neck and went into a fit of laughter. "Hamilton, you
damn ole scoundrel," he roared, "I'll 'scharge you for im~
pudence, you see 'f I don't! Ho, ho, ho! I'm drunk!
Ho, ho!"

The two waited until his fit had spent itself, to see
what new whim would seize him. "Whatcha wanta do?"
he queried suddenly. "Wanta see the place, ole chappie?
Wamme play the guv'ner -- show you roun'? State
parlors -- Looee Cans -- Looee Sez -- chairs cost three
thousand apiece. Tea-room -- Maryanntnet -- picture of
shepherds dancing -- Ruysdael -- twenty-three thousan'!
Ball-room -- balc'ny pillars -- hic -- imported -- special ship
-- sixty-eight thousan'! Ceilin' painted in Rome -- whuz~
zat feller's name, Hamilton -- Mattatoni? Macaroni? Then
this place -- silver bowl -- Benvenuto Cellini -- rummy
ole Dago! An' the organ -- thirty thousan' dollars, sir
-- starter up, Hamilton, let Mr. Rednose hear it. No
-- never mind -- clean forgot -- says he's hungry, Hamil~
ton -- less have some supper. Only -- hic -- don't less
have it here -- come up to my place, ole sport -- nice
an' cosy. This way -- steady now, don't slip on the floor.
Hamilton, we'll have a cole spread, an' some fizz -- don't
leave out the fizz, by Harry. We'll have some of the
eighteen-thirty Madeira. Hear me, sir?"

"Yes, sir," said the butler, "but, Master Frederick, your
father left orders--"

And Master Frederick drew himself up to a stately
height. "My father's orders were left to me -- hic -- an'
not to you," he said. Then, clasping Jurgis tightly by
the neck, he staggered out of the room; on the way an~
other idea occurred to him, and he asked: "Any -- hic
-- cable message for me, Hamilton?"

"No, sir," said the butler.

"Guv'ner must be travellin'. An' how's the twins,
Hamilton?"

"They are doing well, sir."

"Good!" said Master Freddie; and added fervently:
"God bless 'em, the little lambs!"

They went up the great staircase, one step at a time;

[[286]]

p285 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p286w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p287

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