sick laughing!"
"You might tell me the joke."