Part 30 (2/2)
”Never saw him put out but once,” answered Minikin.
It sounded well. ”When was that?” I asked.
”All the time I've known him.”
My spirits continued to sink. Had I been left alone with Minikin much longer, I might have ended by following his advice, ”hooking it” before Mr. Lott arrived. But the next moment I heard the other door open, and some one entered the private office. Then the bell rang, and Minikin disappeared, leaving the communicating door ajar behind him. The conversation that I overheard was as follows:
”Why isn't Mr. Skeat here?”
”Because he hasn't come.”
”Where are the letters?”
”Under your nose.”
”How dare you answer me like that?”
”Well, it's the truth. They are under your nose.”
”Did you give Thorneycroft's man my message?”
”Yes.”
”What did he answer?”
”Said you were a liar.”
”Oh, he did, did he! What did you reply?”
”Asked him to tell me something I didn't know.”
”Thought that clever, didn't you?”
”Not bad.”
Whatever faults might be laid to Mr. Lott's door, he at least, I concluded, possesssed the virtue of self-control.
”Anybody been here?”
”Yes.”
”Who?”
”Mr. Kelver--Mr. Paul Kelver.”
”Kelver, Kelver. Who's Kelver?”
”Know what he is--a fool.”
”What do you mean?”
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