ther's dinner or my
father's dinner, and they _might_ turn out a little too heavy and
old-fashioned in their way of feeding for you and me. As to the wine,
William. At dinner, _my_ Champagne, and the sherry that my father thinks
nasty. After dinner, the claret with the blue seal--the wine my innocent
grandfather said wasn't worth sixpence a bottle. Ha! ha! poor old boy!
You will send up the evening papers and the play-bills, just as usual,
and--that will do? I think, William, for the present. An invaluable
servant, Mr. Armadale; they're all invaluable servants in this house. We
may not be fashionable here, sir, but by the Lord Harry we are snug! A
cab? you would like a cab? Don't stir! I've rung the bell twice--that
means, Cab wanted in a hurry. Might I ask, Mr. Armadale, which way your
business takes you? Toward Bayswater? Would you mind dropping me in the
park? It's a habit of mine when I'm in London to air myself among the
aristocracy. Yours truly, sir, has an eye for a fine woman and a fine
horse; and when he's in Hyde Park he's quite in his native element."
Thus the all-accomplished Pedgift ran on; and by these little arts did
he recommend himself to the good opinion of his client.

When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their
sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift
must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan's manner.
He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the
dining-table without uttering a word.

"I'm afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted
company in the Park?" said Pedgift Junior. "Excuse the question; I only
ask it in case I can be of any use."

"Something that I never expected has happened," returned Allan; "I don't
know what to make of it. I should like to have your opinion," he added,
after a little hesitation; "that is to say, if you will excuse my not
entering into any particulars?"

"Certainly!" assented young Pedgift. "Sketch it in outline, sir. The
merest hint will do; I wasn't born yesterday." ("Oh, these women!"
thought the youthful philosopher, in parenthesis.)

"Well," began Allan, "you know what I said when we got to this hotel; I
said I had a place to go to in Bayswater" (Pedgift mentally checked off
the first point: Case in the suburbs, Bayswater); "and a person--that
is to say--no--as I said before, a person to inquire after." (Pedgift
checked off the next point: Perso