Page:The wrong box (IA wrongbox00stevrich).pdf/152

 'In case I don't make myself perfectly clear,' observed the Australian, 'it's perhaps best to tell you candidly that I've been lunching. It's a thing that may happen to anyone.'

'Oh, certainly,' replied the affable barrister. 'But please be under no sense of hurry. I can give you,' he added, thoughtfully consulting his watch—'yes, I can give you the whole afternoon.'

'The business that brings me here,' resumed the Australian with gusto, 'is devilish delicate, I can tell you. My friend Mr. Thomas, being an American of Portuguese extraction, unacquainted with our habits, and a wealthy manufacturer of Broadwood pianos'

'Broadwood pianos?' cried Gideon, with some surprise. 'Dear me, do I understand Mr. Thomas to be a member of the firm?'

'Oh, pirated Broadwoods,' returned Michael. 'My friend's the American Broadwood.'

'But I understood you to say,' objected Gideon, 'I certainly have it so in my notes—that your friend was a manufacturer of india—rubber overshoes.'

'I know it's confusing at first,' said the Australian, with a beaming smile. 'But he—in short, he combines the two professions. And many others besides—many, many, many others,' repeated Mr. Dickson,