“Show the gentleman in,” he ordered.
When Haddo entered, Arthur, standing with his back to the fireplace, motioned him to sit down.
“What can I do for you?” he asked coldly.
“I have not come to avail myself of your surgical skill, my dear Burdon,” smiled Haddo, as he fell ponderously into an armchair.
“So I imagined.”
“You perspicacity amazes me. I surmise that it is to you I owe this amusing citation which was served on me yesterday.”
“I allowed you to come in so that I might tell you I will have no communication with you except through my solicitors.”
“My dear fellow, why do you treat me with such discourtesy? It is true that you have deprived me of the wife of my bosom, but you might at least so far respect my marital rights as to use me civilly.”
“My patience is not as good as it was,” answered Arthur, “I venture to remind you that once before I lost my temper with you, and the result you must have found unpleasant.”
“I should have thought you regretted that incident by now, O Burdon,” answered Haddo, entirely unabashed.