"I have," said Tony with some dignity. "As the prospective member for Balham North, I feel it's my duty to be thoroughly English." He reached the bottom of the stairs and slipped his arm through his cousin's. "I have told Spalding that I will have porridge, eggs and bacon, marmalade, and a copy of the Times," he added. "Come along into the study and help me to face them."
"Well, I am pretty busy this morning," said Guy, "but I would sacrifice a good deal for the sake of seeing you reading the Times and eating a proper healthy breakfast."
"Oh, I don't suppose I shall go as far as that," said Tony. "I shall probably only look at them. There is no point in carrying things to extremes."
He pushed open the door of the study, where they discovered Spalding in the act of putting the finishing touches to a charmingly appointed breakfast table.
With a final glance of approval at his handiwork, that well-trained servitor stepped back and pulled out a chair for Tony.
"Is everything ready?" inquired the latter.
"Quite ready, Sir Antony," replied Spalding. "The copy of the Times is beside your plate, sir. You will find the engineering supplement inside."
He brought up another chair for Guy, and then retiring to a small electric lift in the wall, produced the eggs and bacon and porridge which he placed on the sideboard upon a couple of carefully trimmed and already lighted spirit stoves.
"You needn't wait, Spalding," said Tony. "I like to help myself at breakfast; it's more in keeping with the best English traditions."
Spalding bowed, and crossing to the door closed it noiselessly behind him.