Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/73

61 napkin in his hand. I asked did Colonel James live here? He said, Yes, he did. I said:

'Can I see him?' The Curling wasn't very well this evening, sir, he said. He was upstairs there with his cawfee just now, sir. He (the man in evening dress with a napkin) didn't think he'd like to be disturbed. But I might give him (the man) my card, and he'd take it up to him.

'I have no card,' I said. 'My name is Leicester. Will you tell Colonel James that I came to-night, instead of to-morrow, and want to know if I can see him?'

The man turned and went slowly up the first few staircase steps: then half-turned, and said:

'Leicester was the name you said?' 'Yes,' I said, 'Leicester.'

I leant against the glazed-paper wall, looking at a large print of Wellington meeting Blucher after Waterloo. A clock ticked in an adjacent room. I heard the man from the top of the stairs say:

'Will you step up, please?'

I put bag and hat on to a dark-red mahogany chair by an umbrella stand, and went up. The man ushered me in through an open door to the right. I entered. The first thing I saw was the part of a large low red-clothed table under the light of a red-shaded lamp: then, a rather thin old gentleman standing on the right side of the hearthrug with his back to the fire. He raised his head. There was a light-flash on his glasses.

He spoke,

'Mr. Leicester?' he said.

'Yes, sir,' I answered.

'Ah yes—exactly so.'

He paused, looking aside. Then again raised his head with the light-flash on his glasses.

'Will you please sit down?' he said. 'Perhaps you would like to take your coat off? It is very warm in here, I dare say—after the street.'

I slowly took off my greatcoat, and then sat down in a chair by the table facing him, he remaining standing. After a pause:

'You have rather taken me by surprise, Mr. Leicester,' he said, 'I, ah, did not expect you till to-morrow