Chapter 18

           April8.—Noeventsofanyimportance,exceptthatGowingstronglyrecommendedanewpatentstylographicpen,whichcostmenine-and-sixpence,andwhichwassimplynine-and-sixpencethrowninthemud.Ithascausedmeconstantannoyanceandirritabilityoftemper.Theinkoozesoutofthetop,makingamessonmyhands,andonceattheofficewhenIwasknockingthepalmofmyhandonthedesktojerktheinkdown,Mr.Perkupp,whohadjustentered,calledout:“Stopthatknocking!Isupposethatisyou,Mr.Pitt?”Thatyoungmonkey,Pitt,tookamaliciousgleeinrespondingquiteloudly:“No,sir;Ibegpardon,itisMr.Pooterwithhispen;ithasbeengoingonallthemorning.”Tomakemattersworse,IsawLupinlaughingbehindhisdesk.Ithoughtitwisertosaynothing.Itookthepenbacktotheshopandaskedthemiftheywouldtakeitback,asitdidnotact.Ididnotexpectthefullpricereturned,butwaswillingtotakehalf.Themansaidhecouldnotdothat—buyingandsellingweretwodifferentthings.Lupin’sconductduringtheperiodhehasbeeninMr.Perkupp’sofficehasbeenmostexemplary.Myonlyfearis,itistoogoodtolast.

           April9.—Gowingcalled,bringingwithhimaninvitationforCarrieandmyselftoaballgivenbytheEastActonRifleBrigade,whichhethoughtwouldbeaswellaffair,asthememberforEastActon(SirWilliamGrime)hadpromisedhispatronage.Weacceptedofhiskindness,andhestayedtosupper,anoccasionIthoughtsuitablefortryingabottleofthesparklingAlgérathatMr.