"Don't ring, for me," he said, getting up, "I can work the fasset myself, without no help botherin' around."
As his guest returned from the bathroom, sweeping the water-drops from his beard by drawing his hand down over it, Sir William said:
"Will you be offended if I ask you a question—a straight question—Nixon, old chap?"
"You couldn't offend me now, English," said John Nixon, "anyhow straight questions goes, between us, after this. That's our agreement, ain't it?"
"That's it, exactly," said Ware, "so my question is this: Why do you persist in calling me 'English'? It sounds a bit like some sort of an imputation. Do you see my point?"
"I don't foller you," said John Nixon, as he laid his hand on the door-knob; "the only reason I call you 'English' is because your reel name keeps slippin' my mind."
"It shouldn't be hard to remember," said Ware.
"What is it?" queried Nixon.
"To you, henceforth," said the baronet, "it is—Bill."