Curwen: “No, no—Mrs. Curwen.”
Campbell: “Is it a true bill, Agnes?”
Mrs. Roberts: “Indeed it is, Willis. We’ve been expecting her for an hour—of course she always comes early—and I’m afraid she’s been taken ill suddenly.”
Roberts: “Oh, I don’t think it’s that, my dear.”
Mrs. Roberts: “Oh, of course you never think anything’s wrong, Edward. My whole family might die, and”—Mrs. Roberts restrains herself, and turns to Mr. Campbell, with hysterical cheerfulness: “Who came up in the elevator with you?”
Campbell: “Me? I didn’t come in the elevator. I had my usual luck. The elevator was up somewhere, and after I’d pressed the annunciator button till my thumb ached, I watched my chance and walked up.”
Mrs. Roberts: “Where was the janitor?”
Campbell: “Where the janitor always is—nowhere.”
Lawton: “Eating his Christmas dinner, probably.”