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Chapter 21
Lupincameintotheparlourforamomentwithanewhaton,andaskedmyopinionofit.IsaidIwasnotinthemoodtojudgeofhats,andIdidnotthinkhewasinapositiontobuyanewone.Lupinrepliedcarelessly:“Ididn’tbuyit;itwasapresent.”
IhavesuchterriblesuspicionsofLupinnowthatIscarcelyliketoaskhimquestions,asIdreadtheanswersso.He,however,savedmethetrouble.
Hesaid:“Imetafriend,anoldfriend,thatIdidnotquitethinkafriendatthetime;butit’sallright.Ashewiselysaid,‘allisfairinloveandwar,’andtherewasnoreasonwhyweshouldnotbefriendsstill.He’sajolly,good,all-roundsortoffellow,andaverydifferentstampfromthatinflatedfoolofaPerkupp.”
Isaid:“Hush,Lupin!Donotprayaddinsulttoinjury.”
Lupinsaid:“Whatdoyoumeanbyinjury?Irepeat,Ihavedonenoinjury.Crowbillonissimplytiredofastagnantstick-inthe-mudfirm,andmadethechangeonhisownaccount.Isimplyrecommendedthenewfirmasamatterofbiz—goodoldbiz!”
Isaidquietly:“Idon’tunderstandyourslang,andatmytimeoflifehavenodesiretolearnit;so,Lupin,myboy,letuschangethesubject.Iwill,ifitpleaseyou,tryandbeinterestedinyournewhatadventure.”
Lupinsaid:“Oh!there’snothingmuchaboutit,exceptIhavenotonceseenhimsincehismarriage,andhesaidhewasverypleasedtoseeme,andhopedweshouldbefriends.Istoodadrinktocementthefriendship,andhestoodmeanewhat—oneofhisown.
