‘It is wonderful what an effect music has on the human understanding,’ Edgar replied. ‘“Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.” My wife always says’——
‘Your wife! I didn’t know you were married.’
‘Considering I never told you that interesting fact, I do not see very well how you could know,’ Edgar replied with a smile; which was, however, not so cordially received by Mr Slimm.
‘Um,’ he said doubtfully.—‘Now, look here, my young friend; I’m a rough chap, and I’ve just got to say my mind, if I die for it. Don’t you think a young married man has no business in such a place as we met last night?’
‘But, you see, I had business there,’ Edgar said, still smiling. ‘It was stern business, and nothing else, which took me to that place.’
‘You’ve got the bulge of me, and that’s a fact.’
‘You mean, you don’t understand. Well, I am what is usually known—or rather, in my case, unknown—as a literary man. I am working up a series of articles on gambling-houses.’
‘Why don’t you get on a more respectable line?’
Edgar tapped his pocket and nodded significantly.
‘Hard up,’ said Mr Slimm. ‘Case of needs must when what’s-his-name drives. You don’t look as if you were dragged up to this sort of thing neither?’