The indignation that possessed him seemed
sincere enough, but the circumstances of the case utterly bewildered
me. I was gazing at him in perplexity when Henry came out of the study.
'What's all this parleying in the hall, noise without, voices heard
"off," and so forth?' he demanded.
William gave me such an agonized look of entreaty I decided I would say
nothing about what had just occurred. 'It is only I endeavouring to
get our friend William to rub his feet on the mat,' I retorted
cheerfully. 'But let us go into the consulting chamber.'
[Illustration: Henry, being a Scotsman, likes argument.]
William followed me into the study and took his usual seat at the
fireside in a dejected manner. Then went through a strange gymnastic.
He had just started to swing his feet up to the mantelpiece when he
paused with them in mid-air and brought them down again. The arrested
action had a droll effect.
'Have a smoke,' said Henry, pretending not to notice this peculiar
conduct and pushing the tobacco jar towards him.
'No thanks, old man,' he replied. 'I'm giving up smoking--for a time.'
It was now Henry's turn to look surprised. 'Giving up smoking,' he
ejaculated. 'What's wrong--is it your liver?'
'No, no, my liver's all right.'
'Your lungs, then?'
'Of course, not.'
'It surely can't be your heart?'
William began to look annoyed. 'Look here, can't I go without a smoke
for once without my entire anatomy being held up for discussion?' He
then produced a cigarette and proceeded to light it.
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