It is a pretty little idea. But I
am afraid that I bore you rather with all these petty contrivances.
It is a whim of mine to push mechanism as far as it will go."
"On the contrary, I am filled with interest and wonder," said Robert
warmly. "It is as if I had been suddenly whipped up out of prosaic old
England and transferred in an instant to some enchanted palace, some
Eastern home of the Genii. I could not have believed that there existed
upon this earth such adaptation of means to an end, such complete
mastery of every detail which may aid in stripping life of any of its
petty worries."
"I have something yet to show you," remarked Raffles Haw; "but we will
rest here for a few minutes, for I wished to have a word with you.
How is the cigar?"
"Most excellent."
"It was rolled in Louisiana in the old slavery days. There is nothing
made like them now. The man who had them did not know their value.
He let them go at merely a few shillings apiece. Now I want you to do
me a favour, Mr. McIntyre."
"I shall be so glad."
"You can see more or less how I am situated. I am a complete stranger
here. With the well-to-do classes I have little in common. I am no
society man. I don't want to call or be called on.
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