“I’m sorry, brother, you can’t stay to dine with us in a quiet way,” she said after a time.
“If you really make a point of it, Hortense, I can alter my plans to suit,” answered Prigson; “but you must not let me put you out in any way.”
“Oh! not in the least; certainly not. You are always welcome, and our table is large enough. And what are you doing just now?”
“At this moment I am living on my means, for the last enterprise came to nothing. But now I really have my eye on something good. You must try and persuade Van Arlen to take it up; it is certain to make him rich——”
He was interrupted by “Good-morning, uncle!” in three different voices; and the three eldest Van Arlens proceeded to welcome Prigson, who, in entire disregard of the tone of the house, embraced them one after the other.
“Always the same,” said their mother, smiling, and shaking her finger at him, and the three girls blushed and sat down. Then appeared the two next, to be welcomed in the same way; and presently the two youngest turned up, to be likewise honoured by their uncle. All seven were as neat as if they had come out of bandboxes, and each had some fancy-work in her hand.
When the subordinate official whose card Van Arlen had given to Prigson appeared in the former’s room as desired, he was received with—
“Oh, Mijnheer Talm, I have just taken the liberty of using your name.”
“You do me a great honour, sir.”
“One of my relations, Herr Van Noost Prigson, from London, wished to be introduced to the White Club, and you know I can’t go there!”