"Needless to say, he repeated his invitation, and last evening I shunted
Middle English (in which I have a lot to catch up) and walked round to him.
Very adequately and handsomely lodged. Really good bachelor quarters (I
hadn't known for certain whether he was married or not). A stockbroker of a
sort, I hear,--but not enough to hurt, I should guess. He has a library and
a sitting-room. Like me, he sleeps three-quarters, but he doesn't have to
sit on his bed in the daytime. And he has a bathrobe of just the sort I
shall have, when I can afford it. He has got together a lot of knick-knacks
and curios, but takes them lightly.
"'Sorry I've only one big arm-chair,' he said, handing me his cigarette-
case and settling me down in comfort; 'but I entertain very seldom. I
should like to be hospitable,' he went on; '--I really think it's in me;
but that's pretty much out of the question here. I have no chef, no
dining-room of my own, no ball-room, certainly.... Perhaps, before very
long, I shall have to make a change.'
"He asked me about Freeford, and I didn't realize until I was on my way
back that he had assumed my home town just as he had assumed my lodging.
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