ThelasttimeIcalledonhimtoconcludethetransactionwewereinterruptedbyaperson，somethinglikeacrossbetweenabookmakerandaprivatesecretary，who，enteringthroughadoorwhichwasnottheanteroomdoor，walkedupandstoopedtowhisperintohisear。”Eh？What？Who，didyousay？”
Thenondescriptpersonstoopedandwhisperedagain，addingalittlelouder:”Sayshewon’tdetainyouamoment。”
Mylittlemanglancedatme，said”Ah！Well，”irresolutely。Igotupfrommychairandofferedtocomeagainlater。Helookedwhimsicallyalarmed。”No，no。It’sbadenoughtolosemymoneybutIdon’twanttowasteanymoreofmytimeoveryourfriend。Wemustbedonewiththisto-day。Justgoandhavealookatthatgarnituredechemineeyonder。There’sanother，somethinglikeit，inthecastleofLaeken，butmine’smuchsuperiorindesign。”
Imovedaccordinglytotheothersideofthatbigroom。Thegarniturewasveryfine。ButwhilepretendingtoexamineitI
watchedmymangoingforwardtomeetatallvisitor，whosaid，”I