Page:The Specimen Case.djvu/72

Rh nearer, floor by floor (the Brown flat was on the highest), and a vigorous knock sounded on the door. With an instinctive courtesy, even at that moment, the musician at once went to answer it, absent-mindedly still grasping the weapon in his hand. A sturdy little man in a long blue coat stood outside; skilfully balanced on his shoulder was a weighty sack.

"You required small coal, sir?"

"This way," replied Mr. Brown, somewhat dazed. He did not care whether the coal was small or in half-hundredweight blocks. He led the way and the man followed and shot his burden.

"I'm afraid that it's rather a pull, coming up so far," apologised Brown. "Are there two of you?"

"Oh, that makes no odds," replied the coal-man amiably. "You see, I take a special interest in musicians, and hearing that you were desperate like"

"You knew that I was a musician?"

"Oh, yes; I often hear you playing."

"Really! I had no idea that my violin carried down to the street. And I don't seem to remember your call before."

"I seldom have occasion to call in the street now. Not that I am ashamed of my call—or of my calling. That can never be said of Tom Britton, sir. Even when I happen to meet, as I sometimes do, my duchess"

"Your duchess!"

"Her Grace of Queensberry, I mean, sir; she being so regular at my concerts"

"Concerts! You give concerts? Really. But how where  Do you take the Queen's Hall?"

"Queen's Hall? Oh, no; it's just a loft over my coalshed against Clerkenwell—a few chairs, a platform, a cup of coffee, and music of a Thursday evening."

"I see over your coal-shed  and the duchess