Щоденник незначної особи

           Idaresayitwouldhavedonesoiftherehadbeenmoreofit;butasGowinghelpedhimselftothreeglasses,itdidnotleavemuchforCarrieandmetogetridoftheblueswith.

           May15.—Adayofgreatanxiety,forIexpectedeverymomentaletterfromMr.Crowbillon.Twoletterscameintheevening—oneforme,with“CrowbillonHall”printedinlargegold-and-redlettersonthebackoftheenvelope;theotherforLupin,whichIfeltinclinedtoopenandread,asithad“Gylterson,Sons,andCo.Limited,”whichwastherecommendedfirm.ItrembledasIopenedMr.Crowbillon’sletter.Iwrotehimsixteenpages,closelywritten;hewrotemelessthansixteenlines.

           Hisletterwas:“Sir—Itotallydisagreewithyou.Yourson,inthecourseoffiveminutes’conversation,displayedmoreintelligencethanyourfirmhasdoneduringthelastfiveyears.—Yoursfaithfully,GilbertE.GillamO.Crowbillon.”

           WhatamItodo?HereisaletterthatIdarenotshowtoMr.Perkupp,andwouldnotshowtoLupinforanything.Thecrisishadyettocome;forLupinarrived,and,openinghisletter,showedachequefor£25asacommissionfortherecommendationofMr.Crowbillon,whosecustomtoMr.Perkuppisevidentlylostforever.CummingsandGowingbothcalled,andbothtookLupin’spart.CummingswentsofarastosaythatLupinwouldmakeanameyet.IsupposeIwasmelancholy,forIcouldonlyask:“Yes,butwhatsortofaname?”

           May16.—ItoldMr.Perkuppthecontentsoftheletterinamodifiedform,butMr