. . if you will call on
me to-morrow at my lodgings . . . two doors from the
embassy. . . . Dear me, how provoking! Would you mind,
Algernon, lending me one of your cards? I remember now leaving
mine on the dressing-table.'
"He fished out a pencil, took the card his nephew proffered and,
having written down name and address, handed it to Badcock.
"'The door of grace, my friend, stands ever open to him who
knocks. . . . Shall we say at ten-thirty to-morrow morning?
Yes, yes, a very convenient hour for me, if you have no
objection? Farewell, then, until to-morrow!' With a
benedictory wave of the hand he linked arms with Lord Algernon
and strolled away down the walk.
"'Badcock,' said I, stepping forward and clapping a hand on his
shoulder. 'Hark to the gong calling you to the masque!'
"But the creature stood as in a trance. 'His signature!' he
answered in an awed whisper. 'The Archdeacon of Wells's own
signature, and upon Lord Algernon's card!'--and I declare to
you that he fell to kissing the pasteboard ecstatically.
Pages:
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630